I was planning this installment to include diving deep, but that seems to have already been a popular thread topic without my help.
I am interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on following an instructor/guide through a cavern, that may or may not be a cave by cave diving definitions, with just an OW certification and less than, say, 20 dives?
Here are just a few quick examples;
Tunnels, North Shore of Kauai
Shark's Cove, North Shore of Oahu
Cathedrals, South Coast of Lanai
5 Caves, Makena Coast of Maui
Cenotes, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Devil's Throat, Cozumel, Mexico
That last one may be controversial due to ~130' depth of exit, not many OW divers with less than 20 dives being allowed and not positive all the guides are instructors, but the others would be guided by instructors if you go with one of the established local operators.
For reference, here are a couple posts from the first installment of...
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/369121-warped-view-dive-world.html
I am interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on following an instructor/guide through a cavern, that may or may not be a cave by cave diving definitions, with just an OW certification and less than, say, 20 dives?
Here are just a few quick examples;
Tunnels, North Shore of Kauai
Shark's Cove, North Shore of Oahu
Cathedrals, South Coast of Lanai
5 Caves, Makena Coast of Maui
Cenotes, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Devil's Throat, Cozumel, Mexico
That last one may be controversial due to ~130' depth of exit, not many OW divers with less than 20 dives being allowed and not positive all the guides are instructors, but the others would be guided by instructors if you go with one of the established local operators.
For reference, here are a couple posts from the first installment of...
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/369121-warped-view-dive-world.html
For example ... I doubt you'd find a single agency out there who would agree with you that there's something "normal" about someone with OW-only training and very little practical experience diving overheads. I can tell you for certain that the agency I teach for doesn't believe it's acceptable to dive beyond your training ... and I'm fairly certain yours doesn't either.
I think your correct here, agencys do not support it, however, I am sure there are inst. and LDS that encourage it. ie. I know someone that took his OW this past year, the shop owner also the inst. encouraged him to do swim throughs. A bus, a airplane and a fish hachery. All three of those were on different events. Not to mention the careless way this owner talks about his diving adventures. Going OOA only to buddy up with his dive buddy to finish out the dive. I also believe that when someone goes on vacation to someplace like HI, and they feel as if they will NEVER get to do something like the caves again, they will take that chance as to not miss it.
Are there guided tours of these cave sites in HI?????
Last edited: