sawyersdad
Contributor
What do you all think about a diver with over 40 dives in the Carribean and a Basic Cert about diving the Great Blue Hole? Should I go ahead and get my Advanced before attempting this dive? Is the Dive worth the "Hype"?
Advice Needed, Great Blue Hole
- Thread starter sawyersdad
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My 2 PSI:
You should be fine. Blue holes are not more dangerous than any other dive - you don't have to go down to 130 feet despite all the stories about people doing so.
I wouldn't have thought it necessary just for that dive.
I have never done it, but I have heard it is slightly over rated (I presume you are talking about the Great Blue Hole in Belize). Interesting hydrological phenomena, but not much to see once you are in it.
You should be fine. Blue holes are not more dangerous than any other dive - you don't have to go down to 130 feet despite all the stories about people doing so.
I wouldn't have thought it necessary just for that dive.
I have never done it, but I have heard it is slightly over rated (I presume you are talking about the Great Blue Hole in Belize). Interesting hydrological phenomena, but not much to see once you are in it.
When we dived in Belize a few years back I was all pshyced to do the Blue Hole too, but talking with the locals after I got there I decided not to waste my dive time: it was a pretty good jaunt from the area we were staying, for what is said to be just a touch and go dive because of the depth. Also they said there might be quite a few sharks to see, but only IF you are the first boat there for the day. Just didn't seem worth the effort to get there when I learned the details.
If I was close enough to get there easily I would probably dive it, as a one time "been there...", but we were further south at Hamanasi resort, and there was great diving MUCH closer to us.
If I was close enough to get there easily I would probably dive it, as a one time "been there...", but we were further south at Hamanasi resort, and there was great diving MUCH closer to us.
That's a pretty sweeping statement Rhone Man. Obviously you've never dove the Blue Holes of Andros...
Ana
.
Number of dives without context can not be used as determining factor.
Where those dives within 10, 5, or 1 year? or maybe the last 10 days? Next thing to consider would be the type of dives.
Also what I consider sort of important: your level of involvement in those dives. Lately you hear of people doing dives but they have zero control over the dive. A DM "takes" them down for whatever time at whatever depth.
Find out the details of this Great Blue Hole dive you are considering, and then YOU decide if you are good to go for that dive.
Where those dives within 10, 5, or 1 year? or maybe the last 10 days? Next thing to consider would be the type of dives.
Also what I consider sort of important: your level of involvement in those dives. Lately you hear of people doing dives but they have zero control over the dive. A DM "takes" them down for whatever time at whatever depth.
Find out the details of this Great Blue Hole dive you are considering, and then YOU decide if you are good to go for that dive.
walke121
Contributor
You should do it if you go to Belize. There is stuff to see at without going deep. There is practically no current and you can say you dove the great blue hole.
Guba
Contributor
gypsyjim
Would love to hear more about your Belize dives. My wife and I are going to Belize next summer (she doesn't dive), so I'd like to learn as much as possible about dive operators, land excursions, etc... Have you posted a dive report about your trip anywhere?
Would love to hear more about your Belize dives. My wife and I are going to Belize next summer (she doesn't dive), so I'd like to learn as much as possible about dive operators, land excursions, etc... Have you posted a dive report about your trip anywhere?
Wayfarer2
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My experience with the blue hole
The Blue Hole its self is not a very interesting dive, but the two wall dives you do afterward are amazing! It is a very long day beginning with a 5 or 5:30am arrival at the dock for 6am departure. From Ambergris Cay it takes at least 3 hours to get out there with about half that time in potentially rough open ocean water and half cruising thru more protected atolls.
Dive 1 – Blue Hole
A very deep dive they keep the group tight and guide you to 135-140’ if you don’t go that deep there is not much to see. It can be a little unnerving to come off of the sloping sand flats at 40’ out over the black abyss of the hole, just stick with the group and the dive masters will keep a close eye on everyone. If you have not been diving recently I would definitely advise diving for a few days on the reefs in front of San Pedro, preferably with the operation you are planning to go to the Blue Hole with, it will give them a chance to get to know your skills and comfort levels, if you have never been very deep ask them to work in a couple of deep dives during these days. I have done the vast majority of my diving in Belize with Amigos Del Mar and they have the biggest and newest boat that goes to the Blue Hole and a great staff. Be aware that your computer will go into deco on this dive but the dive masters managed the ascent so well that mine cleared the 4 minute stop at 10’ before we got to 20’
Dive 2 – Light house Wall
A great wall dive, probably one of my all time favorite dives ever, Huge sponges and soft corals, lots of fish life, turtles, eagle rays and a bunch of Tarpon. I ran up on my NDL on this dive because I went deeper than the group on the first dive
Lunch on Lighthouse Cay, typically Stewed chicken with Belizean Beans and rice, soft drinks provided. Then you have some time to explore the island.
Dive 3 – Aquarium
Another great wall dive but I was not as impressed with this wall as I was the one on Light House. My favorite part was near the end of the dive when we cane up on top of the reef in to about 20 feet of water, it was like diving in a giant aquarium.
Then you have a 3 hour boat ride back, we got in about 5:30pm on the trip I went on. I will probably make the trip again but on the Blue Hole dive I will try to stay as shallow as possible while keeping with the group so I can get more quality time on the second dive of the day.
The Blue Hole its self is not a very interesting dive, but the two wall dives you do afterward are amazing! It is a very long day beginning with a 5 or 5:30am arrival at the dock for 6am departure. From Ambergris Cay it takes at least 3 hours to get out there with about half that time in potentially rough open ocean water and half cruising thru more protected atolls.
Dive 1 – Blue Hole
A very deep dive they keep the group tight and guide you to 135-140’ if you don’t go that deep there is not much to see. It can be a little unnerving to come off of the sloping sand flats at 40’ out over the black abyss of the hole, just stick with the group and the dive masters will keep a close eye on everyone. If you have not been diving recently I would definitely advise diving for a few days on the reefs in front of San Pedro, preferably with the operation you are planning to go to the Blue Hole with, it will give them a chance to get to know your skills and comfort levels, if you have never been very deep ask them to work in a couple of deep dives during these days. I have done the vast majority of my diving in Belize with Amigos Del Mar and they have the biggest and newest boat that goes to the Blue Hole and a great staff. Be aware that your computer will go into deco on this dive but the dive masters managed the ascent so well that mine cleared the 4 minute stop at 10’ before we got to 20’
Dive 2 – Light house Wall
A great wall dive, probably one of my all time favorite dives ever, Huge sponges and soft corals, lots of fish life, turtles, eagle rays and a bunch of Tarpon. I ran up on my NDL on this dive because I went deeper than the group on the first dive
Lunch on Lighthouse Cay, typically Stewed chicken with Belizean Beans and rice, soft drinks provided. Then you have some time to explore the island.
Dive 3 – Aquarium
Another great wall dive but I was not as impressed with this wall as I was the one on Light House. My favorite part was near the end of the dive when we cane up on top of the reef in to about 20 feet of water, it was like diving in a giant aquarium.
Then you have a 3 hour boat ride back, we got in about 5:30pm on the trip I went on. I will probably make the trip again but on the Blue Hole dive I will try to stay as shallow as possible while keeping with the group so I can get more quality time on the second dive of the day.
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