Shark Dive with Waihuka Divers, Roatan

[Papa_Bear]

A lot of the resorts do it the same way if they have enough people signed up! I have done it both ways and it is a little nicer to have the bigger boat on site, but doesn't change the dive! They always have the DM, the Videographer, and a safety diver! Well run and hardly a "Meat shop" as it is a service to allow a lot of divers to see sharks for what they really are, not to be feared, but to be enjoyed and treated as a treasure! BTW I have up some great Dolphin video from AKR on my web site!
Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

 

[Web Monkey]

this operation overloads their boats with divers, requiring you to be fully suited up and ready to jump in the water before your even leave the dock.

Oddly enough, I went on that exact dive with Waihuka Divers.

You need to be fully suited before getting on the boat because it's a short ride to the dive site and the boat is too small to let everybody gear up once you're there.

The dock is also much roomer, so it's a lot safer and more comfortable to gear up on dry land, then get in the boat, drive out an drop in.

They take short cuts in safety standards and seem to be more interested in moving as many divers as possible through their meat shop than focusing on the divers and making this a pleasant experience.

I saw no "shorcuts." In fact, I didn't see anyplace where a "shortcut" could be taken. You gear up, ride to the site and drop in. It's a very short dive in a fixed location, so the "pleasant experience" part is really your responsibility.

As our boat raced out to the dive site, we were taking on water, since the boat was overloaded. It seemed unsafe with the large number of divers we had, some experienced and many inexperienced, having problems equalizing.

The boat has built in flotation and seats, so I'm not exactly sure how it could be "overloaded" unless there were people sitting on the floor or the gunnels.

This is one of the few dive ops I've seen that actually enforced a minimum number of dives (20). I know this because they refused to allow my newly-certified friend to go on the dive. They have a right to expect that certified divers will either be able to equalize or know enough to not descend. In any case, it's pretty much impossible to tell if someone is having equalization problems unless they come over to you and point at their ear.

After the dive was over and we ascended, it was like herding a bunch of cattle back to the surface. As I was waiting through my safety stop I notice one of the divers in our group run out of air and had to buddy breath through his safety stop.

Anybody who can't get 30 minutes out of an 80 Cu Ft tank on a 70' dive probably should have selected a different dive. This isn't a criticism of anybody in particular, but people need to know their limitations. You really can't blame the dive op for any of this.

Terry

 

[HammerHead05]

Well run and hardly a "Meat shop" as it is a service to allow a lot of divers to see sharks for what they really are, not to be feared, but to be enjoyed and treated as a treasure!QUOTE]

I too have done this dive and agree with Papa. Even tho we had lots of folks on the boat and the cruisers had no idea what they were doing and probably shouldn't have been on the dive, the experience with the sharks was excellent. I'm glad we did this since it was truly the hightlight of a week spent at Cocoview (which sucked)!!!

 

[scubamork]

I did the dive last May. I thought it was pretty well run. I would say its not for inexperienced divers. We had our gear(bc and tanks) ready but not on except for some Italians that didn't understand the briefing. Seas were a little rough I stayed below the surface till it was my turn on the ladder unlike some of the other people that got beat up.

 

[diver 85]

What happened to Sergio & Antonio---the 2 Italians for the Cara a Cara dive???......----now they were GOOD.......

 

[Papa_Bear]

They are still there as far as I know!

 

[DECKHAND]

I also have done this dive with Waihuka Divers and I'll recommend it to any experienced diver to do this shark dive.You will love this dive just like I did, one of the best dives I have ever done .I do agreed with Papa Bear maybe it was too much for you bstone.
Here's a link to my shark dive video YouTube - Shark Diving

Looking forward to visit Roatan next year and defenitely will do this dive again an again.

 

[Bay Island Diver]

I think who you book the trip through may have something to do with it as well. I am only guessing here, but knowing the island as well as i do, I expect that most dive operations try to book all the guests they have wanting todo the dive at onetime (makes everything easier logistically)

Therefore if you book with a largeresort who send many divers to the shark dive every week you end upin a large group.

If you book with a smaller operator you end up in a small group - unless they join groups from smaller operators into one large group (i haven't had feedback of this occuring from the people i have booked on to the dive.)

Another consideration is the operators quality control. The more respnonsible operators know their divers and will only send divers who are good enough to safely do the dive and not detract from other enjoyment of it.

It is hard for the Shark dive guys. They are reliant on operators applying this quality control if they get sent a diver withvirtually no buoyancy control, you should be pointing fingers at who you booked through and who booked that diver on to the dive, not the shark dive itself.

 

[ncchuck]

Many good points have been made here but some have been pretty harsh. It's obvous the original poster had a bad experience. I've had them too and I'm sure all of you have. No need to bash him for expressing his opinion even if his tone was a little harsh.

Lots of divers make mistakes and go on dives they shouldn't pursue. I've not been on this dive and don't know how it is marketed. The "thrill" of a shark dive for newbies can cause them to make poor choices. A good operator will however try to weed out people not properly trained or experienced for such dives. I think some of you forget what is was like to be new at diving. Newbies don't know what they can't do. Sucking a lot of air on your first shark dive is certainly not unusual and an operator should know that. The new diver might not understand this even though it was certainly part of his training.

Now for my real comment. I've been on several shark dives in many places. I was on most of them just to get in the water and get my money's worth for my week of diving. Heck, I even sold a shark dive package when I worked in Truk Lagoon (I hated doing it). I don't think they are good for divers or the sharks. Yes they are exciting but they are unnatural and I believe harmful. Go to Disney Land for fake experiences. I've enjoyed every natural shark encounter a 100 times more than any shark dive. It's only my opinion however.

 

[CODMAN]

Many good points have been made here but some have been pretty harsh. It's obvous the original poster had a bad experience. I've had them too and I'm sure all of you have. No need to bash him for expressing his opinion even if his tone was a little harsh.

Lots of divers make mistakes and go on dives they shouldn't pursue. I've not been on this dive and don't know how it is marketed. The "thrill" of a shark dive for newbies can cause them to make poor choices. A good operator will however try to weed out people not properly trained or experienced for such dives. I think some of you forget what is was like to be new at diving. Newbies don't know what they can't do. Sucking a lot of air on your first shark dive is certainly not unusual and an operator should know that. The new diver might not understand this even though it was certainly part of his training.

Now for my real comment. I've been on several shark dives in many places. I was on most of them just to get in the water and get my money's worth for my week of diving. Heck, I even sold a shark dive package when I worked in Truk Lagoon (I hated doing it). I don't think they are good for divers or the sharks. Yes they are exciting but they are unnatural and I believe harmful. Go to Disney Land for fake experiences. I've enjoyed every natural shark encounter a 100 times more than any shark dive. It's only my opinion however.

I agree (both for the comments and the natural shark encounters). Plenty of good, calm feedback here disagreeing with the OPs views, which is the way to show your views!

But I also understand papa bear; sometimes things get under our skin and it's hard not to react. It happens to all of us.

Cheers!