Nitrox?

[jdiverhenley]

Hey we are headed to Fantasy Island Beach Resort During the last week of January, and we were considering doing the Nitrox coarse ahead of time. Is it needed if we limit our selves to three dives a day? Or is there an opportunity to dive more than that?
I know it says unlimited shore diving, but in some of the other places we have stayed, this was never very practical.
Thanks
Jason

 

[Doc]

Diving in this zone of the Bay Islands is quite spectacular and very unique. You'll be in a local zone that stretches from 1 mile West of FIBR to 4 miles East... it is laden with shallow, sunbathed vertical walls that start in 10fsw and drop to sand in 90'.

The best stuff is above 55fsw, but you can easily wander off and spend too much time at 90'. Here are some images, most of which were made quite shallow, right in the zone that I mentioned: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3139

Do you need nitrox? No, not at all. FIBR limits you to three well-spaced out boat dives per day, plus the added fourth dive, a shore dive. Not many people do this shore dive from FIBR, and that's a real shame. To miss this as a night dive- each night- would be a real loss.

Even next door, where I always do 5 a day at CoCoView, I do not bother with nitrox, my pixels never go very far into the yellow zone. There are several people on any given trip who push these limits very hard by descending into the 70+ zone with regularity. Unless someone is making a coherent hand gesture and pointing out something I want to see- maybe I'll blip down for a look see.

With my 5 a day at CCV, I have only once gotten into deco, and that was during a late afternoon 4th dive. I was frozen at 75' tryiung to sneak up on a Yellow Tailed Whatzits Fish

He is to be seen from the shore dive, btw.

It's a great idea to take the nitrox course and have that certification, but will you need it there? No.

 

[jdiverhenley]

thanks Roatan Man

Since we will be diving in January, I herd there are sea lice is this a concern, or just more stories. If this is true do you recommend an encounter suit or just a shorty.
I very rarely get cold but the wife will be diving in a full suit.

Thanks for the help

 

[Doc]

I've never been hit by Sea Lice, but I've seen three or four divers who have- one had a real good zap.

It's not really the end of the world, a minor discomfort and some Benadryl will likely get most people through the worst of it.

I wear a cotton jumpsuit on every dive.

Even people in rash guards or those slinky Lycra body suits can get it. Seems to getcha around the neck, armpits, etc.

I always wear a DeeRag over my bald head- I wouldn't like to get hit on the scalp. My wife and I have both been popped across the face with one of the below pictured critter's tentacles.

I like to night dive a lot, so I would recommend some kind of protection, if not just warm-up leggings and a tight, long sleeved synthetic turtleneck. (These and similar critters can't penetrate even pantyhose!) Maybe a dive beanie?

You can also buy Safe Sea goo to block the sting at any dive shop. http://www.buysafesea.com/jellyfish_sting_lotion.php

You see small Sea Wasps (may be colloquially referred to - incorrectly- as Box Jellies) all over the Caribbean. Roatan still has a lot of intact Mangroves, so they do appear. They can cause what is referred to as "moderate" pain.

What could it hurt to wear something?