Dive Trips for Noobs: Where to go to build experience....

[bbarnett51]

Wherever you go I would pay the $50 or so extra to dive with the dive master. You will be more comfortable and will probably learn more on a two tank trip than you did in all of OW.

I like Cayman as well.

 

[PatW]

I would think you would want dive sites with good visibility, little current and warm water. You might think of Roatan or Utila in Honduras. I have been to CoCoView in Roatan. You can do 4 dives per day there without any problem at all and if you wish go to 5 or more. Pat who runs the dive shop there runs a seminar on proper weighting. Getting properly weighted makes a big difference in your diving. Many new divers go in with almost twice as much weight as they really should have. CoCoView is pretty much a dive place and not all that high up on amenities (which are not bad just not high end). There are quite a few operators on the island. Another spot you might think of is Utila. I have been to Deep Blue Resort there. They run 3 boat dives per day with an option for a very nice shore dive in the afternoon. I have been to Little Cayman. The diving there is probably a bit better than Grand Cayman. It depends on what you want. There is not a whole lot of "action" on Little Cayman. The diving is very good indeed. You have quite a few large fish there. Most places I have been have high fishing pressure so you do not see much in the way of large fish. All of the above resorts put dive masters in the water.

I have heard good things about Bonaire and Curacao also but I have not been there.

 

[Firebird2XC]

... again, thanks all.

I'm loving the Caribbean dive spot tips.. I'm smart enough to know I'm brand new, so guided dives are definitely what's what.

@Earl Grey- were you referring to GBR or Bonaire/Curacao as to the spot that spoiled you?

---------- Post Merged at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:46 AM ----------

I would think you would want dive sites with good visibility, little current and warm water. You might think of Roatan or Utila in Honduras. I have been to CoCoView in Roatan. You can do 4 dives per day there without any problem at all and if you wish go to 5 or more. Pat who runs the dive shop there runs a seminar on proper weighting. Getting properly weighted makes a big difference in your diving. Many new divers go in with almost twice as much weight as they really should have. CoCoView is pretty much a dive place and not all that high up on amenities (which are not bad just not high end). There are quite a few operators on the island. Another spot you might think of is Utila. I have been to Deep Blue Resort there. They run 3 boat dives per day with an option for a very nice shore dive in the afternoon. I have been to Little Cayman. The diving there is probably a bit better than Grand Cayman. It depends on what you want. There is not a whole lot of "action" on Little Cayman. The diving is very good indeed. You have quite a few large fish there. Most places I have been have high fishing pressure so you do not see much in the way of large fish. All of the above resorts put dive masters in the water.

I have heard good things about Bonaire and Curacao also but I have not been there.

Thanks for the tips. You mentioned weighting?

I'm 6'2", 220 lbs without gear. I was loading 8 pounds in the lake this weekend without a wetsuit and had a little trouble staying down. I'm thinking two pounds of trim weights ought of to bring me where I need to be. A DM/instructor suggested that a good rule of thumb is that once you know what works with what wetsuit, you can add four pounds for the seawater conversion. Does that sound right?

 

[jimbeeler]

Thanks for the tips. You mentioned weighting?

I'm 6'2", 220 lbs without gear. I was loading 8 pounds in the lake this weekend without a wetsuit and had a little trouble staying down. I'm thinking two pounds of trim weights ought of to bring me where I need to be. A DM/instructor suggested that a good rule of thumb is that once you know what works with what wetsuit, you can add four pounds for the seawater conversion. Does that sound right?

With a full wetsuit, I use 10 in at Clear Springs but 20 in the ocean. 5' 10" , 205. 4 may work for you but it sure doesn't for me.

Jim

 

[scubajoeT]

Regarding weighting:

I'm 6'2", 200#. Without a wetsuit, I use zero weight in fresh water. In salt water, I use 8 pounds with a 3 mil wetsuit--probably about 4 pounds due to wetsuit and 4 pounds due to salt water. 14 pounds sounds about right to me for a relatively new diver about your size in salt water (but everyone is different). Just remember to exhale!

-JoeT

 

[Flig]

Weighting is VERY dependent on you and your comfort level and anxiety. I dropped 5lbs just from getting more comfortable lately. With that said, 12-14 sounds like a good starting point.

 

[Earl Grey]

It was Curacao that spoiled me, for the reason that one could simply gear up and walk into the water and experience such great viz and marine life. Prior to that I had only experienced boat diving or local lakes/quarries where the viz leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Timeliner]

Butterfly Cove at Eisenhower State Park , Lake Texoma......
It's close to you, the fish are great, rocks are cool too.
Take a buddy , bring a dive light and have some fun being a DIMWIT ... You'll love it!!!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The MV Spree has a three day labor day charter from Key West to the Dry Tortugas and the Vandenburg. I'm pretty sure you'd get 5 dives per day on both Saturday and Sunday in the dry Tortugas and 2 dives on Monday on the Vandenberg.

 

[Firebird2XC]

The MV Spree has a three day labor day charter from Key West to the Dry Tortugas and the Vandenburg. I'm pretty sure you'd get 5 dives per day on both Saturday and Sunday in the dry Tortugas and 2 dives on Monday on the Vandenberg.

Ah, great tip! I'm aiming to be in Florida that weekend regardless, but I'm not really sure what my exact plans are. I'll Google that boat...


- Really appreciate the tips, all! I'm leaning towards doing some Lake Travis diving on a weekend before September, then diving Bonaire/Curacao in September... Please, keep the tips coming!