SolarStorm
Contributor
I need some advice from the locals.
We are headed to the Kona Coast for 10 days at Christmas. There are 6 of us diving, Advanced to two newly certified divers. I have looked at all of the dive ops, and there are some very good looking operations. But a thought occurred to me yesterday while we were out on our boat at the lake.
Is there any reason not to simply rent boat a boat and tanks, and dive when, where and how we want? My thoughts were to even hire someone local if interested to act as a guide (NOT DM) to some of the local sites.
My reasons include:
Questions:
I am comfortable acting as the DM for group, am told I am anal about planning stuff. (the kids got me a T-Shirt with "Safety Bob" on it) I am an Adv Certified, and currently enrolled to take the rescue diver course. I do have a basic first aid kit in my dive bag, as well as a whole whack of "Save a Dive" stuff. My wife and I both have our Day Skippers papers and are comfortable with boats up to 35' (I admit sail boats, not power boats. Our lake boat is a 20' jet boat)
Also I am extremely in diving near some of the volcanic activity, a place the dive ops tell me their ins. wont cover. Can anyone point me to information on the planning, techniques and risks of a dive near the volcanic activity?
Any feedback, positive or negative would be appreciated.
We are headed to the Kona Coast for 10 days at Christmas. There are 6 of us diving, Advanced to two newly certified divers. I have looked at all of the dive ops, and there are some very good looking operations. But a thought occurred to me yesterday while we were out on our boat at the lake.
Is there any reason not to simply rent boat a boat and tanks, and dive when, where and how we want? My thoughts were to even hire someone local if interested to act as a guide (NOT DM) to some of the local sites.
My reasons include:
- Hate the huge crowds. Much prefer the smaller operations that would only take the 6 of us.
- Cost. With 6 of us diving, the cost starts to push cost to $600 - $700 per trip. Renting a boat looks to be 1/2 day $300 plus 12 Nitrox fills $120 for a total of ~$420. Since the bank of Dad is paying for all of this, his wallet is of great concern.
- Dive when we want where we want. 4 of the 6 are in their early 20s and find the 8:00 AM starts painful. The two old farts seem to have trouble sleeping past 7.
Questions:
- What are the reasons I should not do this?
- Are there local divers that would be willing to act as guide?
I am comfortable acting as the DM for group, am told I am anal about planning stuff. (the kids got me a T-Shirt with "Safety Bob" on it) I am an Adv Certified, and currently enrolled to take the rescue diver course. I do have a basic first aid kit in my dive bag, as well as a whole whack of "Save a Dive" stuff. My wife and I both have our Day Skippers papers and are comfortable with boats up to 35' (I admit sail boats, not power boats. Our lake boat is a 20' jet boat)
Also I am extremely in diving near some of the volcanic activity, a place the dive ops tell me their ins. wont cover. Can anyone point me to information on the planning, techniques and risks of a dive near the volcanic activity?
Any feedback, positive or negative would be appreciated.