Thanks for the trip report. I've been to Ambergris and Caye Caulker and have yet to dive the Blue Hole. I didn't realize you absolutely had to go that deep - or stay that deep. Will be asking questions when we go - because we will be back! I love Belize. Glad you had a nice trip.
Belize's wonderland
- Thread starter blueeyz78
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If you know up front that you won't want to go down to 130'ish then it can often be arranged for you to have a DM to stay with you. You won't be allowed there without a DM, nor can you take one of the designated DMs away from the group. I've done that several times when for various reasons there were divers who only wanted to go to the top of the stalactites at 80'-90', particularly with some very confident and capable junior divers for whom the pressure at depth may be physiologically hazardous.
But note that this MUST be arranged at least a couple of days in advance, and some operators won't be enthusiastic.
But note that this MUST be arranged at least a couple of days in advance, and some operators won't be enthusiastic.
OP
blueeyz78
Contributor
Thanks for the info Peterbj7. I wish I had know that when we were there. I plan on going back one day, so all the information I read is great. I hope this helps others like myself.
So what questions did you ask the dive op, and did you ask if your computer would go into deco mode, and or how conservative is your computer? I did notice on a few dives in Belize the same time you were there at the same resort, and heard some people talk about your story the same way you told it. ( I was part of the Napa group).
My husband and I are currently in Belize diving. We only had 2 dive days here and the first day we dove with a group called Eco divers. The computor they rented me didn't work. The divemaster told us to get in and go to the bottom while he stood on deck of the boat completely undressed for the dive. We told him we would wait for him since it was our first dive in Belize. The diving was a 5 compared to Cozumel which was a 10. Way less color probably due to no current compared to Cozumel. Our 2nd dive was with Nurse Sharks and that was special but the 2nd computor they brought me ran out of battery and I couldn't get my info at the end of the dive. We had arranged a 2nd day dive to the National Park only to hear that our two tank dive would be a 1 tank dive and a snorkle thing instead of our 2nd dive. We decided the lack of professionalism and accomidations to divers was a deterent to returning in the future.
Ann
Ann
waytooslow
Contributor
good write ups, thanks for all the info
OP
blueeyz78
Contributor
charlesml3
Contributor
To be fair, this really isn't a "deco dive" even if your computer indicates it. For it to be a deco dive, there would have to be at least one mandatory deco stop on the way up. At the Blue Hole, you have a fast decent down to 140. Quite often a computer will drop into deco since it's computing nitrogen load in the fast tissue compartments. As you start your diagonal ascent, the tracking will still be on these compartments and they'll off-gas quickly. The computer will then drop out of deco. Since you never really had a mandatory stop, this wasn't a deco dive.
I'm still torn over the Blue Hole. I don't think it's for beginners, but I don't want to scare people off either. It's a majestic, eerie dive. Certainly different than reef and wall diving.
-Charles
I'm still torn over the Blue Hole. I don't think it's for beginners, but I don't want to scare people off either. It's a majestic, eerie dive. Certainly different than reef and wall diving.
-Charles
OP
blueeyz78
Contributor
As far as I am concerned if my computer goes into deco, then it is a deco dive. And the fact that the DM has you stop at about 20 ft for 15min makes it a deco stop, which makes it a deco dive.
I am not going to take unnecessary risks with my safety, and I want others to know what they are getting into. If people read this and think its a bunch of bull, then it is on them. If someone reads this and decides maybe the blue hole is too advance for them, then good.
Denise
I am not going to take unnecessary risks with my safety, and I want others to know what they are getting into. If people read this and think its a bunch of bull, then it is on them. If someone reads this and decides maybe the blue hole is too advance for them, then good.
Denise
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