Canyons are fun

[FPDocMatt]

On my most recent dive trip I found that diving in canyons was what I liked the most, much more than looking at beautiful fish or coral.

The highlight of the trip was diving through a short tunnel connecting 2 canyons.

I'm wondering how to get more of this kind of diving in.

Cave diving seems a bit too dangerous to me, and I'm not sure I'd even want to dive in caves anyway. Canyons are just fine.

I think that the tunnel connecting two canyons, if you can see surface light at the other end, is considered a cavern...?

There's a PADI cavern diver course. The description talks about using a line and stuff. I don't know, that doesn't seem all that interesting to me, but I could be wrong.

Also, that course is only available where there are caverns, so you can't just take it at your favorite resort. This makes sense, naturally, because there aren't caverns everywhere. So I guess if I wanted to take it, I'd need to book a dive trip to a site that has caverns.

I really just like those canyons. Perhaps I need to just find out which dive resorts have lots of canyons, and book a trip to one of them.

 

[kundalinichi]

I wont forget the feeling of being led into my first overhead space - it wouldn't be considered a canyon, more so a lava swim through off the island of Oahu, Hawaii. I think these are pretty close to the "two canyons connected by a tunnel". There are a lot of them on the west & north shores. These have light penetrating through many holes, some big enough to swim through, some just big enough for fish to hide in. I havent heard of cavern courses been conducted in these swim throughs though, maybe you should check out the cenotes around Tulum\Playa del carmen, Mexico. Can set up mixed itineraries of cenote\ocean diving as many of the shops are located near shore and the various cenotes.

 

[Rich Keller]

As a rule I never make any kind of penetration dive on scuba. That includes wrecks, caves, caverns and even swim throughs.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

If you are in a place where you cannot ascend directly from where you are to the surface, you are in a cave or cavern. Special rules apply, and the specialty courses on cavern and cave diving will teach them to you. Some short overhead environments, and by short I mean 10 meters or less, are often labeled "swim throughs," and dive leaders will escort people through them. There is still a risk factor, but limited. My wife loves swim throughs. As for canyons, I agree they are very cool. Spooky Channel at Coco View Resort in Roatan is just such a fun canyon. You will find some canyon like sites on Maui, where lava flow creates a series of "canyons, but not as dramatic as at some locations. Lanai, Hawaii offers lava tubes- "The Cathedrals," which, if you like canyons, you will love. You catch a dive boat on Maui and cross the channel to dive Lanai.
Happy diving!
DivemasterDennis

 

[lv2dive]

3 people died this weekend doing a "safe" cavern dive in the Cenotes in Mexico.

Caverns and caves are overhead environments and divers should have special training enjoy them safely. Caverns historically have been considered a "gray" area by some, but IMHO these deaths underscore the necessity of training.

Not sure if it's appropriate to post this link, please remove this sentence and the link if it's not: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ac...ool-riviera-maya-2-brazillian-1-spaniard.html

Caves and caverns can be absolutely beautiful, but I would really strongly encourage overhead training for anyone who feels a "call." I personally have never once looked back

 

[mathauck0814]

We've got canyons in California. Not sure it's what you're looking for. La Jolla, Carmel, Scripps canyons all offer some pretty incredible wall diving - but the "bottom" is mostly out of reach of divers.

 

[lv2dive]

There's a PADI cavern diver course. The description talks about using a line and stuff. I don't know, that doesn't seem all that interesting to me, but I could be wrong.

Also, that course is only available where there are caverns, so you can't just take it at your favorite resort. This makes sense, naturally, because there aren't caverns everywhere. So I guess if I wanted to take it, I'd need to book a dive trip to a site that has caverns.

I really just like those canyons. Perhaps I need to just find out which dive resorts have lots of canyons, and book a trip to one of them.

Any cavern class is going to have skills related to running line, because there are multiple scenarios where this is an important skill: One might need to run line because something happened to compromise visibility in the cavern and it is needed to find the primary line.... one might need to run line to find buddy... one might need to run line to connect from the open water to the cavern line. There should always be a continuous line to the surface so that there is always a clear path out.

Line running is usually not most people's favorite part of cavern or cave class - but it is one of the most important. My primary skill practice before I take my next cave class, in fact, is to run the line a dozen times or so. I can't say I will find this terribly interesting - or fun, even... but I look forward to it, because I want to improve my skills, for all the reasons listed above.

 

[diversteve]

Did you dive Devil's Grotto on Cayman last trip? If not it's similar to what you're looking for. If you go back again:
Cayman's Best Shore diving.
There's also Big Tunnel or Trinity Caverns off the north side. They might be considered Advanced dives due to depth.
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/51/7d/41/trinity-caverns.jpg

The Cathedrals off Lanai (Maui) as mentioned above and parts of Sheraton Caverns off Kauai might be an option. Sheraton Caverns is a series of lava tubes that have partially collapsed. Some areas you swim in an overhead obstructed environment but can see the exit point. Really big turtles there.
Maui, First Cathedral - Lanai
http://www.kauaimalu.com/gallery/Sheraton Caverns.jpg

Spooky Channel and Mary's Place off Roatan are similar. Most diveops require an Advanced card for Mary's Place.
http://divingroatan.com/divingroatan.htm#Spooky Channel
http://www.on-the-edge.com/articles/graphics/honduras07.jpg
They're channels thru the reef but are almost completely overgrown at the top. Spooky is about 45' wide in places but only about 6-8' wide at the top. You can also find similar formations off Utila. Pinnacles was a swim-thru that we did that let out deep on the wall. And a site called Labrynth was full of twisty passages but most were open above.

Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros does several. Most are in the 90' or deeper range. Bahamas Dive Sites - Andros - Small Hope Bay Lodge All-Inclusive

 

[bladephotog]

Just coming home from a week diving the spur and groove reef off Mahahual, Mexico. Stayed at Maya Palms. Great resort and wonderful canyons to dive.

 

[lionfish-eater]

Swim thrus, caverns, tunnels, cracks, fissures, etc. are my favorite types of dives. As you become more experienced, your comfort level will increase to where you will be less apprehensive about confined spaces. This is not to be confused with the idea that these areas have become safer, only that you are now more comfortable to prevent problems from arising in the first place. Every time I enter a space, I realize that I have to trust my skills, my equipment, my buddy and my group leader. There is a definite risk that is ever present, only your skills and properly cared for equipment can reduce but not eliminate the risk.

Swim thru video
[vimeo]23068455[/vimeo]

Crack Dive video