As with any activity that involves other people there's always an element of etiquette in diving, whether it's on the boat or underwater, that is one of the things that sets apart the experienced diver from the novice. Some of these things are not exactly written in stone (and by "stone" I mean the PADI Open Water manual!), but rather things you learn from experience by expanding your scuba diving experience.
Here are 5 top tips that will enhance your diving experience here at Coconut Tree Divers! Can YOU come up with any more? Leave us a comment!
Island time and the boat schedule
We may be on a Caribbean island where the pace definitely isn't as hectic as elsewhere, but there's one thing that operates like clockwork: our boat schedule. It's designed for you guys to get the most out of your dives, but it only really works if we leave on time! Give yourself plenty of time to grab your free coffee, get your equipment set up without feeling rushed - it only makes for a better, more relaxed dive.
Where's my fins??
We keep our groups small, so you're not gonna be crowded underwater, but you are sharing the boat with other divers. Try to keep your equipment spread to a minimum, that way you also know where all your stuff is. You wouldn't want to miss jumping in with your snorkel gear when we have dolphins swimming with our boat just because you can't find your mask!
Soap in the bucket
For those of you that like snapping shots during your dive, we have a fresh water bucket for you to store your camera between dives. The most important thing with the bucket is to make sure that the water stays fresh - we don't want any chemicals or anti-fog agents in the bucket. The reason is that those chemicals can compromise the o-rings in the camera housings. If you are going to rinse your mask on the boat, we provide a scoop so you can scoop the water out away from the bucket.
Brief me!
We try to tailor our dives so that divers with similar experience levels are matched up to hit the best dive sites for your level as a diver (more information on our daily dive schedule can be found here). If you are a more experienced diver, we don't believe in "babysitting" you, but if you are a little unsure of your self we will make sure that you are more closely supervised. The main thing is that all that kind of information is always given in our thorough pre-dive briefings - make sure you pay attention It's all about your safety (safety first!) and your enjoyment. We want you to get what you want out of your dives!
THIS is a Marine Park
After all, you're here to dive, so we want you to enjoy it. Follow the dive plan, get to know your dive buddy (we will always supply you with one, no worries about travelling alone!), and follow the marine park protocols. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles, touch only with your eyes! If we're looking at the more macro aspects of the reef (ie something really really small and really really cool!) be nice, and point it out to the person coming up behind you, we want all of you to see it!
And finally....
ENJOY YOUR DIVE!!!
Half Moon Bay Weather Report
Hot, but thankfully with some breeze.
Recent Sightings
A collection of flamingo tongues @ Blue Channel
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