Bahamas For First Dive?

[jgaryclark]

My wife is newly certified (actually she completes her cert this coming weekend). We have a trip planned for Nassau Bahamas the last week of June. I'm planning on doing a few dives with Stuart Cove's including the "Shark Dive". Interested in the thoughts of more experienced divers on whether or not that would be appropriate for someone's first dive. She's done well in class but I can see how she may be a bit apprehensive about being surrounded by sharks. Any recommendations / suggestions are greatly appreciated.
TIA

 

[Hoag]

I did the Stuart Cove "Shark Dive" several years ago. At that time, it was a two tank dive. The first dive was just to get you used to sharks being around and to reduce the stress of seeing them for the first time. The second dive they get everyone to add a few more pounds of weight (to deliberately overweight you) so you stay put once on the bottom. They arrange everyone in a semi circle and then you basically just sit there on the bottom for the rest of the dive while the DM feeds the sharks.

Like I said, it was several years ago that I was on this dive. This may not be the way that they do it today.

As an alternative, for a first dive, I would recommend something like the "Bond Wrecks". It is relatively shallow water (45 feet) and there is a lot to see. There is a scene in the movie "Thunderball" where an RAF Vulcan bomber is ditched into the water. Obviously, the RAF didn't let them do this to a real Vulcan, so the producers built a full sized mock up made of canvas stretched over an ABS plastic frame. The canvas is long gone, but the ABS frame has become encrusted with coral and sponges. A few feet from here lies the wreck of "The Tears of Allah" from the movie "Never Say Never Again".

If you are looking for something that is "sharky" without going as far as a feeding, I would highly recommend the "Ray of Hope / Bahama Mama". Again, these are two wrecks that are side by side, but these have a local population of Caribbean Reef Sharks that are almost always found at the site.

I hope that helps.

 

[miked]

A few thoughts:

I've done several of the shark feeding dives, and have seen relatively inexperienced divers on them. Some of the newbies seem to handle it very well, some were a bit rattled (above and beyond the rush most of the divers felt), and one saw the sharks in the water, from the boat, and refused to enter the water.

I'd suggest scheduling the shark dive for after she has done a few dives, to see how she does on a "regular" dive. Depending on how long you are staying, maybe postpone the shark dive until a later trip, or for a later day during your stay, not on the first day of diving.

While the shark feeding dives do have a high concentration of sharks, and they are very "up close and personal" it is not uncommon to see sharks on the other dives in the area. While there is no way to guarantee that happening, if it does, ask your wife how did she feel about it. Obviously, if she is at all hesitant, don't force her, as it could turn her off to diving in general.
If she enjoys diving, but is hesitant about the sharks, then switch that dive for a "regular dive".

I'd also suggest mentioning the situation to the SC staff, and get their input. IIRC, I once saw a diver hire a Dive Master to "stay close and babysit me" (the divers own words) during the dive.That may be an option.
In any event, have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Edit to add: Hoag does a nice job of describing the dives, ( and types faster than
me!!) One thing: I last did the Shark feeding dive about 7 years ago, and it was as Hoag described. Since then I've been told by people that have done the dive more recently, that SC moved the location from the sea bottom to the deck of one of the wrecks. That may or may not matter.

 

[nolatom]

I would not necessarily recommend a "gimmick" dive for someone's first-ever dive, though it may work out just fine.

If it were me, I'd find a nice 40-60' wreck or reef, that neither moves, nor has teeth. Just seems like a (very big) critter dive may a distraction she doesn't need as a brand-newbie.

Third or fourth dive, if she's cool and relaxed in the first couple of dives? Sure.

 

[arew+4]

We have dive with SC 2 or 3 times, never done the feeding dive. I agree with the majority of the other posters. Unless she got certified to see sharks, hold off on it for awhile. Like the one guy mentioned there were a couple of wrecks near the shark feeding area that almost always have at least a few sharks hanging around. If the first couple days go well then try those, then if she wants to see them eat, sign up for the feeding dive. You want a buddy for life, so don't freak her out of the water.

 

[AlexL]

Unless she got certified to see sharks, hold off on it for awhile.

i know this was meaning 'she got certified in order to see sharks', but i cant help reading it is as 'unless she got a shark seeing certification', which made me giggle a bit.

immaterial to my personal views on shark feeding, i do agree with the rest of the posters, a 'gimmick' dive is likely not the best choice for first splash. got enough task loading going on just trying to sort things out.

even without a feeding dive, if the local reef shark population is habituated to divers, they'll come check things out... sometimes very closely. we were just down on a live abord in the bahamas / bimini, and almost every dive we had at least one shark insta buddy up with us.

 

[Hoag]

Another thing to keep in mind that has not really been touched on here, but maybe it should.

Regardless of how she handles the shark feeding, she will likely "blow through" her air very quickly on a shark feeding dive. It is an adrenaline filled dive especially for a new diver, and whether she is terrified or exhilarated, it is almost certain that her breathing rate will increase dramatically on this dive and her air will soon be gone.

 

[arew+4]

i know this was meaning 'she got certified in order to see sharks', but i cant help reading it is as 'unless she got a shark seeing certification', which made me giggle a bit.

Don't laugh too hard, PADI is always looking to add more courses it could be the next one.

 

[net_guy]

Hi, new here, first post.

Anyway I did the Stuart Cove's diving adventure several years ago. In terms of the reefs themselves, not all that impressive.

But the wrecks- all or most of which were placed for various films, are worth a visit, and they also offer DPV diving off the walls and of course the shark feed. I don't think any of those specialty type dives are beyond the level of a diver with good basic skills but just beware that if you're holding onto a DPV things happen a bit faster than usual, meaning watch the depth changes, that sort of thing.

 

[jgaryclark]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. Think we'll do a 2 tank dive and check out the wrecks &reef. If all goes well and she has a good comfort level, maybe we'll catch the shark feed. I'll report back and let y'all know how it went. Thanks again..happy diving!