Diving in Marathon, Florida

[100days-a-year]

There are couple of wrecks off Marathon but I've never seen a charter on any but the Thunderbolt. There's a barge in 200' and a couple other broke up wrecks in similar depths.

 

[harveywalker500]

Well, if you dive rebreather then I assume you’re traveling with your own and it wouldn’t be an issue, correct? I doubt that you would be able to find a rental rebreather that you are certified for, but maybe you’ve already figured that bit out?

But tec diving or not, the only think you need to worry about is BAR -> PSI and Litres -> Cubic feet. If you can’t remember the conversions, just write them on a slate.

I want to try a rebreather out, I don't have my own (...yet!) but they seem really versatile and practical, as well as looking cool, so I was wanting to try one out.

 

[chrisjur]

I want to try a rebreather out, I don't have my own (...yet!) but they seem really versatile and practical, as well as looking cool, so I was wanting to try one out.

Ah. Well you can’t actually just try a rebreather out. They require extensive training and certification and, more specifically, require training and certification on each specific model.

You would have to enroll in a training class for a specific model and do a lot of classroom and closed water training time before ever being let free in the open ocean.

 

[harveywalker500]

Ah. Well you can’t actually just try a rebreather out. They require extensive training and certification and, more specifically, require training and certification on each specific model.

You would have to enroll in a training class for a specific model and do a lot of classroom and closed water training time before ever being let free in the open ocean.

Ah interesting, I was looking at Horizon Divers in Key Largo and they offered a Discover Rebreather program (which I assume and hope is in a pool session with an instructor close by), so maybe I'm misunderstanding it?

 

[inquis]

Discover Rebreather program (which I assume and hope is in a pool session with an instructor close by)

Yes, typically confined water, limited depth, instructor close and vigilant, perhaps 30-45 mins actual dive. There are some opportunities for full-day, more in-depth experience. (Those links are primarily for background info, although check with them as they may have someone available in FL at that time. I would not hesitate to book something with Horizon, either.)

 

[kensuf]

Ah. Well you can’t actually just try a rebreather out. They require extensive training and certification and, more specifically, require training and certification on each specific model.

You would have to enroll in a training class for a specific model and do a lot of classroom and closed water training time before ever being let free in the open ocean.

Lots of manufacturers and instructors are happy to do a try dive for someone. It's like taking a discover scuba course, you learn some theory then practice some skills then go for a guided dive to 20-30'.

 

[chrisjur]

Ah interesting, I was looking at Horizon Divers in Key Largo and they offered a Discover Rebreather program (which I assume and hope is in a pool session with an instructor close by), so maybe I'm misunderstanding it?

Yes, this is like a “Intro to Tech” course. If you’re looking to just get the feel of a rebreather in closed waters or very limited depths, you can take this course. But you won’t be doing 100ft dives on it without the right academic and in-water training.

 

[harveywalker500]

Yes, this is like a “Intro to Tech” course. If you’re looking to just get the feel of a rebreather in closed waters or very limited depths, you can take this course. But you won’t be doing 100ft dives on it without the right academic and in-water training.

Course not! I wouldn't risk it, I simply wanted to take a day out and try out a rebreather to see if it was for me, in terms of weight, cost, experience etc. So it sounds perfect!