Refresher Requirement at Sunset House?

[heydn62]

Just spent the last 5 nights at Sunset House. On check-in, they asked to see our c-cards, asked how many dives we had, and when our last dive was. Be sure to do the shore dive out to the mermaid when the sun is out. Skip the shore dive to the shipwreck- long swim and not much to see.

Great week. Water temps 82-84. Viz a little less than perfect, probably 60-80 ft on the deep wall dives. Only drawback to Sunset House for me was the smaller tanks (72's).

Sadly, returning home today.:depressed:

 

[Alex777]

Be sure to do the shore dive out to the mermaid when the sun is out. Skip the shore dive to the shipwreck- long swim and not much to see./QUOTE]

The Wreck of the Nicholson is about 15 minutes from shore, max. The Main Wall is about 5 minutes further. Those are the most interesting parts of this site, IMHO.

 

[Marek K]

Only drawback to Sunset House for me was the smaller tanks (72's).

Yeah, what's the deal with that? If you're cynical, you'd say it's so the boats can turn around quicker and save time, at the cost of our bottom time (realizing that the more-standard AL80 only holds about 77-78 cf at 300 psi).

Do folks notice the decreased BT? I still run out of air/gas before reaching NDLs...

 

[heydn62]

Yeah, what's the deal with that? If you're cynical, you'd say it's so the boats can turn around quicker and save time, at the cost of our bottom time (realizing that the more-standard AL80 only holds about 77-78 cf at 300 psi).

Do folks notice the decreased BT? I still run out of air/gas before reaching NDLs...

I did notice my dives were a bit shorter. Thought it was because i hadn't been in the water in a few months, then I noticed the tanks were smaller. I figure I lost about 5 minutes per dive.

Do other OPs in GC use 80's or is this a standard there?

 

[Alex777]

80s are standard. Off-hand, I don't remember anyone else who supplies 72s.

 

[Troutmaster]

The last time I dove Eden Rock my wife (now ex) wanted to sit the dive out. I walked in to the store and asked out loud if I could buddy up with someone (solo diving is actually against the law in GC). Found a buddy in about 7 seconds, presented my C-card and credit card and was on my way. Staff is VERY helpfull, great site for getting wet the first time.

Get a dive in somewhere so when Sunset asks you can tell them "two weeks ago" to answer the last dive question.

FYI, almost everybody in GC uses 80cf aluminum tanks, I have dove with about a dozen ops there over the last 4 years and that is the standard. 32 mix is available everywhere. Some places (Eden Rock is one of them) has 100cf tanks if you want them.

There are a lifetime worth of shore diving in GC, get your tanks and weights from the op that has the access point and off you go. Get a few minutes out of Georgetown and the sites have alot fewer divers.

If you want some really nice boat dives, head to the east end of the island and dive with Ocean Frontiers. It is the best op I have ever dove with, anywhere, fantastic staff and the sites on the east end have alot fewer divers on them.

PM me if you want any other sugestions on sites. I love GC diving.

 

[Blazinator]

Yeah, what's the deal with that? If you're cynical, you'd say it's so the boats can turn around quicker and save time, at the cost of our bottom time (realizing that the more-standard AL80 only holds about 77-78 cf at 300 psi).

Do folks notice the decreased BT? I still run out of air/gas before reaching NDLs...

If an op uses 72's as standards, but offers larger tanks for larger people like me, then that's ok. But Red Sail sports only uses 72's and wouldn't provide larger ones for me, so I told them right on the phone "That's why I will never dive with you".

Then I called Ocean Frontiers, and they had 100's for all my dives except the shallow night dives (fine - had over an hour BT on each).

I could have been conservative and hovered above everyone else, or used less air by moving slower and streamlining better - not checking out every interesting thing, but for crying out loud - I'm paying top dollar for the coolest dives of my life, so if I want to stay an extra five minutes at 100+ ft to video the wall, and then swim til I'm out of breath to see whats under every ledge I see and get my fill of this elusive creation of God, then I should be able to get my full 45 minutes worth, and STILL have air left for my buddy.

I have over 100 dives yet I still sucked down that Nitrox filled AL100 in less than 35 minutes with less than 400 psi remaining on my first wall dive (cus it was such a literally breathtaking dive).

And I don't want to hear all the lectures from y'all about all the air-cunsumption methods to increase my sac rate - been there, heard it all, and employ most of the tricks. But I'm on vacation - not in a contest to conserve air d*** it!!!

Sorry for my rant, but I am totally with you Marek! Cheers to Ocean Frontiers!

 

[ktomlinson]

Just curious why you skipped over Jim Lapenta's comment that Mt. Storm temps should be up over 80 degrees by now? Maybe you missed it?

 

[Marek K]

Just curious why you skipped over Jim Lapenta's comment that Mt. Storm temps should be up over 80 degrees by now? Maybe you missed it?

If you mean me, no, I noted it. Had to do some research into Mt. Storm -- hadn't heard of it before.

Sounds really interesting. But it's 3-1/2 hours from where we live; and getting out there with wife, two kids, dive gear, and eight tanks in a Jetta would be quite a logistical challenge.

I think we're going to bite the bullet and do the required refresher at Sunset House. Eden Rock sounds real good, but they require a refresher too -- with my luck they'll check. At least at Sunset House we'll have our gear right there, and won't be pressed for time the day of our arrival.

Plus I managed to negotiate a significant price break for the four of us...

I'm just getting more and more pissed off at the AL72's they use there...

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Sunset House, Red Sail Sports, and Tortuga Divers are share some common ownership. All use 72s. They do not have larger tanks though there were a few 50s kicking around for pool sessions. Most, but not all, guests would hit the NDLs before running low on air.

When I worked at TD the refresher course included full use of rental gear for the day and a one tank boat dive. It was actually cheaper to take the refresher with a pool session and boat dive than it was to just rent gear and do the one tank pm dive if that is all the diver intended to dive that day.