Can the Blue Hole in Belize be for beginners?

[RonFrank]

So I'm going through my classwork now for an OW cert. I plan to complete my OW certifciation dives in Belize. I'm going with a friend who's an experienced diver and he wants to hit up the blue hole at the end of our trip. Being a new diver and all (with maybe one or two dives completed after my certification), is it practical for me to do the blue hole? Thanks!

So the test on your certification test says:

Should a diver with OW traing and little experience plan a dive with a depth of 130'.

A. No, that is definately against training and good sense.
B. Sure, what is the big deal.
C. Only if accompanied by a DiveMaster or Instructor.

The answer would be C, but then the question becomes, do YOU have confidence in the ability of the DM to take care of you IF you get into trouble.

IMO, if you want to do this dive, hire a DM for the day to be with YOU and YOUR buddy. That may run you $25 each (maybe more), but if your buddy does NOT agree with this (assuming he is NOT a DM or above) than IMO skip the dive.

Ron

 

[teknitroxdiver]

From what I've read about the Blue Hole, it's basically a deep pit put in place so that certain divers can show off their "manlyness". Phhh. Also I've heard that there isn't a whole lot to see there, other than a reeeeeeely deep hole and a few stalactites at 130 feet. (Which is way below where you should be)

So do it if you're accompanied by an instructor or DM if you must, but I would skip it if I were you.

 

[Hank49]

From what I've read about the Blue Hole, it's basically a deep pit put in place so that certain divers can show off their "manlyness". Phhh. Also I've heard that there isn't a whole lot to see there, other than a reeeeeeely deep hole and a few stalactites at 130 feet. (Which is way below where you should be).

The Blue Hole is more a geological dive than a marine life dive. It's pretty awesome just because it's there and how it came to be. If you're looking for colorful reef type diving, it's not that once you go down. But it has to be AT LEAST as good or better than any quarry or lake. Plus it's full of sharks if you're interested. There is no current. Just watch your depth.

 

[donacheson]

The Blue Hole in Belize is a yawn, I'm told by those that have dove it. It is also 130 ft dive. My feelings are you need more dives and more experience before you attempt that depth. You are NOT 100% sure of your buoyancy yet so save that dive for another day.

You hit that nail right on the head!

 

[Tavi]

So I'm going through my classwork now for an OW cert. I plan to complete my OW certifciation dives in Belize. I'm going with a friend who's an experienced diver and he wants to hit up the blue hole at the end of our trip. Being a new diver and all (with maybe one or two dives completed after my certification), is it practical for me to do the blue hole? Thanks!

Hi occrider,

If your going through your classroom now, Your instructor should have taught you about risk awarness. He should have told you about the limits of your certification. And he should have told you a little bit about deeper diving and the added risks, and why more training with an instructor is a good idea.

If he/she did tell you these things, you already know the answer to your question.
Or are you just looking for someone to say it's okay?? :huh:

I hope you have a great trip!! Don't forget to post a trip report when you get back!!

 

[occrider]

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. Looks like I'll pass on the blue hole this time around. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on an opportunity to do something that would be "doable" and enjoyable at my level. I think I would spend too much time worrying about screwing up rather than enjoying the dive though. Thanks for advice!

 

[RP Diver]

Late to chime in here, but I actually liked the Blue Hole. It was the second place I've dived with that name, the other being a fresh water spring in New Mexico. I dove the Belize Blue Hole on a trip on the Belize Aggressor. The way they approached it was to do a really boring test dive on a sloping bottom to 130 feet, with divemasters watching everyone to see how they handled it. Anyone who seemed to have even a slight problem was strongly encouraged to skip it. That test dive was the first time I was ever noticeably narked, but I knew what was happening and it wasn't really any problem. I did the Blue Hole dive and had fun swimming around through the stalactites at 130-140 feet. I was quite narked, and my wife (She is a PADI certified instructor) was quite freaked out, in spite of the fact that I was in control the whole dive. I was just very happy.

The only thing is that there is no other reason to dive there, and you definitely pay a penalty with very little bottom time and not much to do going down or coming back up. But the 5 or 6 minutes you get at the cave is kind of cool.

 

[riverdiver]

I loved the Blue hole loaded with sharks, hit 148' dive masters where watching the open water divers like the lady that just got her cert. the day before was on the same boat she was on, shot to the surface from 70' she was fine ,
Ed

 

[teknitroxdiver]

riverdiver: I don't mean to be rude, but what are you certed for? Also, what equipment were you diving?

Note that the NDL for an air dive to 150 ft is less than 5 minutes.

 

[riverdiver]

riverdiver: I don't mean to be rude, but what are you certed for? Also, what equipment were you diving?

Note that the NDL for an air dive to 150 ft is less than 5 minutes.

I had my own gear with me apek 200 on their al 80 I hit that depth then came up to the rest of the divers at 130' certs mean nothing to me,(you can get rubber stamped for anything) TDI has instructors sell classes on EBay! I have a friend that has over 12,000 dives and does not have a open water cert. I ran into deco on that dive my computer is very senitive and I was getting 3 to 5 dives a day. Was always last on the boat with 1000 plus psi of air.
Their much diving in Ark.
Ed