Hi All,
First time poster and fairly new diver - hoping that you guys can give me some advice! I certified as an OW diver late last year, have done eight dives to date, and am absolutely loving it!
Last week I was in Tulum Mexico and spoke to some of the dive shops about diving in cenotes. The dive shop operators were eager to assure me that it was safe to do, provided you were with an appropriately skilled and trained guide, but I remember the OW course saying that you should seek additional training before diving in an overhead environment. I asked about getting additional training and was told that the cave diving course typically takes nine days and includes skills like laying lines. To add some context, I am not interested in exploring new caves, or diving without a guide, I just want to follow lines and 'safe' dive routes that more experienced people have already identified. Furthermore, underground diving probably wont become a permanent hobby for me, the Tulum dives are likely to be a once only event.
I'm also aware that there is a distinction between cave diving and cavern diving, but am not sure what this means in terms of training.
I'm planning on going back to Tulum in a couple of months, and want to make sure that I am appropriately trained before doing any cenote dives there. I am NOT interested in doing anything that I'm not appropriately trained for!
My questions to the forum are therefore:
1. What level of training should I have before diving a cavern with a guide?
2. What level of training should I have before diving a cave with a guide?
3. Can anyone recommend a dive shop with good safety standards in or around Tulum?
Many thanks for your help!
First time poster and fairly new diver - hoping that you guys can give me some advice! I certified as an OW diver late last year, have done eight dives to date, and am absolutely loving it!
Last week I was in Tulum Mexico and spoke to some of the dive shops about diving in cenotes. The dive shop operators were eager to assure me that it was safe to do, provided you were with an appropriately skilled and trained guide, but I remember the OW course saying that you should seek additional training before diving in an overhead environment. I asked about getting additional training and was told that the cave diving course typically takes nine days and includes skills like laying lines. To add some context, I am not interested in exploring new caves, or diving without a guide, I just want to follow lines and 'safe' dive routes that more experienced people have already identified. Furthermore, underground diving probably wont become a permanent hobby for me, the Tulum dives are likely to be a once only event.
I'm also aware that there is a distinction between cave diving and cavern diving, but am not sure what this means in terms of training.
I'm planning on going back to Tulum in a couple of months, and want to make sure that I am appropriately trained before doing any cenote dives there. I am NOT interested in doing anything that I'm not appropriately trained for!
My questions to the forum are therefore:
1. What level of training should I have before diving a cavern with a guide?
2. What level of training should I have before diving a cave with a guide?
3. Can anyone recommend a dive shop with good safety standards in or around Tulum?
Many thanks for your help!