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Idaho Diver you are always so controversial when you post. We know that you think that the diving in Belize is overrated, so let's leave your opinion to that!

Under no circumstances should you dive the Blue Hole immediately after receiving your C-Card. I dove it in October went to 140' and ran into 17 reef sharks.

Take your time, practice your skills and get more comfortable with your trained depth. In doing that you will enjoy diving more and be safer. Deep diving is highly overrated!!!!

I'm getting certified just in time for Belize (ocean dive is May 4, I leave for Belize May 11!). I had already realized that I'm not anywhere near ready for The Blue Hole, but I'm not sure where I'm ready for. Any suggestions for a newbie? Also, which operator is recommendd for someone like me who doesn't have experience in the water but wants to go diving?

Susan
I suggest you go with any of the operators who run small boats that take out from two to six divers at a time. They will give you all the attention you need. Everyone charges the same. Every one of us who dive Belize regularly have out favorites, so realized we are all prejudiced. I go with the PEOPLE I like. Billie or Everett with Hustler or Ched with Reef Adventures are the ones I dive with.
I've been diving Belize since 1998 and was certified OW here in cold water California in 1993. Got my advanced training on the Great Barrier Reef in 1996. Part of the advanced training is doing a deep dive where they purposely get you "Narced' so you will know what it is and will be shown how you reacted.
I have about 500 dives and had no desire to dive the Blue Hole because I can see stalactites and stalagmites in a safer environment. For instance in Palau you can dive Chandelier Caves that I think are only about 30' deep. But, I digress.
In March I went with Aqua Divers on the 3-tank dive to Lighthouse, the first dive being The Blue Hole. I did this because they were only one of two operators who would let me skip the 3nrd dive and drop me off and pick me up an hour later on Long Caye.
Although I am a very experienced diver I am still a careful diver. I know my limitations and am not ashamed to say when I feel anxious or tired. Since I usually travel and dive alone I ALWAYS buddy up with the dive master. I make absolutely sure I know what s/he looks like underwater – especially the color and shape of their fins -- and I follow them.
On the trip to the Blue Hole I was able to verbalize the above and 3 women gathered around me and were able to whisper how they felt. By talking about it everyone felt better and did better. One gal was so scared she almost sat it out, so we let her go first behind the dive master and I got an agreement from him that she and I may abort the dive after two minutes at depth. I followed her and we completed the dive with the group.
To tell you the truth I remember very little about the dive. We dropped down to a sandy ledge at about 40', gathered together and kicked up enough sand to make the rest of the dive murky. I know I was narced when I couldn't make my video camera work. I have fleeting images of swimming through a maze of not particularly pretty formations. You don't have a lot of time at that depth; I think we started up after about 10 minutes. I watched my computer all the way up and the ascent rate was reasonable (always in the green) as was the off gassing. We did a safety stop between 15' and 20'. The sun penetrated this far down and there were fish and other interesting stuff to watch here. Many of my diving friends had repeatedly said the most interesting life was around the perimeter at this depth.
ERGO: Snorkeling is probably more interesting than the deep dive.
My personal opinion – it's a macho thing! If you feel you MUST do the Blue Hole just because you are in Belize I recommend that you make it the last day or two that you are diving on this trip. Sign up for a package with one of the operators who go out to Lighthouse and do all your dives with them – on the reef. This will let them know you and your skill level and they will take good care of you.
And please, don't be afraid to be afraid.
Harriette

Harriette,

Great advice...thanks! I'm not too worried about being a newbie because of the attitude I've seen on this board. If folks down in Belize are half as friendly and helpful as this board has been, I'll never want to come home.

Susan

I got to thinking about all of the posts about the Blue Hole that I have seen and/or participated in since I started hanging out here. That sent me to the search function and that found me a number of posts of my own extolling my joy in diving the Hole. It also found me the words of some others, for example a fellow named Chris (post partially edited for space and context):

"There are many divers out there who worship the Blue Hole....I'm one of them....Please accept that folk respect the fact that YOU don't want to dive it (edited out unneccessary portion), but also accept the fact that for many of us the Blue Hole is something that is spectacular beyond words and gets better every time we dive it. Safely, of course."

And something from the Axeman:

"the Abyss awaited us.
Once moored, our Dive Master, Clive and Horace, the captain went through the predive safety brief, this dive we would have 2 DM's..one lead DM, one trailing...All were told of the risk of a deep dive, and the presence of sharks, adding to the excitement for me! I was electrified...every hair stood on end...my senses were as sharp as a teenager....
Splash...we all rolled off like lemmings into the sea...dropped to the sandy white shelf that surrounds the cold dark abyss..with all prepared and ready for decent we headed for the edge of cliff..and the deep unknown drop to max depth and the cut back shelf at 130' which has both Stalagtites and Stalagmites...as we approached the edge I felt the adreneline rush that I always feel when faceing the unknown...

The white sand beneath me faded into a black forbodeing midnight blue expanse, we had begun the mad headlong dash to our target depth...I stayed right behind Clive as planned, we talked before and I let him know my target depth was as deep as he went...
I cleared my ears continuously as the pressure first double, then tripled...

Clive finally flared out at 157' as did I..with the others stopping at 130'...we made our way over to the cut back shelf to see the shadowy, dimmed rock formations...

I waited the denizens of the deep...shy as they are..I took a few deep breaths and felt the tell tale signs of nitrogen narcosis..like multiple rapid shots 151 rum...I stuck to Clive like a puppy...heard him tap a warning alert on his tank..His hand signing the much awaited SHARK gesture..they had come to see who had intruded into their home...5 Black Tip, 2 Lemon shark..all 30' above and 40' towards the center...Now the rush really hit me...the possiblity of danger..combines with incredible depth had me as giddy as a school girl on her first encounter...
They kept their distance, and it was time to ascend...by now Clive had started up and the other DM had moved down to my side as he knew I was alittle narc'd( i had signed to him)He gestured for me to wait after looking at my gauge, I had used very little air and was very calm...as the other went up the Black Tips came in under us,then passed within 20'...again the rush hit me...I was close to the edge..the possible end of exsistance....they passed like graceful paper airplanes...curious but not adgitated...we began our slow ascent ever watchful of their position...they went off on their powerful, sleek mission...the search for food...

Seemed like forever to reach the top...but we did once again return to the edge of the wall and did a 10 min safety stop at30'..sitting on the white sands reveling in the momment!
For the record..this dive was devoid of almost all sea life except the sharks...but to miss this would be a shame..it will forever remain imprinted in my mind and heart."

And more recently from dbdobermans' report:

"Finally, we arrived at the Blue Hole, and after a very detailed briefing, the crew did a great job getting everybody into the water. For the dive, we were split into two groups, each having a DM leading, and one bringing up the rear. Even with a caution to watch our depth, I looked at my gauge at one point, I found myself at 140 feet. If you do this dive, pay close attention, this was so easy to do. I was awed by the stalactites, and wish we could have had more time down there, but we soon headed back up to 40 feet, and it was time for the sharks.

I knew they were probably there, but had totally forgotten about them. They were provided a little snack (not a diver), and came fairly close in. This happened quickly, but I think there were two reef and one bull shark. The viz was not that good, and as they zoomed in out of the gloom, it was very surreal. They left as quickly as they had appeared, back into the murk.

Back onboard, I heard comments ranging from "unbelievable" to "wasn't worth it".
If you stop to consider how amazing it is to dive such a geological wonder, a cave not completely collapsed, forming an almost perfect circle, those amazing stalactites, it should seem incredible. We headed to our next dive site."

And speaking for myself, I find it almost spiritual and the more times I dive it, the more things I notice; little chambers in the walls, the composition of the stalactites, etc. I never fail to be awed by the geologic and diving (think Jacque Cousteau) history of this magnificent place. And while I've been aware of some narcosis in the Hole, I can still very clearly remember the majority of my first two dives into it, those being so special to me. And how each and every time I've returned to the surface, I'm grinning from ear to ear and singing "Again, again, I want to do it again!"

Just like San Pedro itself, some people get *it* and some people don't.

I did the BH 3 years ago, with an OW cert, 40+ salt water dives all around the Carribean. There were a few of our party non-divers that snorkeled while we were down and said it was fantastic. As for the hole, I found it to be a novelty. I did hit 140 ft, and did have a touch of narc that I realized because I was more focused on my depth, time, and air than I was in sightseeing. It doesn't take long to see some stalactites in the murk, most of which are exactly the same. I did have a 6 ft black tip come up nose to nose with me at about 100 feet, and my response to this was only "coool", so I might think I was just getting a little narced at that point already.
I classify this as a novelty dive, not a must (other than to say you did it). In all of my diving, the BH, along with Barracuda Reef in Cozumel, are the only two dives that stand out in my memory that are different because the overall feeling during the dive is "you are not just a visitor here, you are at high risk. Pay attention, be extra careful".
If I were to go out again, I would snorkel or dive the rim only. On the other hand, the other dives on the trip were extremely nice, and the lunch break at the island was a memorable experience. My opinion is that 99.99% of the cool stuff to see is above 80' anyway.

Susano, I'd recommend checking with Tulu, he's an independent working off the Coral Beach dock and he's great, especially with beginners. He usually does not take more than 4 divers at a time and he will work with you before the dive and throughout it to make sure you are comfortable, safe and have a good time. He's been doing this for many, many years and at times seems more like a fish than a diver. I dive with him every time I go down (did my 1st real open water dive with him after being certified) and have nothing but good stuff to say about him. There are several of the other board people who also know him.

amen to that. Tulu is awesome.
BIG chuckle here:
"and at times seems more like a fish than a diver"

yeah... tis the truth.

OK, having said all that I said and quoted, in my earlier post, I wish to re-emphasize that I do not think the Blue Hole is any place for beginners, whether they are being babysat by an attentive and supportive DM or not.

My post was directed towards experienced divers that may have been trying to decide whether it was worth the trip out that far or paying the extra bucks.

What do you guys think about taking the trip and snorkelling at the BH, and doing the other two dives - is that a worthwhile trip? Worth the $175?