Diving Devil's Throat and Columbia Deep

[tridacna]

If you ask me, it was a really great dive. I'm just being honest. But I would not recommend this to any diver without some experience in an overhead environment.

 

[Jungho Kim]

If you ask me, it was a really great dive. I'm just being honest. But I would not recommend this to any diver without some experience in an overhead environment.

Thanks, I've dove in pretty tight overhead environments in Roatan and also have done wreck diving in very strong currents in the cold waters of the St. Lawrence... I'll see what the dive op says... If they say no, then it is what it is...

cheers,

JK

 

[Jungho Kim]

Don't get caught up in "trophy dives". To be honest "Devil's Throat" really isn't that great a dive if you ask me. With an AL80 you have very little NDL and unless you are first through it can be a total silt-out.

If this is your first trip to Cozumel, just sit back and enjoy your dives...there isn't a bad dive on the entire island.

Bob

It is my first dive trip to Cozumel... Totally psyched! Will be there 2 weeks and hope to do at least 20 dives... I will doing couple of dives at the Chac Mool cenotes prior to the 27th so hopefully a reputable Dive Op will take me...

 

[Jungho Kim]

All good questions... Frankly, I don't know much about the site except for hearing great things about it... I will plan the dive when I get there and will work with the DM to do so.

cheers,

JK

I would also not take the word of another op. Some well known ones do some pretty dumb stuff and therefore lose much credibility with me. I have yet to do the "Throat" and not sure if I ever will.

But out of curiosity what is your plan for it? Depths, times, gas supply, fact that it is a true overhead environment. What is the skill level of your buddy or potential buddy? What is the acceptable level you are ok with in regards to your buddies on a dive like this that empties out at the recreational limits? What is your back up deco plan should something happen 1/2 way through and you get hung up? What's your tolerance level for nitrogen narcosis and how do personally manage it?

How much overhead experience do you have, ie wrecks, ice, cavern, theoretical (planned deco)?

I hope you are not planning on an al80 for the dive and have asked for 100cu ft tanks as a min.

It always scares me when I hear of divers thinking of doing this dive based on what card they have. I consider this based on the videos I have seen as a cave dive. Cavern at the least. I would not take anyone without some type of overhead training into it. I know lots or people have done it and been fine. I have also talked to an instructor who did it twice and on both dives had to assist another diver. Once someone who was narced and decided to keep going down (he caught her at 150 or so).

 

[judydivescoz]

I would ask the dive op you booked with to refer you to another op that can your request. I can't imagine any company taking you to these sites without diving with you first, the only chance you may have is a referral. IMHO, devils Throat does not live up to the hype. Columbia Deep is great dive. Honestly there are no bad dives in Cozumel. Enjoy what you have already planned and enjoy your trip.

 

[cvchief]

It does seem to be a been there, done that kinda dive. As long as you don't freak, it isn't that bad. I'm not superdiver, but I was fine. I accidentally was volunteered to be last. Last sucks unless you really like sand and trying to find the fins in front of you. I'd do it again if someone wanted, but I'm not pushing for it.....

 

[Jungho Kim]

Thanks, I did get some referrals... Unfortunately, they are all booked!! Too bad my girlfriend is a teacher and hence has a fixed vacation schedule, otherwise, I would never go to Cozumel during this time... It is too busy!!

I would ask the dive op you booked with to refer you to another op that can your request. I can't imagine any company taking you to these sites without diving with you first, the only chance you may have is a referral. IMHO, devils Throat does not live up to the hype. Columbia Deep is great dive. Honestly there are no bad dives in Cozumel. Enjoy what you have already planned and enjoy your trip.

 

[Mike]

Rungho - have you ever heard the saying by Groucho Marx - "I wouldn't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member."

Same thing with any dive op that will take you to Devil's throat without diving with you for at least 1 day of diving prior. Any dive op that takes you there without seeing you dive first hand, I'd advise you to protect your life and avoid diving with them.

If you're a competent, self-confident, accomplished diver, devil's throat is nothing at all. If you're not, devils throat could be a panic induced, low/out of air, silted, tank/head banging on ceiling, mask kicked off, mess of a dive.

Which is why no dive op worth a damn would dare take somebody on that dive without checking them out first hand first.

 

[Jungho Kim]

Wow, so referrals mean nothing in this business? I'm all for risk "aware"... that's just being smart and responsible but this is very risk "averse" imho... Yes it's diving, yes people can die, but if Dive Ops and their DMs do not take a referrals from people they TRUST then that is a bit much imho... Would love to hear more from Dive Op owners/managers about this... private message me if need be...

cheers,

JK

Rungho - have you ever heard the saying by Groucho Marx - "I wouldn't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member."

Same thing with any dive op that will take you to Devil's throat without diving with you for at least 1 day of diving prior. Any dive op that takes you there without seeing you dive first hand, I'd advise you to protect your life and avoid diving with them.

If you're a competent, self-confident, accomplished diver, devil's throat is nothing at all. If you're not, devils throat could be a panic induced, low/out of air, silted, tank/head banging on ceiling, mask kicked off, mess of a dive.

Which is why no dive op worth a damn would dare take somebody on that dive without checking them out first hand first.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

What's your gas plan for the 135 fsw max depth? (Jim Lapenta asked this earlier...but it was never answered.)

If you don't have one or don't know what I'm talking about, then you really shouldn't be doing the dive.

Also, are you and your buddy equipped properly to do a gas-share in a space that features restrictions forcing divers to proceed in single file?