Hi from a very new diver in Utah!

[freshdiver]

Just got certified for Basic Open Water in September and am ready to keep learning. Heading to Belize next month for 6 days. Can't wait!! Would love to hear from anyone on their experience being a new diver or anything else.

Looking forward to enjoying the board,

April

 

[Desert_Diver]

Welcome aboard. Where are you going to be divng in Belize?

Art

 

[freshdiver]

I'm staying on Caye Caulker. Any recommendations on dive operators? Not leaving until Novembver 30th so I am still planning. I will be there for 6 nights. Everyone keeps saying "Blue Hole" but that is pretty deep....

April

 

[Desert_Diver]

On my trip to Belize, I stayed on Ambergris Caye. That is further north from where you are headed. I don't have any useful info on Caulker. I did sign up for a "special" dive at Blue Hole. (It wasn't covered in our basic dive package.) I did it and probably shouldn't have. I was a new diver with little or no experience and absolutely no idea of the consequences if something went wrong. Nothing did go wrong and I had no problems. Looking back on it now, it makes me a little nervous. Blue Hole was nothing special other than it was my deepest dive at that time (about 130 feet). I bought the T shirt and will probably not pay to dive it again. The other two dives that day were quite good, Long Caye and Blue Elbow(? long time ago and I'm not sure of that last dive site.) Threre was nothing to see in Blue Hole except some stalagtites. No sea life. Poor viz. I'd pass if I were you. Lot's better diving in the area.

Dive safe. Have fun.

Art

PS Go to the Scubaboard\Regional Travel and Dive Clubs\ Central America\Belize and start a thread there. Post your questions about Caye Caulker. Some of the dive bums that specialize in that region will be able to give much better info than I can.

 

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board!!!

As Desert_Diver said... drop on down to their local forum and you will find insider info.

Check it out: Belize - ScubaBoard

We have al sort of forums to keep you busy for hours....just go down the list
And, you may wish to check out your local forum and join in the fun here:

Rocky Mountain Oysters - ScubaBoard

Dive on in and enjoy!
:cool2:

 

[freshdiver]

Thanks for all the great info! Going to check out several places right now. By the way, I am a transplant from your area. Lived in Ontario, Chino and Nuevo. Graduated from Cal Poly.

Thaks agian!!

April

 

[freshdiver]

I am a little nervous about the Blue Hole thing. My dive instructor is actually going to go on the trip with me but even if we waited until the last day that is a lot for me to bite off.....at least mentally. He also trains public safety divers so he really drilled a lot of things into my head that weren't included in the basic open water course, so I think he suceeded well in making me aware of the things that can go wrong.... I have a healthy fear of things that I think are beyond my capabilities. LOL I haven't been very deep yet. The dive shop says it's ok for novices...I'm not sure how they can say that....hmmmm....I beleive I'm only supposed to go 60 feet? And yeah I realize the dive police aren't down there checking your card, but I appreciate your opinion and think that I will pass on that one. There is a place called Sahrk/Ray Allythat looks kind of cool... they have been feeding the nurse sharks and rays there for years so they come right up to you. I didn't get a dive package so am booking each one separately.

Oh and I'm reading Shadow Divers...that is enough to scare you about going really deep if you don't know what you're doing. LOL Great Book!!!

Thanks agian!

April