Limoges Diver
Contributor
I went on my last two dives for my cert yesterday out of Miami Beach and the dive boat was so packed I had to wait until most people were in the water to even start putting my BC on my tank. The second dive was a mission to even find a full tank to use because someone took my second tank since it was one of the school tanks. Half the tanks were under the benches because they wouldn't fit on top so it was impossible to put my large scuba bag in there.
It was pretty chaotic!
I still had a ton of fun though
We went to the Biscayne wreck 60' down then to the Neptune Memorial Reef 40' down. I cant wait to go again!
I'm really glad I waited to do the last two dives on the boat. I think that chaos is good to experience while with an instructor before you go out with just your buddy for the first time. Some people in my class got certed with all dives in a lagoon the week before.
With my first two dives in the lagoon everything was relaxed with plenty of room and I had time to remember what I needed to do very easily. On the boat however, you get the experience of the hectic movement of everyone walking by trying to get into the water with you on the bench while your stuff is in the middle and people walking in between. It's really easy to lose items, especially the small ones. Luckily the only thing I lost was a plastic clip.
It starts getting easier to make mistakes.
It is self-critiquing when you try to get off the bench and realize your tank is still bungeed
I don't like crowded boats at all! Did it in Costa Maya, and will NEVER do that again! In Cozumel, the very next day, my buddy and I were the only divers on the boat, otehr than the captain and the DM. Total cost for 3 dives, lunch, 100 CU Ft tanks, and gear rental for my buddy: $300.00. The trick is to go in October which is the slow season there.
