Single diver, mix of diver ability on Lighthouse v.s. Turneffe trips?

[MichaelMc]

I’m likely visiting San Pedro the first week in April as a single diver, maybe north of town, and I’m wondering about the mix of random buddies on boats to the atolls and mitigating single diver risks.

I have about 120 dives in California, most recently Monterey where I assist in teaching scientific diving, for which I’m rescue and CPR/O2/AED qual’ed. I plan to snorkel with my non-diver friends, do local reef dives, and a few atoll dives. I don’t feel a need to dive the Blue Hole, and really not with random divers. A wall in clear still water is cool, but I’ve done that at Tahoe. I’ll have my BP/W, regs, SMB, etc.

1) Given the allure of the Blue Hole, would the mix of diver ability on Lighthouse boats be worse than Turneffe boats? The half moon and aquarium dives on the Blue Hole trips sound nice. Yet in Maui, boats that required 25+ lifetime dives were much more enjoyable than those that did not. The atolls will be a new environment, so a boat full of more experienced divers (and a pony) sounds better. Would a Turneffe trip have much better divers?

2) How are single divers typically handled in Belize? Particularly on the local Belize reef. I don`t have the SDI solo card. On Maui Molokini, both boat captains briefed ‘If you need a dive buddy let us know’ and that was it. I dove there solo within lead groups outside the crater and on pinnacles, feeling safer than with most odd single divers. The 2016 Belize National Dive code lists: 'buddy or group' assignments, and a log with buddy name. I don’t feel a strong *need* for the boat to set me up with a random unknown buddy for the local reef. Maui seemed very comfortable with me loose in the group as I always tracked what the DM and group were doing.

3) Can one rent an AL40 or LP50 for a week in San Pedro? For local and atoll dives to be a responsible self reliant diver. I’m sure Belize Diving Services on Caulker has them, but maybe only for tech work with them. I read that ponies are rarely seen on San Pedro. With a random boat mix, a pony seems a smart play for *my* safety, buddy or not. I’m trying to move to side mount, and playing with a ’side mount’ slung pony in Monterey, so it's gear I’m already using.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[lthomas132]

I’m likely visiting San Pedro the first week in April as a single diver, maybe north of town, and I’m wondering about the mix of random buddies on boats to the atolls and mitigating single diver risks.


1) Given the allure of the Blue Hole, would the mix of diver ability on Lighthouse boats be worse than Turneffe boats? The half moon and aquarium dives on the Blue Hole trips sound nice. Yet in Maui, boats that required 25+ lifetime dives were much more enjoyable than those that did not. The atolls will be a new environment, so a boat full of more experienced divers (and a pony) sounds better. Would a Turneffe trip have much better divers?

2) How are single divers typically handled in Belize? Particularly on the local Belize reef. I don`t have the SDI solo card. On Maui Molokini, both boat captains briefed ‘If you need a dive buddy let us know’ and that was it. I dove there solo within lead groups outside the crater and on pinnacles, feeling safer than with most odd single divers. The 2016 Belize National Dive code lists: 'buddy or group' assignments, and a log with buddy name. I don’t feel a strong *need* for the boat to set me up with a random unknown buddy for the local reef. Maui seemed very comfortable with me loose in the group as I always tracked what the DM and group were doing.

Thanks,
Michael

You're wise to stay away from the Blue Hole. IMO it's a novelty dive. Just remember if you do go, more than likely there will be novice divers also. You're 2+ hrs. away by boat, O2 bottles only hold 1 hr. I helped with a gurney carrying a French lady from the docks to a golf cart to the chamber many years ago. She didn't make it. Turneffe Atoll is a different story, beautiful reefs, realistic depths, & ~1 hr. to the chamber. Not sure about Pony rentals, but many shops hang a tank at safety stop depth. Another atoll that I fell in love with is Banco Chinchorro off of Xcalak, Mexico. On a calm day, which is rare, you can dive the windward side which is incredible! See XTC Dive Center (XTC DIVE CENTER | Scuba diving, Snorkelling, Fishing and Excursions in Xcalak, Costa Maya Mexico). Xcalak is what Cozumel & San Pedro used to be. Have fun

 

[_Ralph]

You'll have a wide mix of divers at the blue hole. It's a costly trip for the operators and most, even the big ones don't even make money on that day.

Most shops do 2 profiles, depending on certification.

OW - down to 70-80ft
AOW - down to 130-140ft

Most dives are done in groups of 4-6 with 2 dive masters (one in the front, one in the rear) for a 30-45 minute dive. The other two dives are usually shorter/shallower (i.e., 50-60ft 45minutes) due to the profile of the Blue Hole dive and SI times. As well, you're far away from home if the weather turns, or have boat problems/emergencies. Most operators like to be back by sunset.


You won't find much difference of skill level between trips, however, there are a lot of divers who just come out for the Blue Hole, as it is a costly trip, and don't do any other diving ..... so their first dive may just be the blue hole for the trip.

Smaller tanks for ponies and such ... Don't quite know. BDS has LP85 and AL80's from what I remember for stages/deco/doubles .......


Turneffe is a great spot to dive as well .....

_R

 

[KeithG]

I think you will find the exact same divers on the blue hole trip as on the turneffe atoll trip. same divers, different days.

As for diving solo, you will have to check with the dive op. All day boats we have witnessed do group cluster dives, no singles, no buddy pairs. we have only done LOB in belize, but get to see the day boats almost every day as they do half moon caye in the afternoon after the blue hole.

a search of SB should reveal that popular opinion is that half moon caye is the best diving in belize. second best is long caye.

 

[MichaelMc]

Thanks. I thought Ralph's post suggested the same mix.

I've been skimming the past several years. Half moon and aquarium seemed rated tops, and maybe North AC is almost as good as Torneffe, and way closer. That seemed the consensus of peterbj7's posts.

 

[Edward3c]

I think anybody going to Belize should read this.

 

[KeithG]

I think anybody going to Belize should read this.

Was there anything specific that you thought people should pay attention too?

 

[Coztick]

I read that ponies are rarely seen on San Pedro. With a random boat mix, a pony seems a smart play for *my* safety, buddy or not. I’m trying to move to side mount, and playing with a ’side mount’ slung pony in Monterey, so it's gear I’m already using.

I can't speak on Belize, but my last 2 trips to Coz. has been in sm with my 13 cu.ft. on the right side for 90% of my dives.
Otherwise it's 2 80's. I've only seen 1 other pony and a couple spare airs at the AI that we use and I've been called overdressed but most of my dives have been buddy free.
May I suggest taking a 2 or 3 liter pony? Contact the ops to see if they can fill it. Ask if they are sm friendly. If so, take your rig and take the same 2 tanks on 2 dives and not use a pony? Dive how your most comfortable and out perform all detractors!
I'm guessing, with your certs and exp., a little redundancy should get you some freedom...
Tell the DM you will watch from the back of the pack or, like me, use your camara as an excuse not to have a buddy.
I wish you an amazing time...
.

 

[KeithG]

I can't speak on Belize, but my last 2 trips to Coz. has been in sm with my 13 cu.ft. on the right side for 90% of my dives.
Otherwise it's 2 80's. I've only seen 1 other pony and a couple spare airs at the AI that we use and I've been called overdressed but most of my dives have been buddy free.
May I suggest taking a 2 or 3 liter pony? Contact the ops to see if they can fill it. Ask if they are sm friendly. If so, take your rig and take the same 2 tanks on 2 dives and not use a pony? Dive how your most comfortable and out perform all detractors!
I'm guessing, with your certs and exp., a little redundancy should get you some freedom...
Tell the DM you will watch from the back of the pack or, like me, use your camara as an excuse not to have a buddy.
I wish you an amazing time...
.

I claim you are over thinking this. The majority of Caribbean divers I have witnessed are vacation divers (just like me - well mostly worse than me? maybe?). And the dive ops are geared for this level of diver incompetence. Think Dressel divers at an Ibeostar. Fully competent, very safe, but geared to DSDs. Two 27 minute dives to 35 feet EVERY day!

In my book the first sanity check for any dive trip is: "Is a DM led group cluster dive mandatory?". The OP and some responders are talking at a level way beyond anything expected or allowed by most vacation diver operators. Before you talk about this stuff, find out if you will be forced to nanny dive.

 

[MichaelMc]

I claim you are over thinking this.

My reading of the Belize forum history suggested the local reef transitions from spur and groove to slope around 80' and that DMs often exceed planned depths to this transition. Maybe for the interest, or maybe to get back sooner. Belize requires DM presence, part of the document cited above. I'm very happy at 80', but with no one around I know I can trust, I figure I'm solo with hopefully a boat still above, and should be equipped that way.

May I suggest taking a 2 or 3 liter pony?

A 63 might be a local substitute, if no 40 or less can be found. Or I'll fly one. No camera, but that is an attractive reason for one.