What is this “snorkel” you speak of??Thank you for the post. I did not know that Belize had instituted new regulations. A bunch of people from scubaboard are going to be p!ssed when they visit and find out they will need a snorkel.
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What is this “snorkel” you speak of??Thank you for the post. I did not know that Belize had instituted new regulations. A bunch of people from scubaboard are going to be p!ssed when they visit and find out they will need a snorkel.
What is this “snorkel” you speak of??
Sorry, I suppose that you misunderstood my point. I have nothing against different methods. I had to use very exotic approaches when diving in some special sites, complying with the local regulations.@Angelo Farina Its obvious that you are very passionate about safety and diving. And that your concern is genuine. However, it’s also very obvious that you have been well indoctrinated in your organization’s philosophy. But not everyone shares that philosophy and that doesn’t make them or you wrong, just different. I am curious if you have done much diving outside of your group?
It might be that more exposure to other ways of diving could expand your viewpoint and tolerance for divers that don’t subscribe to your philosophy. Your style of diving is obviously right for you but its not for everyone. You have a team approach to diving. I come from a solo mindset. Very different fundamentals and I agree that they don’t always mix well.
And I agree, your boat your rules. That is why it is important in this new covid environment that divers know any new special rules before they arrive. And even more important for new equipment rules so they can either alter their plans or alter their gear before booking.
I agree that special rules for specific dive conditions is appropriate. But that is not the case here with the “Air 2” restriction. This is not a rule adopted for unique dive conditions. It is an arbitrary rule for infection safety, not dive safety. Your argument against its use has been as a dive safety issue, as you see it.Sorry, I suppose that you misunderstood my point. I have nothing against different methods. I had to use very exotic approaches when diving in some special sites, complying with the local regulations.
For example inside the Grotta Giusti, a thermal water cave in Tuscany, it is forbidden to use fins and suit.
In the caverns at Capo Caccia, Sardinia, it is forbidden to use an helmet or to frog kick, as both these things often cause damage to the delicate red coral which grows under the ceiling.
I did dive at Cairns, on the great barrier in Australia, and on that boat it was mandatory to have a compass.
I always adapt my behaviour and equipment to the local rules and conditions.
And I expected customers doing the same when diving in the resort where I was working.
These were resorts operated by Club Vacanze, at the time it was the best Italian tour operator for scuba divers.
Club Vacanze developed very strict safety procedures and rules, and it was my respondibility to apply them thoroughly.
All customers had to follow them, or renounce diving.
As for any rule, there were exceptions. In the 5 years I worked thrre I have seen two of these exceptions.
One was for Jaques Majol, who spent one week at Alimatha during late spring 1988. My wife was assigned to be his DM. He refused to employ most of the equipment provided, including the scuba tank. In practice he was mostly freediving together with normal scuba divers, at depth of 40-45 meters, sometimes stealing some air trapped under coral ceilings, and just once he got a single breath from a regulator.
The second exception was done for Raimondo Bucher and his wife, spring 1989.
The island was Halaveli, and they refused to use the BCD.
In a dive done with another tour operator (possibly Francorosso, if I remember correctly) and with Marco Gasparini as DM they did reach 90m with standard air.
So there were rules, and in exceptional cases there were exceptions..
But apart those extreme cases, when you dive at a resort you have to follow their rules.
Diving outside a resort, on your own, you follow your own rules. But if you look at the title of this topic, you understand that diving outside a resort is entirely off topic.
This topic is about new rules to follow WHEN DIVING IN A RESORT!
The regulations came in in 2016.Thank you for the post. I did not know that Belize had instituted new regulations. A bunch of people from scubaboard are going to be p!ssed when they visit and find out they will need a snorkel.
The regulations came in in 2016.
I don't see anything in that document that requires/mandates the use of a snorkel by a scuba diver?The regulations came in in 2016.