Preparing for Devil's Throat

[Mossman]

It's like the Blue Hole in Belize. What is there about these dives that makes people accept a short dive with higher risk, just to do it?

A friend of mine had close encounters with sharks in the Blue Hole. That would be worth it. Or maybe not, because a close encounter with sharks would also likely exceed your risk tolerance.

Some people jump out of planes. Some hang-glide. Some ride motorcycles. Some climb Mt. Everest. Some dive in long caves or deep wrecks. Some dive period, whereas as it's been pointed out, it might be safer to stay on land. Maybe get drunk and rent a scooter instead?

 

[Mike]

I observed the three gentlemen from the midwest actually descending :goingdown:. One was quite deep, but the other two were much deeper.

Once we were all safely back on the boat, I asked the one diver about his computer and how it worked (surreptitiously trying to determine his depth). His computer showed his depth to be 183 feet, and his two buddies were below 200 feet . When asked why his buddies would go that deep, on air, he replied that they normally do lake diving, but like to do a "deep dive" when they visit Cozumel. In my opinion, they were asking for trouble. Divegoose

Gotta say one thing about them, they are pretty good on their air consumption!!!

 

[Ron Lee]

On my second dive there, we were accompanied by three gentlemen from the Midwest. Hitting the exit point on the wall, we were greeted by a big turtle which we spent a couple of minutes watching. As we turned and started up the wall to the top of the reef, I observed the three gentlemen from the midwest actually descending :goingdown:. One was quite deep, but the other two were much deeper.

Once we were all safely back on the boat, I asked the one diver about his computer and how it worked (surreptitiously trying to determine his depth). His computer showed his depth to be 183 feet, and his two buddies were below 200 feet . When asked why his buddies would go that deep, on air, he replied that they normally do lake diving, but like to do a "deep dive" when they visit Cozumel. In my opinion, they were asking for trouble.

Divegoose

You have a lot of dives. If you are diving with a loved one and you enter a swim through but your wife/daughter/son who is behind you starts descending and is eventually deeper than 130' and still descending, would you want someone who has been on a similar "risky" dive be comfortable with going deep to assist/rescue your loved one?

 

[djanni]

Before you do, sit down and figure out how much gas it will take to get you and your wife to the surface from 130 feet while sharing gas. Then think about how much it will take if you have to exit an overhead environment AND get to the surface. Then decide if you think the dive is a good idea.

After you've done the above sit back, relax, make sure your air is on, roll-in and enjoy.

 

[fishi]

I know that wanting to dive Devil's Throat is a sign of moral deficiency for many of the Cozumel old salts, but I thought I'd risk asking the question anyway.

My wife & I are AOW certified with about 40 dives each. However, we have not been deeper than 95 feet and I was wondering if we would be best to get a 'simple' dive to 130' to check out how we respond i.e. any sign of narcosis and to generally just get comfortable at that depth.
We have done some cenote diving (Dos Ojos) and are happy in enclosed environments, but just thought that having judgement issues or worse in the middle of a tunnel with a line of people behind us might not be a good idea.

Apologies if this is FAQ but I did search and didn't find anything addressing this.

ZombieZombie, does your wife feel comfortable doing the DT. You should let her read this thread. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/167129-devils-throat-take-light.html

 

[MMM]

ZombieZombie, does your wife feel comfortable doing the DT. You should let her read this thread. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/167129-devils-throat-take-light.html

Thanks for posting this fishi. It's a thread I think about often, though it's been a long time since I have looked at it. I think, had I been a moderator in those days, I would have moved it to the A&I or Near Misses forum so that a broader audience than just Cozumel forum readers could have contemplated the learnings. I feel for the OP however, and "get" his analogy to a rape victim. Root cause analysis of critical incidents should NOT have that effect because it's not about "blame" but rather about "everybody learning".

 

[TSandM]

I remember that thread . . . it's the thing I think about every time someone writes about the Devil's Throat dive. Too many possibilities for major problems on that one for me.

 

[mediumone]

Thanks for posting this fishi. It's a thread I think about often, though it's been a long time since I have looked at it. I think, had I been a moderator in those days, I would have moved it to the A&I or Near Misses forum so that a broader audience than just Cozumel forum readers could have contemplated the learnings. I feel for the OP however, and "get" his analogy to a rape victim. Root cause analysis of critical incidents should NOT have that effect because it's not about "blame" but rather about "everybody learning".

And in so doing, you would have hidden it from the readers who would most benefit from it; those of us who dive Cozumel.


There are many threads, I think, that offer the learning experience on the A&I forum.


I frequent this forum, the A&I -- not so much.


Sometimes the best moderation is no moderation.

 

[MMM]

I don't disagree with you, and in fact, that is very often the case. You don't hear about those decisions much on the board, however.

You have hit on one of the many conundrums that moderators face. What is the best decision for the entire board? But had the move occurred back then, most likely there would have been an automatic redirect made so people could easily find the new location.

And in so doing, you would have hidden it from the readers who would most benefit from it; those of us who dive Cozumel.


There are many threads, I think, that offer the learning experience on the A&I forum.


I frequent this forum, the A&I -- not so much.


Sometimes the best moderation is no moderation.

 

[Chidiver]

I dove it last year with my wife and it was awesome! The advice you received was all good and you should take it. We are very good on air consumption and although my experience below 90' has been limited, I did not find myself experiencing narcosis (that was a bit of a concern). I did need to do a deco stop at 60', and that was recommended by the DM. It's a really cool dive and I did not find it to be as tight as people have commented. Good luck.