dive operator reference

[Alex777]

Alex raises an important point and issue. Padi 10-12 year old has a depth limit. 13-14 does not. The only limit on the 13-15 is that they have to dive with an adult. I know this because this was an issue while my son was 13-14 and I encountered more than one dive op that was under the mistaken impression that the depth limit applied to 13-14 year olds. I had one dive op insist on showing me his PADI manual. The limit he referred to was while they were training and before they were certified. I have confirmed with PADI that the depth limit does not apply to 13-14. Nevertheless it is important to be aware of that A. some dive ops don't understand the limit and B. regardless it is within the dive ops discretion to impose a limit if they are not comfortable with a 13-14 diving at a certain depth. Definitely something to discuss with the op before signing up for dives. Enjoy.

For the 60-foot depth limit, I was relying upon this quote from LeRoy Wickham, Educational Consultant, Training and Quality Management at PADI:

"Since the inception of the junior diver certification, divers under the age of 15 have always been required to dive under the direct supervision of a certified adult. Furthermore, they're restricted to a depth of no greater than 18 metres/60 feet. Under the new PADI standards, children under 12 are subjected to even greater restrictions. First, they're limited to diving to no greater than 12 metres/40 feet. This depth ensures that these younger kids are subjected to only minimal decompression stress, thereby addressing concerns raised over the unknown, and possibly increased, risk of bends."

The quote is 3 years old so the rule may have changed in the meantime? Many people are confused on this point and would welcome some clarification.

 

[nipi]

jason@ambassadordivers.com

 

[Drew Sailbum]

On depth limits... more to the point, Cayman dive ops aren't going to take a junior diver on a 100ft wall dive. Plan on 60ft or shallower. There are plenty of great dives in Cayman at these depths.

Go with a small op. Several have already been mentioned. If you ask for afternoon dives there is a good chance you and your son may be the only ones on the boat and the dive staff prefer to stay shallow in the afternoon after deep morning dive(s).

Check with Off the Wall or Ambassador Divers. Good small ops that will show you some great fun diving.

 

[Nardulli]

For the 60-foot depth limit, I was relying upon this quote from LeRoy Wickham, Educational Consultant, Training and Quality Management at PADI:

The quote is 3 years old so the rule may have changed in the meantime? Many people are confused on this point and would welcome some clarification.

Hi All, and many thanks for all the suggestions. I finally selected Indepth. My Son is SSI certified Autonomous Diver, Junior. I will check the rules there, but my guess is that it will be a matter of his demonstration of skills with the Dive master. With me as his buddy, there will be no stupid risks taken.

I'm not a big fan of depth anyway. There is a ton of stuff to see ~ 20 meters, and the light at shallow depths makes the colors more vivid - at least in my opinion.

Thanks again. This forum is a great resource.

Jim

 

[Alex777]

Well, I finally checked my PADI Standards book, which I should have done to begin with. Tkaelin is correct (mostly). The current rule for 12, 13 & 14 year olds is a depth limit of 70' (not 60') during training but no special depth limit outside training. For 10 & 11 year olds, the limit is 40' in training or otherwise.

 

[Wolfie]

On cayman there isn't much color difference between 40 and 100 . You see the boat plan as day from 100.

Curious though, indepth bills itself as progressive operation specializing in advanced dives. Are you going on a morning dive with others that may not know about the depth limit?

 

[IdEstQuidEst]

Hi All,
Heading to Cayman mid next week - last time I used Red Sail, principally because I stay at the Westin, and they have service there. But, never again -

So... I will be diving with my newly certified 13 year old Son - any suggestions?

Jim

Jim,

Do you mind elaborating on the "never again" comment, in terms of your personal experience with Red Sail? I had them on my short list for a June trip, mainly for the convenience of being able to walk over to the Westin. They seem pricey though, but I believe are offering a 25% discount off standard rates in the "Cayman Summer Splash" promotion. I was also considering Neptune's and Living the Dream. I don't think the outfit I dove with last time in GC (TI Divers) even exists anymore...

thanks,
-R

 

[ian.b]

Jim, great choice. you guys will have a great time with nat and art. they are very willing to dive the profile you want or even both dive and have 2 groups if needed. tell them Ian recommended them

 

[Wolfie]

Jim,

Do you mind elaborating on the "never again" comment, in terms of your personal experience with Red Sail? I had them on my short list for a June trip, mainly for the convenience of being able to walk over to the Westin. They seem pricey though, but I believe are offering a 25% discount off standard rates in the "Cayman Summer Splash" promotion. I was also considering Neptune's and Living the Dream. I don't think the outfit I dove with last time in GC (TI Divers) even exists anymore...

thanks,
-R

Red sail runs expensive cattle boats that pays more attention to wallets than people. Seasports will pick you up on the beach. Used them last year and had a blast.. I think a couple other pull up to the beach as well.

 

[Nardulli]

Jim,

Do you mind elaborating on the "never again" comment, in terms of your personal experience with Red Sail? I had them on my short list for a June trip, mainly for the convenience of being able to walk over to the Westin. They seem pricey though, but I believe are offering a 25% discount off standard rates in the "Cayman Summer Splash" promotion. I was also considering Neptune's and Living the Dream. I don't think the outfit I dove with last time in GC (TI Divers) even exists anymore...

thanks,
-R

I used Redsali twice, and each time I was very much displeased with the professionalism of the staff. Certainly, it is a 'cattle boat' operation, but I am used to that and my dive buddies and I have found that we can ignore that aspect for the most part. BUt, when there are too few staff for too many divers, and the divers are not vetted at all, then there are the issues of idiots getting thmeselves into trouble, dives cut short by frantic air hogs that blow a tank in 20 minutes, and unsafe situations that need never have occurred. I've experienced all three with RedSail and simply wish to avoid such nonsense. I would much rather pay a little more and dive with symaptico operators.

example: We left the Westin with a ful boat. We had the typical mix of 'big talkers' and 'certified years ago' divers, along with a small group who seemed like perfectly fine divers. Two gents, both from the UK, looked to me to be extremely out of their element. I had to help them get their gear sorted and so on. We tied off at the dive site and the briefing was perfunctory, and no one was listening anyway. There was a captain and one dive master. Anyway, in big groups like that, I tend to go in the water last so as not to waste a bunch of air on the sand at the bottom, waiting till everyone gets thier weights sorted and so on.

THe two English guys were finally in, and so my buddy and I rolled in and started our descent. I was watching the two guys, and sure enough one of them was flailing around trying to decsend with a bunch of air in his BC. So, I motioned that I would meet my buddy at the bottom, and went to see about these guys, since the divemaster was engaged already with two other divers who seemed close to panic.

I gabbed them each by the BC, and did my best to calm them down, then I dumped their air and we slowly go tto the bottom. I spent the rest of the dive holding the hand (Literally) of one of these guys. Worst dive ever. When we surfaced, the divemaster acted as if he had no idea what had transpired.

THe second dive the two guys sat out.

Back at the RedSail operation at the Westin, I looked for a manager to complain, but found no such person. My first trip with Redsail the year before was not as bad but bad enough, so twice is enough for me.