We coming to AC in late November, and are so excited! I have been reading this site diligently since we chose Belize, and have gotten such great info.
My question - we have never been diving before, and are hoping to be able to take a class before we come, and complete our cert dive there. However, if we aren't able to take classes before we go, what kind of options for "guided" dives are there on AC? Will we be very resticted w/r/t where we can go, how deep, etc? Is it very pricey if you are not trained or certified?
Thanks, all!

If you've been following this message board...then I'm sure you are aware of what the answers to your questions will be.

I won't say nobody will take you....but it won't be a person who has scruples about diving. And why would you want to put yourselves at risk like that.

No dive is worth getting hurt or worse.

Just my humble opinion.

I would try to complete the classrom and pool portions of your open water certification at home and do your open water check out dives on the island. The cost is approx. US $ 225 and after 2 days and 4 dives you will be certified, assuming you pass. If you are unable to complete the classroom and pool at home you can do a resort course that requires you to be with an instructor while diving. As for depth limitations, your instructor will set those for you just never go any deeper than your instructor and you will be fine. Anyway you see the best colors when shallow. Try Barefoot Watersports website or email them at [email protected] for pricing info. Roberto is an excellent and very safe Instructor. Hope this helps!

Ron

I started by a resort dive, because I was not sure if I would like diving or not...I felt really confortable diving with an instructor....I loved it and took the course when I came back from Belize...Have fun !

We use Amigos Del Mar. http://www.amigosdive.com/index.html
They offer a resort course - email them for more info.
Belize it!

I have read with interest the diving discussions. Can I get some illumination on where less experienced divers can dive. I have about 18-29 dives, mostly in the US Virgins (Rhone etc.) but this was almost 15 years ago. I plan to take a refresher course here or a resort course there, I'm 45 good health and comfortable underwater. I read about the Blue Hole incident. What about half moon caye? Other sugestions?

Carolina,

There are many dives you can do. A refresher is nothing more than a review and a dive at Hol Chan (something you should do anyway). After that, if you are comfortable, go diving with the same group and gradually progress. No divemaster should ever take you somewhere you aren't comfortable. Come on down and enjoy your vacation.

As to the coments that diving is a dangerous sport, IT IS NOT DANGEROUS if done intelligently. Diving beyond your ability is dangerous. Wandering off from the group is dangerous. Diving intelligently IS NOT DANGEROUS. The days of he-man diving are long gone. This is a new millenium, lets not go back 30 or 40 years to the dark ages of diving. It is a safe, family sport for men, women and youths.

Mike & Dawn O'Connor www.barefootwatersports.net

Florian,

You are correct in your analogies. You are far more likely to die in a car accident than in diving. All we are saying is that everything in life has risks, minimizing them allows us to get out of bed each day and get on with life. We encourage people to try diving, for some it becomes a lifelong passion, for others it is a one time experience. Fear is not something we promote, safety is. Please do not take offense as none is intended. Each person needs to look at the sport and make a decision. Education is the answer.

Mike & Dawn O'Connor www.barefootwatersports.net

Geez! Chill out you guys. You both make excellent sense especially when you take the time to re-read the other's post.

Stay in there.

**Jim

I do not believe that a resort course is the right way to dive.

Also, the last time I was to SP, I ended up on a day trip out to Turneffe Elbow and found out after I was in the water, that half of the divers were on a resort course. We were diving to 80'. I was absolutely appalled!!

If you want to dive and want to enjoy your dives, then follow the part of Barefoot's advice wherein she said (I'm assuming it was Dawn) dive intelligently. That means that you'll use your head and get your course done before you go. You can get a referral and take your open water dives portion in Belize if you wish. However, I would recommend taking the open water portion at home, if at all possible. The reason is simple. The diving conditions at home, whereever your home is, is in all likelihood harder diving. If you take your open water dives in the more harsh conditions, you will absolutely love it in Belize and have an even better time. Also, you will have had more dives all together and experience is where it's at.

Barefoot is right. Done within the parameters of your training and experience and sensibly, SCUBA is not a dangerous sport but it is a serious sport. Take it seriously!!

By the way, I gather Florian's post was deleted?