Getting Certified On Vacation, Sanity Check

[Oceanonaut]

Hello esteemed forums members and oceanonauts.

My fiance and I are planning to try scuba for the first time in Belize in a couple weeks after taking the classroom and pool sessions through PADI in the states next week, and I am looking for are opinions the plan and a sanity check on its aggresiveness.

Don't get me wrong, I may still be fool enough to go with the plan in some capacity regardless of what I hear but I do have the sense to adjust this plan as it concerns the safety of someone I care about.

In any case, the plan it to stick to dives no deeper than 66ft (hard limit, soft limit is 40ft) (hmm, looks like most dives advertised are from 60-80 feet so we may have to adjust this, bad idea?) and use rented equipment, ideally going through the same outfit that we obtain open water certification from. The Blue Hole will not be an option for this trip. We'll be using rented equipment, so proper weighting is a concern, but I am assuming that by obtaining certification using said equipment we'll have time to properly adjust it (weighting/density) and then continue to use it for the rest of the dives.

Does this sound like a good idea? Any recommendations on dive spots for this area for an absolute novice's level of skill? Any spots to be sure to avoid or specific considerations to make? Any recommendations on an outfit to be certified through? (PMs welcome) What about gear, what would you recommend that we absolutely should purchase for the trip? I don't know if we'll continue diving or not but I still take even this one excursion seriously. I don't yet own anything diving related.

We're both adept at operating in high pressure, high risk environments (I dissociate from the environment and play things by the numbers, I don't know what she does to perform) but my level of physical fitness is low at the moment. I intend to minimize this limitation through smart planning but I don't want to be in a situation where I will need sustained physical exertion to maintain safety.

I'll add more questions as they come, but just wanted to get a basic 'sanity check' on this from experienced divers.

Thanks!
Oceanonaut (in training)

 

[softballer]

This advice may or may not apply to your situation.

I am not certified (yet) completed my confined water skills and am waiting till it warms up for o/w to be completed.

This past December me and the wife traveled to Cancun for a week. While in Cancun I decided it might be fun to take some catamaran sailing lessons. It was literally impossible for me to understand my "instructor." There is absolutely no way I would take my o/w experience from anyone who speaks English as a second language..

Not trying to discourage you but it really is frightening to think that this guy also certified people through PADI..

Good luck and make sure you go with a company that has someone who speaks and understands the English language.

 

[dhuskins]

Sanity check: passed. . .

Many people take the classroom and pool sessions in one place and their open water check-out dives somewhere warmer. Get the crew pack now and start reading. That will be your biggest issue in terms of getting it entirely done in a week. Mind you, the book is very repetitious.

As for getting your weighting down, another thing to not worry about. As you are working on your check-out dives, you can get your weight figured out.

What you should buy before the trip is a mask. Masks, for some people, is a difficult purchase because it requires a good fit. For example, I had to go to more than a half dozen shops before I found one that really fit me well. You should also get a snorkel and fins. Everything else can be easily rented. If you decide against diving in the future, you will still have something to snorkel with.

 

[Scott L]

Guys, the OP indicated they are satisfying the academic portion of certification in the USA. The previous poster makes a good point with a potential language barrier. If this is a worry contact the shop and research the avialable instructors. Chances are there we be several native english speakers from which to reserve their services beforehand...

As for weighting, the instructor will probaly just estimate your weight requirments at the beginning of the pool sessions but should before your ocean dives perform a weight check with only 500psi in your tanks in full gear including exposure suits. You should just be able to float at eye level. If not, reduce weight. If too much floatation, add wieght.

If you really want to get ahead of the game consider purchasing trim weight pouches like these linked below which are affixed to the tank straps and shifts some weight forward which will aid in acheiving a nice horizonal trim postion during most of your dive. They are designed specifically for AL80 tanks which you will be utilizing. Good luck!

BC System Weighting | Halcyon Dive Systems

 

[diverrex]

My wife and I did the class and pool in the US and finished our ocean dives in Belize. No problems at all. We had our own mask and fins and rented the rest. Diving in Belize is easy since the water is warm with great viz and generally limited current. We went to 70 feet on our check out dives and were at 100 by dive 10. There is lots of good diving 60 - 80 feet, I wouldn't worry about the depth. Others may flame me for this but don't get hung up on depth issues right now. Just make sure to find a good instructor. And Belize is English speaking so no problem there, the other Caribbean destinations I've been the dive professionals all spoke perfect English, I don't really see that as a big deal most places.

What part of Belize? There are lots of good ops in AC and Placenia. You might want to look through the Belize subforum of the travel section, lots of good info there.

 

[CamG]

Greetings Oceanonaut and welcome to Scuba Board! It is great to hear of your upcoming trip to Belize, it is a awesome dive destination. I think you have received some really good advice so far. A hurricane adjusted my vacation plans and I missed my Belize window in 2008. No worries though we had all but sent the check and it was very well planned. We were using a Padi 5 star dive op. and they were very professional. I am very confident that you will find great service using the Belize forum here on Scuba Board. Ask for references and check them out.
Probably the next thing that I would recommend is to check your basic gear mask, snorkel, fins, and boots if used. I would rather use my own basic gear but that is up to you. It can be difficult to get a better fitting mask when digging through a bin of rentals. This is just my opinion however.
Next relax and enjoy the trip. I assure you that the dive operations in Belize see many other divers seeking to complete their open water check out dives. You are going to enjoy the water and wonderful reefs.
Good luck and safe diving.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[djb_1965]

First off, I would be a little concerned about the dive op. Since PADI standards for OW is 60' max....If they are violating that standard what else are they not doing safely...

 

[Hwntw]

This advice may or may not apply to your situation.

I am not certified (yet) completed my confined water skills and am waiting till it warms up for o/w to be completed.

This past December me and the wife traveled to Cancun for a week. While in Cancun I decided it might be fun to take some catamaran sailing lessons. It was literally impossible for me to understand my "instructor." There is absolutely no way I would take my o/w experience from anyone who speaks English as a second language..

Not trying to discourage you but it really is frightening to think that this guy also certified people through PADI..

Good luck and make sure you go with a company that has someone who speaks and understands the English language.

Matey, English is the official language of Belize, it's an Ex British colony, the British army is still posted there. I did my OW and AOW in Belize, I found the dive operation to be a little slack, but by all accounts, they've upped their quality.

To the OP, think about doing the AOW, some of the best diving is just out of your reach with the OW qualification, most of all enjoy it, Belize is a lovely place with some real quality diving, and the Cayes are very laid back, especially Caulker.

 

[Doc Harry]

If I understand you correctly, you will doing your open-water checkout dives in Belize.

Excellent choice!

You'll be with a divemaster who can guide you through your first set of dives. Your divemaster will help you get your weight correct. That's what he is there for.

Once you become officially certified, hire a divemaster to continue to provide some supervision until you feel comfortable enough to dive without a guide at your side.

Another way of expanding your horizons after OW is to continue taking classes and work towards AOW. That way you'll still be under the supervision of a divemaster but you'll be working towards an higher rating. AOW right after OW won't make you "advanced" divers, but it will make you more confident, safer and more knowledgable divers.

Good luck!

 

[boulderjohn]

First off, I would be a little concerned about the dive op. Since PADI standards for OW is 60' max....If they are violating that standard what else are they not doing safely...

First of all, the 60 limit for OW diver is a recommendation, not a rule. Once you are certified, there is no standards violation for diving a little deeper. I do not advise going a whole lot deeper until you have had further training, but you don't have to be super anal about it, either. Many operators will take new divers to the Blue Hole (130 feet). Although people do it often, I don't recommend it.

Are you staying at Ambergris Caye? I ask because that is the only place I have stayed and know something about it.

The last time I was there, I was leading a trip for our shop, a trip that included a student who had done exactly what you are planning to do--she completed the classroom instruction and pool work before the trip. I could have easily scheduled her OW certification dives for areas that were quite shallow, but I just did the same dives everyone else in our group did--up to a point.

The reef at Ambergris Caye starts just off shore. It is a spur and grove formation, meaning the top of the reef is relatively shallow, with fingers of coral sticking out. The grooves between the fingers is where it gets deeper. I just completed the OW certification dives near the top of the reef, well within the training standards, while the rest of our group went deeper into the grooves.

All the dives are led by a divemaster, so you will have a professional with you on every dive. You will probably feel comfortable going a bit beyond the 60' recommended limit before too long, although, as I said, I do not recommend getting too much deeper without more training.

Have fun!