Shore diving

[MoneyGuy]

First post for me. I'm certified by basically a beginner. I want easy dives to gain experience.

I've never done a shore dive before. This one looks really good. Has anyone tried this one or does it look good to you? It's on St. Thomas in the Caribbean and I'm considering this instead of a boat dive. Would do this one? Max is 55 feet and it looks non-technical.

Coki Beach Dive Club / Reef Tour

 

[sasscuba]

Welcome. If you want GREAT shore diving go to Bonaire if that is an option for you. You will get all the experience you can handle on as many shore dives as you can handle.

 

[MoneyGuy]

Maybe another time. This time I'm in the Caribbean on a cruise ship so my options are limited to a few islands, St. thomas being one of them.

I'm interested in opinions on this shore dive.

 

[on_two_wheels]

I'm a new diver and if I were in that area, I'd be all over that!! Just having a guide on my first reef dive would be worth it. I'm sure I could learn a thing or two to make it worth the cost.

 

[lazyturtle]

I used to work there! The dive is SUPER EASY, honestly you don't need a guided tour. If you do want a guided tour arrange it yourself, rather than through the cruise ship. ALWAYS avoid the tours sold from the ship, you'll get a better deal and have a better experience if you deal with the operator directly (this goes for every location).
If you want to dive at Coki, just set your compass, and swim straight out to sea (about 5 mins swim). The reef runs parallel to shore and is really shallow, but nice. The reef is closer if you head to the right, but less traveled to the left. If you get totally lost, look at the bottom, it slopes gently toward shore on most of the site. If you get to where it's flat, you've gone to far seaward (the best part of the dive is at around 20-30 feet).
PM me if you've got more questons.

 

[emttim]

A lot easier than the 4-6 foot waves that were fighting me and my class when we got certified in Monterey...you'll be fine.

 

[fisherdvm]

I think every diver should experience a shore dive. Whether it is in a little pond, a river, a lake, or the ocean. I would do a calm water dive first, with some one who has done it before, just for a little mental support. Then proceed to surf. It is funny watching people with hundred of dives yet struggle to get into the water from the shore. I would simply put the gear in, drag it out to waist deep water, and put it on. With surf, I would put it on a little earlier. Without a buddy, I would put my fin sitting in the water with a regulator in my mouth.

 

[DivingPrincessE]

To the OP, I really don't think that boat dives are that much more difficult than shore dives...heck they are probably easier in some instances. I am going to be diving in St. Thomas off a cruise ship in a couple of weeks (if I can get rid of this cold that is) and the only dive excursion the ship offers is the shore dive at coki beach. The problem is that they are charging around the same amount for a one-tank shore dive, as I am paying for a two-tank boat dive with Blue Island Divers. You should really compare the prices, because if yours is about the same cost as well...it really doesn't make sense to spend that much money on a one tank shore dive...

Also, I learned the hard way from last time NOT to use the dive op organized through the cruise ship. I do my own research through scubaboard and elsewhere and find the highly recommended dive ops...you know the ones who actually care about safety (unlike the cruise ship contracted dive ops).

 

[fisherdvm]

Also, I learned the hard way from last time NOT to use the dive op organized through the cruise ship. I do my own research through scubaboard and elsewhere and find the highly recommended dive ops...you know the ones who actually care about safety (unlike the cruise ship contracted dive ops).

The only catch is, if you booked your dive through the cruise ship, you would know that they will HOLD THE SHIP for you if you returned late.

If you booked your dive through an outside facility. Do not trust. Do not believe. Do not take chances. Make sure the boat returns at least 2 hours before your ship depart. Factor in problems at sea (injuries, emergencies, engine trouble), traffic problems (at many docking facilities, which usually are in downtown areas). Before you know it, the 10 minute ride back to the port becomes 45 minutes, or even hours.

Dive trips offered by the cruise ship often is bland, within shouting distance from the ship.... But they can guarantee to get you back on board in time. If not, they will guarantee that the ship will wait for you, or at least, get you transportation to the next port of call - or a partial refund of you cruise if you miss it all together. The only problem we found with these ship scuba excusions, is that they don't always cater to beginner, and you can find yourself in a deeper dive than you expected. Also they tend to sell out quickly, often before you board the ship. If you forget your card, they will not let you dive, as some port are in remote areas, without internet access. I had my dive log, and they still refused to let me dive. Some cruise ship will be nice enough to verify your card for their contracted resort dive center by phone or by internet. To print up a replacement card online, you pay a hefty price for the internet access and the fee for an instant replacement card.

Unless you know your itinary that allows for full day at port, I would say, pay the extra $50 per dive trip, accept that it is going to be a so so dive, but at least your cruise will not be troubled by missing the ship.

 

[Sas]

I guess it depends DivingPrincessE on the type of shore diving you do. I am just learning and am finding shore dives *way* easier than boat dives. Mainly because I have trouble equalising so shore dives enable to me to take my time going deeper. On the boat dives I have done, I have had trouble keeping to the line due to poor visibility, it has been harder to keep an eye on my buddy, the dives are deeper so it can be more nerve racking the first few times and also I seem to get very seasick on the boats especially as slack water has been a while coming sometimes. I think in time shore v boat dives will be much the same for me but for newbies a few shore dives is a good way to ease into it. In my OW course, we did 6 shore dives before going on the boat so that was *really* helpful.

Also not sure if this is the norm but boat dives cost a lot more money where I live! My LDS just charges for gear rental when you do shore dives with them

I still enjoy both a lot but yea, shore dives seem easier to manage but unfortunately for me have involved a lot more carrying around gear due to long walks to the beach...