SeptTraveler

Is there sometime of tour or one-day beginners course in Cozumel in which my husband and I can experience diving? We are not interested in becoming certified (unless it only takes a few hours - you can see I truly do not know much about diving) but just want to see what's it's like.

Diana

Multiple places in Cozumel offer what is called a "resort course" or a "discover SCUBA" course. (There are 21 on the PADI.com site in Cozumel.)

I recommend doing three things:

1.) take the advice of people you will get on here of who to dive with
2.) pick a place that caters to small groups and gives personal attention
3.) go on the PADI website -

http://padi.com/english/common/searc...&Submit=Submit

and look at some of the sites to see who you might like to dive with if you don't get much input on here.

The outfit you select needs to be people who won't rush you and who won't take you out on a boat packed with people to a busy site with currents.

You want to stress with whomever you choose that you want a relaxing experience.

I'm sure you'll have a great time. The diving in Coz is AMAZING!

TC

Diving is a serious business and I could never recommend that you try to do it in one day. There are several ways to experience Cozumel's underwater beauty without diving. You can safely snorkel and see many wonderful things. You can try "Snuba" which is like a combination of snorkeling and diving - in that you use an air supply from above to go down a few feet while snorkeling.

To experience diving you can usually do a free trial in your resort swimming pool. The dive shop at our condo, Coral Princess, offers a get-acquainted trial in the pool most days.

I can not express strongly enough that you can not and should not attempt to learn open water diving in one day. It is not safe.

SeptTraveler

Thanks TC, so in your opinion the Discover Scuba courses are not safe? These courses start you off in a swimming pool and then you do a short dive (unless I read incorrectly) off the coast.

Diana

TC is confused and she is not a diver. You asked about a "resort course" - which is what I was describing.

The way we began diving 12 years ago was to take a resort course which was held where we were staying.

Since I (as opposed to TC) have actually DONE it, let me give you some more info.

The resort (or Discover SCUBA) course consists of a certified instructor giving you a lot of safety and equipment information to familiarize you with the concept of diving and the equipment used in diving.

Once the instructor is satisfied that you have learned and understood the information, you will go to the pool and take a brief swimming test to assure that you possess basic swimming skills.

You then don the equipment and get into the pool to learn very basic skills, and once the instructor is assured that you can perform them safely, you will go on a very shallow dive (30 to 35 feet) in calm and unchallenging conditions during which the dive master will do most of the monitoring of your equipment.

If at any time during the day the instructor does not feel like you are ready to proceed, there will be no dive.

If at any time during the dive, the divemaster feels there is any danger or safety issue, the dive be be aborted.

I highly recommend this course to anyone visiting Cozumel if they have an interest. The diving there is amazing, and there are a plethora of well-qualified dive companies to introduce you to the underwater world.

Have a great trip!

SeptTraveler

Thanks for the clarification Diana.

TC

I stick by my original post -- learning to dive in one day is NOT safe. The resort courses give a false sense of security that is very dangerous. SeptTraveler states, "we are not interested in getting certified if it takes more than a few hours". With that time constraint it is much safer and more fun to snorkel or SNUBA.

If you want to give SCUBA a try, call a PADI shop in your hometown. They teach the basics in a pool setting and you could then safely do your open water certification in Cozumel if you want.

BTW, Diana I don't feel one bit confused this morning, but thanks for your concern. While your resort course went well, others have drown when instructors try to teach too many, too much in a one day course. After which these "certified" divers go on to other locations and get into serious trouble.

Diana

You're welcome SeptTraveler.

Wow, TC. I'd really be interested in knowing more about where you got your data about people dying during their resort courses.

I subscribe to several dive magazines and am a member of DAN (Divers Alert Network) and have never seen anything in any of them regarding drownings during resort courses.

And, yes TC, you are confused. Resort course divers are NOT certified. You cannot "go on to other locations and get into serious trouble" without going through certification and getting your C card.

Resort courses are not "learning to dive in one day." They are exactly what they are touted as - an INTRODUCTION.

As an aside, one of the closest I have ever seen anyone coming to drowning was a lady participating in SNUBA at Palancar Gardens in Cozumel.

TC

One source of information: Editorial from SCUBA Guide.
www.thescubaguide.com

"The truth is the number of fatalities decrease every year, even though the number of people diving is increasing dramatically. About half of all reported scuba-related fatalities happen on tourists' "dive packages", rather than on organized scuba trips chartered by a dive shop. The most dangerous dive packages are those in which the participants are not trained or certified, but are merely given a short training session before diving accompanied by a scuba chaperone. Responsible associations like PADI and NAUI recommend a complete training and certification before diving in open water, which sometimes does not happen on these organized scuba trips. Novice divers beware."

Owen_ONeill

I'm an experienced diver and agree that caution should be a byword and also strongly agree that those interested in just testing the scuba experience should do their research first. Use a PADI or other certified and well respected professional diving operation. I have a friend whose neighbor tragically lost her 30 year old brother in one of the "dive packages" described. It's still not absolutely certain how he drowned but it was in a poorly supervised setting with inadequate training. I'm sure there are good and legitimate "resort dive" options available but choose carefully and wisely.

From a different perspective I'll point out that actual PADI Open Water certification is inexpensive, takes only three to four partial days of classes and diving and opens you up to a fantastic experience that can't be obtained in a one day class. I was a bit hesitant to give up any of my precious vacation time for training but am so glad I did. I was finished every day by 2 or 3 PM, the majority of my training was on actual dives and the experience was so good that I returned to Cozumel the following year and got advanced certification.

I did the book study and video review before my trip and was able to cut the four day class to three days. I also got a healthy discount (20%) on all my remaining dives that week because I had talent the training class with that dive service.

TC

From "The Basic of SCUBA Diving" at She Gear dive web site:

"The next level is through a resort course. Resorts offer a one-day scuba diving package for people who have never had any dive training. The package includes a 30-minute class, diving equipment and two dives in 30 to 40 feet of water. You are not certified or properly trained after this, but hopefully you've had a wonderful experience and are motivated to get certified. However, most certified divers will warn you against the resort dive experience. It can be very dangerous. If you aren't 100% confident and comfortable in the ocean, don't take a resort course. Get properly trained first. The course is too short to build your confidence, and panicking underwater can be very hazardous."

http://www.shegear.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=5

SeptTraveler

I really appreciate all of you taking the time to comment on this. While I would NEVER try to go diving on my own or do a more advanced dive without certification, it sounds like there have been problems during the course itself. And I have lots of information upon which to base a decision. Owen, that is very tragic what happened to your neighbor's friend.