Cruise diving policies?

[redlef]

I've never dived in the Caribbean before and never dived on a cruise, so my question is how the dive operators manage trips.

 

On a 50 ft dive, I'll probably get at least an hour out of an AL80. Now, if I'm buddied up with a new diver, they may only get half that time. The other diver (or myself for that matter) could get a chill, and ache, whatever and need to abort the dive. Surfacing with half a tank is such a shame, especially considering the expense to get there.

 

What do other experienced divers do? Is that just the luck of the draw when diving with an unknown buddy in a strange place? Do you surface, find another diver with half a tank and go back down for ten minutes? Do the divemasters match up frugal breathers with other frugal breathers and air hogs with other air hogs?

 

Do the dive guides stay down until everyone else surfaces? Maybe I could just hang out with him/her?

 

I know - too many questions. Thanks for reading and responding.

 

BTW - This is for a Caribbean cruise. I'm planning on diving in Aruba, Curaco, Belize and Roatan.

 

Dave

[Dive Master]

Cruise ship divers have a reputation for being once a year divers whose skills are lacking.Thus most cruise ship excursions will cater to this crowd.Some excursions are for advanced divers such as the North Wall in Grand Cayman. You can try to find a buddy on the ship with similar experience by asking around. I have met some great buddies whose skills put mine to shame but I have also been teamed up with some real winners who had no business diving in a swimming pool much less the open ocean.

 

For me now "Solo is the only way to go".That way I can worry about me and enjoy the dive.I don't pay big money to babysit.I just tell the Dive Master or Captain that I don't have a buddy and really don't want one.I show my credentials, talk like I have some sense, and just ask if I can buddy up with the Dive Master and follow the group.I always carry my "spare air" (would much prefer my pony bottle but can't get it on a ship)safety sausage, and dive alert.Most of the time I am allowed to do my own thing and I tip well for the priviledge.I had a Dive Master in Grand Turk tell me he did not do anything for me when I tipped him and I told him that was exactly the point.

 

If you prefer a buddy or have no choice, stay the heck away from the big talking experts you meet on the dive boat!!!! I have learned this one the hard way with the Cave Recovery Specialist and the Andrea Doria Wanna Be.Most experienced divers are confident but always pay attention to the crew and dive briefings.The crew know the dive sites and you are paying for their expertise, so use it.I have no problems helping new divers--we were all one once, but I don't want to pay big bucks to babysit on my "once a year" Caribbean dives.So "Solo" works best for me.

 

You should only attempt solo diving if you have the proper training, the proper gear,proper experience.You should know the risk and be willing to accept them.It is all on you if something goes wrong but the only "air hog" you have to worry about is yourself.

 

Hope you have a great cruise and do some fantastic dives.

 

PS: If you can arrange diving on your own with smaller operators you will probably have a better experience.They are more likely to try and cater to the desires and expereince of a small group.The big excursion boats are trying to satisfy a wide range of dive skills while keeping everyone safe and they do a remarkable job at that.If I have a long port stop I try to find an independent dive operation to match my needs.If the port time is limited you may be better off to do the ship's excursion so you don't have to dig out that credit card and fly to the next port.I have had many excellent ship excursions (Oasis Divers-Grand Turk/ Resort Sports LTD Grand Cayman, etc). Most do a good job and try to provide a safe and enjoyable dive for everyone.

[scubaran]

I've never dived in the Caribbean before and never dived on a cruise, so my question is how the dive operators manage trips.

 

On a 50 ft dive, I'll probably get at least an hour out of an AL80. Now, if I'm buddied up with a new diver, they may only get half that time. The other diver (or myself for that matter) could get a chill, and ache, whatever and need to abort the dive. Surfacing with half a tank is such a shame, especially considering the expense to get there.

 

What do other experienced divers do? Is that just the luck of the draw when diving with an unknown buddy in a strange place? Do you surface, find another diver with half a tank and go back down for ten minutes? Do the divemasters match up frugal breathers with other frugal breathers and air hogs with other air hogs?

 

Do the dive guides stay down until everyone else surfaces? Maybe I could just hang out with him/her?

 

I know - too many questions. Thanks for reading and responding.

 

BTW - This is for a Caribbean cruise. I'm planning on diving in Aruba, Curaco, Belize and Roatan.

 

Dave

 

Hi,

 

I try to chat it up with a few divers that seem to know what they're doing (we're usually the ones with our gear set up as others are down below putting on their suits). Of course without being obnoxous. If I find someone about the same level without a buddy I'll take the initiative and ask them if they want to buddy up. I've had some operators try to buddy me with someone I don't know but if I mention that I just met someone and we agreed to be dive buddies, they have always switched around the roster. However, be aware, I'm rescue diver certified and more than once they've teamed me up with very inexperienced people, I assume thinking I'll act as an unofficial dive master for them. I don't mind sometimes but I did get buddied up with this one guy that went through his air in 17 minutes. I was still at 2,500 so I wasn't pleased I'd gone all that way just to have a short dive. No, I wasn't allowed to grab someone else and go back down, and I didn't send him up on his own, I was his buddy afterall. However, on the second dive I got myself switched around with someone else. Dive masters will sometimes dive with a diver but generally I've found that they have to keep their eyes on the group and don't like being saddled up with someone. I like the other poster's ideal of small boats, I did a 6 diver boat in Grand Turk and the owner/divemaster was the sixth guy so he was my partner (I'd dove with him before so he knew I was very safety conscience and we kept a loose buddy formation allowing me to do photography and him to watch the group). I'd only done a solo once on a live-aboard and that was just off the stern in 25ft. of water on the reef with a dive master checking my bubbles. It was great but most operators that I've found require a buddy.

 

Randall

[gmcrow]

Fortunately DH and I don't have your buddy problem, but most Caribbean diving is done semi-group style in very clear water, so diving solo sounds like a better solution than babysitting some jerk who doesn't know what he's doing, but doesn't know that he doesn't know. I think I'd rather stay home.

 

The problem with group diving is that one air hog in the group can shorten the dive for everyone. We often ask if we can dive on our own to avoid this. In places where navigation is not a problem we are usually allowed to do so. If the operator says no we simply make sure that we are first in and last out.

 

You might try using the boards here to make contact with someone on your cruise that you could get to know a little about before you sail.

[scubadiver888]

I've never dived in the Caribbean before and never dived on a cruise, so my question is how the dive operators manage trips.

 

On a 50 ft dive, I'll probably get at least an hour out of an AL80. Now, if I'm buddied up with a new diver, they may only get half that time. The other diver (or myself for that matter) could get a chill, and ache, whatever and need to abort the dive. Surfacing with half a tank is such a shame, especially considering the expense to get there.

 

In addition to what has already been said, the excursions organized by the cruise line are set up so the dive operator can take out two groups. This means they have a set timeline. You can typically expect a set dive site and a set time for each dive. I've been on dives where everyone came up with 1000 PSI or more. I think a couple of guys had 2000 PSI.

 

What basically happens for a shore excursion is, you get a ticket telling you what time to meet the cruise ship staff and where. You'll meet the cruise ship staff somewhere on the ship. Someone will check all your c-cards and ask if you have been diving within the last two years. If you are on a morning dive, the moment the ship docks you go ashore and meet someone from the dive operator.

 

Some operators will have a boat waiting with all the gear on it. Some will take you to the dive shop to get your gear. Some will take you in a van to the shop then you'll get your gear and head for the boat.

 

You go to the first site, get a quick briefing. You are expected to enter the water and wait for the dive master/guide/instructor/whatever. The guide will then take you on a set pattern around the site. Everyone will follow him like a lemming. I usually keep them in sight but do my own thing. I like to be the first person in and work on my buoyancy. I explore around the waiting area, look around and get my bearings. Keep out of the way of the guys who will attempt to (accidently) kick my reg or mask off.

 

Once the group heads out I trail behind and do a little exploring. I always keep the group in view. The group once lost the guide. Don't worry about it. Just keep enjoying your dive and the guide will come back and find you.

 

I do the same thing on the way back. I don't surface right away. Everyone will rush the ladder. Just stay under and watch the fun. Viz is usually clear enough you can see when the ladder is clear from 15' (safety stop).

 

What do other experienced divers do? Is that just the luck of the draw when diving with an unknown buddy in a strange place? Do you surface, find another diver with half a tank and go back down for ten minutes? Do the divemasters match up frugal breathers with other frugal breathers and air hogs with other air hogs?

 

Experienced divers usually know the local dive operators and book private excursions. Not as easy if you are a solo diver needing a buddy.

 

I usually chat with the divers on board (when I can find them; walk around with a dive shirt helps). As people have said, if the guy is bragging avoid him. I'd rather dive with the keen but just certified diver then with the bragger.

 

You are on your own to find a buddy. The DM will just show you the reef/wreck/etc. and assumes you can find your own buddy. If you tell him you need a buddy he'll probably just go, "anyone without a buddy?"

 

Do the dive guides stay down until everyone else surfaces? Maybe I could just hang out with him/her?

 

Most the guides dive 5 to 6 times a day. They cut the cattle run dives show so they don't get too nitrogen loaded. I find they are often one of the first people on the boat. If they hang out in the water the once a year divers are in no hurry to get out either. If he gets on the boat they panic; I think they are afraid the boat will leave without them.

 

Additionally, the DM usually helps people out of the water and getting seated.

 

I know - too many questions. Thanks for reading and responding.

 

BTW - This is for a Caribbean cruise. I'm planning on diving in Aruba, Curaco, Belize and Roatan.

 

Dave

 

If you are going to Curacao, check out http://www.the-dive-bus.com. Mark and Suzy are fantastic. It is shore diving but then a lot of the diving in Curacao is shore diving. Even if you are a solo diver they'll find someone to pair you with. They just need 4 divers from anywhere. If you are going as a group or with other people you 'll get a better dive but the solo dive from the dive bus is not too bad.

 

Bring cash for the dive bus; the network connection for the visa machine is flakey. There is a nice local restaurant attached to the shop. They have a really good fish and chips. Negotiate the cab fair before you get in the cab (should be around $12 - $14 each direction). Suzy can call you a cab back to the ship. If you are not bringing your own equipment don't worry. They have nice equipment.

 

Feel free to ask any more questions if you want. ;)

 

Darrell

 

P.S. the dive excursions in Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba aren't too bad. Over near Coz is where the HUGE cattle run boats exist.

[redlef]

 

I usually chat with the divers on board (when I can find them; walk around with a dive shirt helps). As people have said, if the guy is bragging avoid him. I'd rather dive with the keen but just certified diver then with the bragger.

 

You are on your own to find a buddy. The DM will just show you the reef/wreck/etc. and assumes you can find your own buddy. If you tell him you need a buddy he'll probably just go, "anyone without a buddy?"

 

Feel free to ask any more questions if you want. ;)

 

Darrell

 

P.S. the dive excursions in Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba aren't too bad. Over near Coz is where the HUGE cattle run boats exist.

 

Thanks Darrell. Like your idea about walking around with the dive flag shirt; I'll also keep my eyes open for other divers. I'm not worried about finding a Dive Buddy - divers are a friendly bunch, but I definitely know to stay a few feet behind to avoid the face kicks. As I said, I just don't want to hook up with an air hog and lose out on my bottom time. But some dive time is better than no dive time, right?

 

I booked with the Dive bus in Curaco and with Subway Watersports in Roatan. I'm trying to contact DiveAruba - I saw them mentioned on these boards. Nothing yet planned for Bonaire or Dominican Republic. I think I'm going to just snorkel in DR and the ship has a two tank excursion in Bonaire I may take advantage of. Or maybe just snorkel there.

 

I'm a little concerned about rental equipment. I'll bring my regs and mask, but I know rental BC's can get pretty beat up. My BC is a "tech BC" with a bulky backplate and is just too bulky to pack in a suitcase. Maybe I'll wear it on the plane!

[scubadiver888]

Thanks Darrell. Like your idea about walking around with the dive flag shirt; I'll also keep my eyes open for other divers. I'm not worried about finding a Dive Buddy - divers are a friendly bunch, but I definitely know to stay a few feet behind to avoid the face kicks. As I said, I just don't want to hook up with an air hog and lose out on my bottom time. But some dive time is better than no dive time, right?

 

I booked with the Dive bus in Curaco and with Subway Watersports in Roatan. I'm trying to contact DiveAruba - I saw them mentioned on these boards. Nothing yet planned for Bonaire or Dominican Republic. I think I'm going to just snorkel in DR and the ship has a two tank excursion in Bonaire I may take advantage of. Or maybe just snorkel there.

 

I'm a little concerned about rental equipment. I'll bring my regs and mask, but I know rental BC's can get pretty beat up. My BC is a "tech BC" with a bulky backplate and is just too bulky to pack in a suitcase. Maybe I'll wear it on the plane!

 

It is hard to get a bad dive in Bonaire. The DR on the other hand could be down right deadly if you get the wrong operator.

 

The rental equipment at The Dive Bus is in nice shape. No worries there. The stuff in Bonaire is all good too, especially if you book with the cruise ship. Same goes for Aruba. The DR is going to be hit or miss. I've never been to Roatan so I cannot say what the equipment there is like.

 

Where ever you go, the equipment is going to be a jacket style BCD. No back inflate or hogarthian gear.

[redlef]

The DR on the other hand could be down right deadly if you get the wrong operator.

Darrell - is there something specific you can share on that comment?

[scubadiver888]

Darrell - is there something specific you can share on that comment?

It was my first experience diving.

 

I was staying in the DR at a resort. There were a number of resorts with no dive operator on site but they had an instructor in the pool who would give an intro to scuba in the pool and could arrange more if you want to pay for it.

 

The pool session was GREAT. I was hooked. I wanted to be a scuba diver. Weather was bad so we could only do pool work for the next few days. This was really me swimming around while the instructor flirted with this German girl. Most the other students were German and the instructor would instruct them in German then give me a quick blah, blah, blah speech.

 

The three days later a bus came by and took us to the beach. Weather still looked bad but they said it was fine once you got under water.

 

It was a huge bus and stopped at all the resorts in the area. The equipment they had at the resort was fairly good. When we got to the beach, the dive instructor from my resort was not there. We were dumped on the beach in a 'shady' part of the DR. The bus left. A bunch of locals in fishing boats opened a wooden chest located on the beach and started pulling out some REALLY nasty looking gear. The air was clean but the BCDs leaked, the buckle on my mask kept releasing, my weight belt kept coming loose, etc.

 

Talking to some of the other divers (we were all new), they were taught stuff in the pool I was not and vice versa. I'm getting a really bad feeling at this point. By the way, this was my first time outside of North America.

 

I knew I should have called the dive but my choices were (a) stay on the beach alone [scary], (b) go out on the boat and just stay in the boat [really rough sea; hurricane was passing 100 miles off shore; found this out later] or © go diving and hope for the best. I was pretty green so I picked option ©. In hindsight, I would ask more questions before I hand over the cash at the resort.

 

I got thrown against a cement block (anchor point) then my mask came loose as I was breathing in. I sucked some water in through my nose and swallowed it. I didn't panic but the DM was busying trying to catch two divers who were getting swept out to sea and I lost my buddy. Couldn't clear my lungs so I head for the surface. Cleared my lungs, fixed my mask, boat was gone. Few seconds later the DM shows up and starts yelling at me in Spanish. Once he calms down and starts speaking English he asks if I'm okay to go back down. I ask him were is everyone else. Look of panic on his face and he disappears beneath the surface.

 

Now my options are float on the surface until the boat comes back or follow the DM back down. Surface is REALLY rough and I feel the current taking me out to sea. I head back down and constantly check my mask. Mask is still leaking and strap will not stay tight.

 

One of the few pictures of me diving is from this trip. You can clearly see an inch of water in my mask.

 

Looking back I should be dead. I was lucky because I didn't panic. There were a few dive groups. When I got back into a fishing boat (at this point people we just flipping into whatever was closest) there was a small, blonde girl curled up in the bow of the boat. I asked if she was okay but no one answered me. I don't remember getting back to shore and I'm pretty sure I got drunk when I got back to the resort.

 

I have no idea who the dive operator was (or if they were just a bunch of guys with dive equipment).

 

Almost quit diving after that. Thank you Haldane 'Spider' Henry for being the best dive instructor ever. I actually quit diving for 2 years and then got Spider to certify me PADI OW while in Jamaica. Spider had me do class work first, lots of time in the pool and one on one training during open water. It was at this point I realized how much danger I was really in.

 

First instructor didn't bother to mention what happens if you hold your breath. I think he was too busy flirting with the hot German babe. I have to admit, she was pretty hot.

[redlef]

It was my first experience diving. . . . . . . First instructor didn't bother to mention what happens if you hold your breath. I think he was too busy flirting with the hot German babe. I have to admit, she was pretty hot.

 

That's some story Darrell. Luckily, you survived it. It reminds me of a quote on a scuba website: "Experience is when you get the test before the class."

Sounds like you're pretty cool-headed and passed the test, which is one skill that nobody can teach you.

 

I'm playing it safe and sticking with dive operators that have been favorably mentioned here or ships tours.

 

Dave

[scubadiver888]

That's some story Darrell. Luckily, you survived it. It reminds me of a quote on a scuba website: "Experience is when you get the test before the class."

Sounds like you're pretty cool-headed and passed the test, which is one skill that nobody can teach you.

 

I'm playing it safe and sticking with dive operators that have been favorably mentioned here or ships tours.

 

Dave

 

I like that quote. I might have to 'leverage' it some day. :D

 

I've always had this thing were everything slows down and I get a strong sense of clarity when I feel panic. I usually totally lose it the moment I'm sure I'm out of danger. I'd probably be dead a few times over with all the crazy things I did growing up if it wasn't for this ability. :eek:

 

I'm going to the DR again during my next cruise. The cruise line does not offer a scuba diving excursion. That should say something right there. I'm going to find a local dive operator and try it again anyways. I'm bringing all my own equipment this time so I'm not too worried. :cool: