Diving

[ericsmom]

My husband and I are certified divers. We were thinking about renting dive gear at each port instead of going on an excursion. Is this possible? Any suggestions?

 

[1stNoel]

I don't have any places to recommend, but you should really consider bringing your own mask, reg & computer. All the gear you can make due with if it doesn't work quite right or doesn't fit. We always bring our gear (it's 2 - 50 lb suitcases to drag, Ugh!) but the only time I've used other gear was when we did the Epcot tank dive and it was a bad experience. I was out of the water within 10 minutes due to a bad air gauge and the cheap regulator. WDW will only allow you to use your personal mask in the tank. All other personal gear - including cameras - are prohibited.

 

[two-foxes]

We are getting our open water cert next month just in time for our back to backs in Sept/Oct. From what research I have done at nearly every port on both cruises, I have found that you will pay $15 or more to rent your BCD, reg and weights. I believe it is an average of $10 for fins, mask and snorkle. Prices for 2 tank dives ranged from $40-$90, if I remember correctly. ( the $40 is a shore dive at Coki beach in St Thomas.)

We will be bringing our own mask, fins and snorkle.

Bad news to hear about the poor equipment at DiveQuest. That will be our first "real" (if you call an aquarium dive real!) dive after our cert. I have heard mostly great things about it though!

 

[1stNoel]

Epcot is a GREAT dive for a beginner. Honestly, I love the ability to do the tank dive, but there just isn't that much to look at compared to what you see in the ocean. Even if my equipment was working, I probably wouldn't have stayed down long. Because the reef is fake, the fish and other creatures don't behave the way they do in the ocean. They aren't hiding, hunting, courting and that's really why I go under - to explore and observe their world. I came away from the experience feeling sad for the fish who spend their days swimming in a circle looking for a nice reef to set up house on and never finding it.

Waving to the kids outside the tank was fun though and the tour of the facility is great.

Best wishes on your open water test. Where do you do an open water test in Colorado??

 

[two-foxes]

Well, there are a few murky, gross resevoirs here (lakes, some call them) that they do open waters in. I said "heck no". If can't see 5 feet in front of me, I won't do it! So, once a month the scuba shop we did our confined in travels to Homestead Crater in Utah. It is about a 7 hour drive, but I am more than willing to do it! The is also another place in New Mexico that another shop does the cert in.

 

[hydster]

We've always rented our gear from the dive excursion that we take and it's never been a problem. We have our own mask and snorkel but we rent bcd/regulator/weights/fins and it's never ever been a problem! We've dove everywhere you could go on a cruise ship and we've never had to buy our own stuff! I'd for sure bring your own mask and snorkel but after that I'd rent everything else..it's just too big of a pain in the butt to save 10 bucks!!!

Hey two-foxes..that's where we certified was at the crater at the Homestead on a cold and snowy January day many years ago! The water was so nice and warm!!!! I HATED the certification process though! LOL

Heidi