TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums US VI and Puerto Rico Day 6 - Culebra and Scuba Dive Day #1

Day 6 SVI Trip - Aboard CYOA's Big Papa Lulu

We had an early breakfast on the beginning of Day 6 because we had to get around to Dewey by 10am, have a snack, and be at Aquatic Adventures (www.diveculebra.com, 515-290-2310) by 11:30pm. This day was especially exciting for me because I have the first two of my four open water dives scheduled. These are needed to get certified as a scuba diver.

Here's BPL anchored off Dewey and a view of The Dingy Dock Restaurant (downstairs) and Aquatic Adventures (Upstairs).





We arrived at Aquatic Adventures at about 11am (early), met Ann, and got all signed up for the day. We had quite a few people going. All 5 of us, a couple of guys from PR, and a single girl. Full boat! The more the merrier I say! After all the paperwork was done we walked down to the dock behind the lift-bridge and met Taz on Raz-ma-Taz, the dive boat. We were soon underway to Luis Pina island and our first dive of the day. On the way out we had to pass Culebra's guardian who has been known to throw big rocks at undesirables!







Once in the water we paddled around and got used to the dive gear. I trimmed my BCD neutral and swam around the boat about 10 feet down. Then Taz had me do an exercise where I hauled an "injured diver" completely around the boat using his tank valve! Thankfully my "injured diver" gave me a little help! Then we did a couple of other skills and then we went exploring.

Moon Jelly (no stingers as far as I could tell)


Taz, my Dive Instructor. He used half the air that I did, and danged if I know how. I'm half fish and incredibly relaxed in the water. Maybe after a few thousand dives I'll figure it out.


After this dive Taz moved the boat to Carlos Rosario Bay on Culebra, had lunch and our surface interval, and then we dove "the wall." It was spectacular. After we got back to the dock, Taz proclaimed "We cheated death yet again!" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Love it! Two dives down and two to go!

Then we raced "home" to BPL, got a shower and change of clothes, a greenie or two (Heineken) and finally dinner at The Dingy Dock. We're were all tuckered out again, but chalk up another wonderful day in paradise.

Congrats on "cheating death" again

Your pics above and below the water are great!

The SVI as a destination will cause many to consider these islands as an option for future vacations because of your posts. The TomB family have already begun discussions about our next blue water getaway. We have one family member that has raised his hand for the SVI. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

That's great Tom.
If you like uncrowded anchorages this is the place for you!

Thanks for the report and especially the pictures. Don't worry about being an "air hog", your consumption will decrease with experience. If you ever have to surface early because you are low on air just agree with your buddy to share some of their air. My wife used to suck a tank dry in 40 minutes, I didn't want to surface because of her so we started sharing. Now I struggle to keep up with her. It just happens with time.

BeerMe - thanks. I would love to get some tips on saving air!
I watched Taz carefully, and he seemed to take in a breath of air, hold it for a long time while just letting a trickle of air escape, and the finally breath it all out and take another breath.
One thing I learned to do is time my breaths with bottom obstacles I wanted to clear. I have a large lung capacity and it changes my buoyancy quite a bit, making me rise.

The breathing will get better. You might be overthinking it as a newbee. We were on a dive in Mexico with 6 divers and a dive master. About 45 minutes into what should have been a nice 1 1/2 hour dive, on a new diver signalled low air. We all had to surface. He had less then 1000lbs, most of us had 1500+ lbs.

Yep Matt, that would really suck. Was that Cozumel by any chance? The outfit we dive with there pairs everybody up so if one runs out of air only the pair has to surface.

Twanger, it mostly just happens. I watch the dive masters too and I've noticed they keep warm (wetsuit and hoods), have loooong fins (don't use their arms much) and no wasted motions, oh and they're almost always skinny and very fit! Of course, we recreational divers will never get as good as someone that dives almost every day.