Rebreather Dive Vacation Packages Offered Year Round on Cayman Brac

[scubadada]

So, this is an interesting thread. I dive with CCR divers quite frequently in SE Florida. Most frequently, the CCR divers do the same dives as the OC divers. Occasionally they are able to do a longer dive on a double dip on a wreck. CCR divers need to get something straight, they would like the OC divers to make a significant change in their diving protocol. This is simply not going to happen for a whole variety of reasons. Remember, you are in the small minority. If you don't want to dive on a rec boat, don't. Just don't complain about how the rec boat its not conforming to your requirements. The best solution is for tech divers, CCR included, to dive off your own tech boats.

 

[KathyV]

There are some decent ways to incorporate tech diving on a recreational Caribbean style charter ... but it really depends on the staff, the tech divers, and the topology of the area ...

One shop I dive with, we will splash during the dive briefing, sometimes we need to swim aways to get to the site (depending on area and surface conditions .... briefing and then subsequently gearing up 14-20 rec divers in swells for 20-30min wouldn't be a good option), Others, we get dropped off on the way to the area where they do the briefing ..

This gives us a good 25-30min head start from the first recreational diver splashing .... Depending on the site and equipment we are bringing, we try to get on the boat before the divers get back, so we get a 90-110minute run time on the first dive (especially when bringing DPV, stages, etc ... easier to stow away without people in the way on deck)

Second dive is very similar, splash just before the briefing (grabbing equipment when most people are out on the fly bridge/bow sunning while on their SI)

We will generally get out of the water last on the second dive, getting in another 90-110min dive, as most of the rec divers are now tired, and not hanging out around the back of the boat while the crew strips down the gear and starts rinsing the equipment on the way back to the dock.


While not a good 3-4hr CCR dive, with OC/CCR tech divers it works out fairly well.


_R

So, this is an interesting thread. I dive with CCR divers quite frequently in SE Florida. Most frequently, the CCR divers do the same dives as the OC divers. Occasionally they are able to do a longer dive on a double dip on a wreck. CCR divers need to get something straight, they would like the OC divers to make a significant change in their diving protocol. This is simply not going to happen for a whole variety of reasons. Remember, you are in the small minority. If you don't want to dive on a rec boat, don't. Just don't complain about how the rec boat its not conforming to your requirements. The best solution is for tech divers, CCR included, to dive off your own tech boats.

I agree that this is an interesting thread and I'm glad that I was able to share the information.

It may be challenging to mix rebreather and open circuit divers on the same boat and still keep everybody happy, but it has been done successfully elsewhere. And I have often seen large groups at the Clearly Cayman resorts, on trips that were organized by local dive shops and clubs, and these groups often have a boat to themselves. So if a group of rebreather divers put together a boatload of resort guests, I am sure that Reef Divers would try to accommodate their needs and ensure that they are able to enjoy the types of dives suitable to their skills and equipment; and they would also try to make it work with a mixed group of divers.

It's also a nice opportunity for CCR divers who want to practice their skills or perhaps tryout new equipment in a new Caribbean location, but it seems that they would have to be willing to comply with the recreational dive profile at this time.

And it's great that RD and the CBBR are trying to expand their services and make it easier for tech divers to enjoy the Cayman Sister Islands, but it is important for customers (and potential customers) to give them feedback and tell them what they are looking for, so that they can make this new venture successful.

 

[jgttrey]

Stuartv. I totally agree with you. If someone is looking for specific info they will research and contact for themselves! Posting the ad only muddies the water.

With respect, I disagree. What is misleading or confusing about posting, verbatim, their own advertisement -- an advertisement that is SPECIFICALLY for what is described as a "Rebreather Dive Package"? If they don't want to be evaluated on what they say on the website, then just say "We support rebreather divers, contact us for specifics." But when you say a bunch of specific stuff, you should expect to be judged on it and I don't that that is unfair or a disservice to them.

To the point about recreational double-dip profiles.... I do appreciate the disclosure in the ad. I just think, again, that if you're advertising a CCR "package," it is shooting yourself in the foot to simultaneously note that if you're not in a big enough group to charter the whole boat, you're stuck doing recreational profiles. I love diving CCR, but I would not schlep my unit down there just to do profiles I could do on an 80 (at least not EVERY dive).

If there's no workaround other than taking the whole boat, that would be a problem. I would hope that they would have the ability to support both off the same boat, within reason. It won't work out every time, but on GCM, I've been on boats many times where we did a single deco dive, both OC and CCR, while recreational divers did a double dip -- diving Sand Chutes and then deco out on the Kittiwake is a perfect example. Depending on the group, the site, the conditions, it won't always work, but it can quite often be done.

 

[Jeremy Williams]

I think it's good that they put up something. The thing that this says most to me is that #1 they have (or will get) O2 for me and that #2 they have (or will get) sorb for me. That makes them worth further research. There are HUNDREDS of dive operations in the caribbean and Mexico. While I am new to rebreathers, it seems like the vast overwhelming majority of them don't have these basic rebreather supplies for sale.

 

[KathyV]

I think it's good that they put up something. The thing that this says most to me is that #1 they have (or will get) O2 for me and that #2 they have (or will get) sorb for me. That makes them worth further research. There are HUNDREDS of dive operations in the caribbean and Mexico. While I am new to rebreathers, it seems like the vast overwhelming majority of them don't have these basic rebreather supplies for sale.

See below for an excerpt from an article about the Clearly Cayman resorts that includes some info about the rebreather services that CBBR is now offering. It's doesn't provide any new information but it touches on their current philosophy. They consider themselves to be "Rebreather Friendly" but they aren't attempting to be a tech dive center at this time, but it is possible they may expand these services in the future if they gain popularity.

Clearly Cayman Dive Resorts

September 18, 2018

Rebreather

Dirk Peterson

Rebreather-Friendly Services Coming to Cayman Brac

"Each year more divers opt to “trade in” their traditional, open circuit scuba gear and take the plunge into the world of rebreathers. Many state their reason as wanting to do fewer, longer, and sometimes deeper dives. Underwater photographers often feel they are less intrusive on the marine life they are trying to capture. And some just love the idea of trying the newest technology.

Beginning in 2019, Reef Divers at Cayman Brac Beach Resort will be “rebreather friendly,” meaning that they will stock scrubber and oxygen plus have bailout bottles to support guests’ use of their own personal rebreather gear.

“We are currently training selected staff members in the use of rebreathers,” said Joe Kellogg, Reef Divers manager at the resort. “Although guests will be responsible for servicing their own equipment, it’s important that we are familiar with rebreather technology in order to facilitate this and assist our guests.”

Rebreather groups with dedicated boats will be able to use their equipment to its safe, maximum depth and time limitations. Individual divers who would like to bring and use their rebreathers will be accommodated on regular boats and will follow the same profiles set for divers using standard scuba equipment."

 

[hroark2112]

If you get enough rebreather divers to go with you (I think the number is 10 total) you can get a dedicated CCR boat and do longer profiles.