Having only gone diving once before, in Mexico, I am not certified. How much time and money does it take to get certified in AC? If I do not need to get certified, can I still dive with a dive master? Any reputable ones for a relative novice? Thanks

We'll be going on our first trip to Belize in June. So I can't tell you how many days or how much a certification course is in Belize. But, as a certified diver, I wouldn't recommend diving without be certified.

you can take a "resort" course - maybe $125, you get a 1/2 day diving, but why bother - get fully certified. The best way is to be a "referral". Do the coursework at a dive center close to home, then get referred to an operation in AC for your certification dives. Alot of dive operators on AC do full certification courses, click on "goods and services" at the top here - then check out the dive operators and prices.

dbdoberman you are correct in what you suggest to them, but you did not stress one very important thing. Who in their right mind would want to do the book reading and study required for OW on vacation? I know I wouldn't, it's time to have fun and not be stuck getting confused with dive tables...

Ok,OK don't beat me up, So I'm NAUI certified, sue me...

I agree with you, crawfish! a referral would be the way to go, if they cannot get fully certified beforehand. I sure wouldn't want to spend my time in paradise doing the full course. hahaha, I remember those tables - thank God for dive computers!

Salute to DB and crawfish..both on the nose...do the course work at home..open water dives in AC.
My Cohort on this trip is doing it.

DO THE COURSE WORK AT HOME .... GOOD ADVISE!

Many of the Dive shops in AC will let you do your checkout dives when you bring your universal referral. The prices are all within a few dollars of each other, so just do it with someone you feel comfortable with [maybe get a reference from someone you know or this board]
I personally will be doing mine with Kent @ Blue Hole Dive Center [plug ] The classes [which aren't hard] I've done in my home town because as was correctly said here ..... WHO WANTS TO STUDY WHILE ON VACATION!!

I used to dive many years agao [wont say how many :rolleyes: ] But I haven't been in the water for a very long time .... It was a no brainer for me to want to be recertified. All Things change and update, Nitrogen tables have changed,LOTS of Equipment changes ... etc ....
You really DON'T want to dive without a REAL certification, just not smart. Besides .. Once Certified you open up a whole new world to explore !! [Geez, I sound like a commercial!]
:p

GOOD LUCK !!

We didn't get around to getting a referral and so did the whole open water diver course on AC last summer - we went with Amigos del Mar (Eddie, as I recall), who were excellent ( in particular on the dives with my wife, who was initially very nervous)and it took roughly 3 days, about one day of which, in total over the period, was spent in the 'class room'. With the sun and the sea just outside, it was a real incentive to pass the class room test a.s.a.p.

Thanks for all the advice. We are now planning on doing the book and pool work at home and the open water dives in AC. We will be staying at Ramon's Village - Any suggestions for who to dive with. Also, I have to ask, since my wife will be a first-timer and very nervous - are there any places for a diver to walk in instead of dropping into the water? Thanks again.

Ramon's has their own dive shop. that would be convenient enough. Maybe somebody who has dived with them can tell you more. From their info, they sound good. Haven't heard of shore diving on AC. Have a great trip!

Debbie, my wife was the same. There is an area out near the reef where the depth is such that you can start by standing and then it gradually gets deeper - it was exactly what worked for her - probably helped by this gorgeous Belizian dive master holding her hand for the first 10-15 minutes of the dive too!

Can recommend Eddie at Amigos enough for getting us through that phaze!

but you don't stand on coral, right?

Have seen many positive posts on here about Amigos, great reputation.

Good point and absolutely correct!! You are on a sandy bottom and you swim around the coral - there was also a small wreck there in the deeper water too