TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Referral Open Water Dives

Hi,

We will have just completed our classroom and pool portion of our dive training. We are looking to do our referral dives this December. We are chartering from Captain’s Compass, so leaving from Nanny Cay, but I suppose that is not a real factor. I am wondering if there is any feedback on Blue Water Divers, or others.

Thanks

BG

The nice thing is that in the BVI I am not aware of any bad dive companies. Keith at Blue Water divers will take great care of you. I recommend you meet them at Cooper Island as it gives the non divers lots of things to do. Pick up a ball as boats are leaving about 9 AM the first day of diving. They will show up to pick you up at 10 usually. Knock out two dives and stay overnight on that ball. Stay on the ball and knock out your other two the next morning and you will still have time to go somewhere else for the night. If you want to dive more ask them to leave the gear with you since you will now be certified and can dive off your boat.

Okay that sounds like a great plan. Cooper Island was (will it still be) our favourite stop. All four of us will be diving, so we will be together. I like the idea of keeping the gear and doing one set of dives on our own.

Thanks,

Brian

I agree, no bad choices that I am aware of. Blue Water Divers is a very good operation, and if Abi is willing to complete your certification, she will wear you out, but you will know you have been thoroughly trained. Sail Caribbean Divers actually has a dive shop on Cooper Island, and they are certainly a well established operation. Of course Casey and Jeff at Dive BVI are also up to the task and operate in the area. Our crew aboard 'AS YOU WISH', a Voyage 48, will be diving during December 8th - 17th. If you see us, give us a shout.

Thanks, sounds like there are solid options. Follow up question. Is this something we should book in advance, so we don’t miss out, or wait till we get there or just before so we can let weather, wind, plans be our guide?
(Looking at the week just before Christmas. )

I sent you a pm. Yes, book in advance is very prudent.

We always told out guests to get the diving done before the trip. The referral dives really aren't that fun due to working on skills. So it that is done prior to the trip you get some real diving done. I would set it up in advance.

I'm guessing that since you are from Toronto, getting the water part done is not an option, buzz down to Florida and finish it.

Over the years We have had several guests, do the referral dives with blue water divers. Without exception, they all enjoyed it. Much better dives than here

We did this some years ago with Sail Caribbean Divers, dove with them a whole bunch since them and have always had a good experience. I don't know if Dale is still around, but he was great!

I would definitely recommend booking ahead of your trip. Spaces fill quickly during the December time periods, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on some great BVI diving. Most of the dive sites here are shallow, less than 60 ft, so you'll get to see a lot of great things during your Checkout dives. Please be sure to bring a copy of your Training Records, dive logs, and Medical Statement with you to help the process go smoother. We have some fantastic dive ops here, and they'll all take good care of you!

Jeff

You guys did our check out dives 10? years ago. Everything was flawless and the dives were wonderful.

If anyone is concerned about the checkout dives be just the skills that is not true. We did the skills checkout and the had a (an albeit) shorter) dive till we were low on air.

Certainly better than cold weather/water dives up north

Our checkout dive was at the HMS Rhone, not a bad way to start a diving career.

As an instructor for a number of agencies I can tell you there has always been a concern about new divers getting "certified" in southern waters. NAUI used to insist that if a Canadian diver did his open water portion of the training in southern waters that the diver had to do one cold water dive to get his/her certification. This could apply to Bgs as being in Toronto and only 4 hours away from Tobermory..an area that has 25 shipwrecks with 8 sq. miles...Bgs might just want to explore one or more of those pristine wrecks..BUT..the water seldom gets above 65 and deeper down is in the 40's. Diving in water that cold needs special training. And yes, I've heard the story a hundred times.." Oh, I'll never dive in cold water!"
For a first open water experience warm water is certainly much better for a new diver because in open water the new diver has a lot to take in BUT we ( the instructor community) recommend a new diver at some point after open water checkout get at least one checkout in cold water.
I have been on cold water wrecks a lot and because they are in cold water they are almost totally intact and covered only with Zebra mussels as opposed to warm water wrecks in salt water which, after not too long a period, are almost unrecognizable because of the coral growth. AND a bonus..no chance of seeing sharks in cold freshwater....yet.