Knife and gloves prohibited in Turk & Caicos ????

[shark_tamer]

Is it true that it is prohibited to dive with a knife and gloves when diving in Turk & Caicos ????

It would be to disapoint divers to touch and damage corals and marine life :blinking:

 

[nereas]

Dive glove prohibitions are quite common all around the world at warm water dive sites. Don't bring your gloves with you, when you go.

A hood is nice, sometimes, if you find yourself starting to get cold, even in 80F warm waters. So it is always good to bring a hood with you, just in case.

I have never had a problem bringing a dive knife with me anywhere. Mine is attached to my HP hose. And it must go into your checked luggage, needless to say. I always bring my knife with me, and since it is not a machete, no one has ever noticed it.

Only once in my diving career did I ever not have a knife with me on a dive, and that was the precise time that I got caught in fishing line, and my buddy swam off and did not notice I needed her help. It was as if God was teaching me a lesson, saying, "Dude, if you want to do high risk stuff, like scuba, make sure you have a dive knife with you always, and otherwise dont bug me with your prayers, Dude."

You can call ahead to the dive operator if you have any particular questions. That is something that I always do before a trip as well.

 

[CODMAN]

When I went, it wasn't forbiden. But the dive OP (club med) had a no glove and no knife policy aboard their boat. I said fine to the gloves, but told them I'd put my knife in my BC pocket and leave it there unless an emergency. They said No Problem.

So unless things have changed, there is no official policy. Unlike in Bonaire I believe, where gloves are forbiden...

 

[muddiver]

I don't know about the other agencies, but PADI (yes I know I just made a derogitory statement) states somewhere deep in their policy documentation, guidelines and the instructor manual that a diver is to include in his gear while diving a knife or shears sutable for cutting fishing line or rope. You can point that out if you ever have a problem with some SCUBA policeman who tries to tell you that you can't dive with a knife. PADI is an internationally reconized training agency and more than likely that resort or operator is a PADI affiliate. I would be more spacific, but I am not at home and I don't have my training materials with me to research this.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I dove through Sandals (family resort) on Providenciales two years ago and there was no such rule. I can definitely understand the "no glove policy" because there are divers out there who do not understand the damage done by touching coral. But, as stated by others, a knife, if used properly, is a safety tool only. Bottom line, check with your operator before getting too far from the room.

 

[scubatoys]

I don't know about the other agencies, but PADI (yes I know I just made a derogitory statement) states somewhere deep in their policy documentation, guidelines and the instructor manual that a diver is to include in his gear while diving a knife or shears sutable for cutting fishing line or rope. You can point that out if you ever have a problem with some SCUBA policeman who tries to tell you that you can't dive with a knife. PADI is an internationally reconized training agency and more than likely that resort or operator is a PADI affiliate. I would be more spacific, but I am not at home and I don't have my training materials with me to research this.

I'm sure if you read some more fine print, you will see something to the effect "unless it contradicts local laws or customs".

As a Naui instructor, I'm supposed to have something as well... If you are worried about breaking the Padi or Naui rules... bring some EMT shears. The problem is, moron divers pull out their knives and poke them into the reef to hold still if they are not allowed to grab a hand full of coral with a gloved hand.

It's their ocean - they have to dive it tomorrow... if they have rules... when in Rome...