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How to Clean Dive Gear and Protect Yourself from the Virus

EQUIPMENT

DTS Contributor

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How to Clean Dive Gear and Protect Yourself from the Virus

Virus outbreaks can happen, and we are currently in the midst of a severe outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While the news may be blowing the current virus out of proportion, with numbers similar to that of the common flu/cold, divers are now asking the very valid question of how to clean dive gear effectively and protect themselves from disease transmission. So here are some tips on how to disinfect and protect yourself from the virus.

Cleaning SCUBA gear

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using disinfectant should be enough to sanitize objects before use. This is because disinfecting the surface of an object kills the germs that could be passed on. Good diving centers should be cleaning their equipment in fresh, clean water, ideally with some disinfectant.

Another thought to consider is the chlorine used in swimming pools. Chlorine, when added to water, actually creates a weak acid called hypochlorous acid, which is very good at killing bacteria and many viruses. This means your confined sessions in a pool should help slow down the spread of any potential COVID-19 germs!

Which disinfectants to use?

Dettol is a great disinfectant that smells good too
The CDC says that household cleaners are just as effective against this strain of Coronavirus as they are against the common cold and flu germs
Steramine tablets are recommended

Tip: Do not use bleach, such as Clorox. Bleach can discolor or weaken the rubber on a mouthpiece, or other parts of your expensive dive equipment.

How to clean dive gear properly

You should dunk the mask, 2nd stages of the regulator (the mouthpieces), and snorkel in clean water with some disinfectant. You should swirl the objects in the water and use your clean hands to firmly rub the objects in the water. Pay close attention to the inside of your mask, and then mouthpieces of the objects
You can also use a disinfectant bacteria wet wipe to rub-down the areas that can touch your mouth and face (mouthpieces, inside of the mask etc.) before cleaning them with fresh water
Clean your BCD in freshwater, then wash the inflator hose carefully, by wiping down and around the mouthpiece of the hose

How to Disinfect a Snorkel and Mouthpieces

You should pay attention to all the mouthpieces when cleaning your snorkel and dive gear. Many viruses can be transmitted by the mouth (and via the nose and eyes). How to clean a snorkel mouthpiece effectively is to disinfect the snorkel and your mouthpieces. You should dunk it in a disinfectant that has been diluted with fresh water. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush or your finger to brush and remove any algae or residue from the mouthpieces. Try to brush as much of the inside of the mouthpieces as possible.

Tip: Some snorkels allow you to remove the mouthpiece and then reattach. If you want to properly clean your regulator mouthpieces, then remove it first when cleaning.

How to Clean Scuba Booties and Gloves

Scuba booties and dive gloves are handled often and can carry viruses and bacteria. To clean scuba booties and gloves effectively, you should soak them in water and disinfectant. Warm water is preferable. Not too hot to damage the neoprene, but warm enough to clean the material. Soak for a few hours, and then dry them completely. The best way to dry scuba booties or boots is to hang them upside down so the inside of the boot and sole can dry. Hang them on a stick or on a rack to get airflow inside the bootie. This also stops them from stinking up! If the airflow is not strong enough, or you are in a damp area, then try stuffing dry newspaper in the booties as this will soak up the moisture. This method can be applied to gloves as well.

Tip: Do not leave scuba booties or gloves on a heater. The heat can warp the neoprene and weaken the material.

Read More: How to Clean A Wetsuit At Home

How does the virus spread?

This particular virus is spread by close contact with another person (within 6 feet). It is also thought to be spread through respiratory droplets, for example, when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If these droplets land in the mouths or noses of other people, then it can be inhaled into the lungs by the new potential victim.

There is also a possibility that someone can get infected by COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. This is why cleaning SCUBA diving equipment is so important.

Dive equipment that could spread the virus

Equipment that is more at risk of carrying and spreading the virus includes:

Mask
Snorkel
Mouthpieces of the regulator
Oral inflator hose on the BCD

Tips for avoiding coronavirus (COVID-19)

Clean your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Especially when traveling in a contained area.
Cover your mouth/nose when sneezing to prevent the spread of germs.
Bring your own mouthpiece and zip-ties if you are concerned about the rental regulator.
Talk to your dive center about how they clean their rental equipment.
Bring your own disinfectant wet wipes.
Buy your own scuba or snorkeling equipment!
Stay underwater – no chance of catching the Coronavirus COVID-19 down there!

Conclusion

Viruses will always be around, and while this case may seem more severe, taking the usual precautions on how to clean dive gear should be the norm before any dive. Choose a dive center that regularly cleans and disinfects their dive equipment. Talk to your dive leader if you have any concerns or issues before the dive. Invest in your own mask and snorkel. And if you are very concerned, then bring your own mouthpiece and zip-ties. The main thing is to stay calm, take the necessary precautions, don’t panic, and keep on diving!

Can you Wear Contacts in the Ocean?

DIVE
OCEAN

DTS Contributor

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Can you wear contacts in the ocean while enjoying a scuba diver or a snorkeling trip? The simple answer is Yes! Many divers have some form of eyesight restriction. The most common being short-sightedness where things that are further away will appear blurry. However, there are a number of factors to consider when making the decision to wear contact lenses while diving or snorkeling.

Can you wear contacts in the ocean?

In this article we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of eyewear underwater and answer the following question:

Can you wear contacts in the ocean? And is it better to use soft or hard lenses?
Monthly or daily lenses?
What are the risks of diving or snorkeling with contact lenses?
What are the alternatives to contact lenses?
Top tips for wearing contact lenses while SCUBA diving.

Can you scuba dive with contact lenses?

The choice as to which type of contact lens to use is a personal one. The type of contact lens you normally wear on land is not necessarily the best type of contact lens to wear underwater. The two main types of contact lenses available are soft lenses and hard lenses. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Soft lenses

Soft lenses are the best choice for divers. Soft lenses are designed to allow gases to permeate. When wearing contact lenses and ascending from a dive, nitrogen will escape the eye. With hard lenses, the nitrogen may create small bubbles that get stuck behind the lens. With soft lenses however the nitrogen can escape and leave the lens to operate correctly.

Soft lenses are typically larger than hard lenses. This means that the lens can be held in place easier using your eyelids. This is particularly important if your mask becomes flooded and water comes in direct contact with the eye. Half squinting will often allow you to keep a soft lens in place.

The downside of soft lenses is that they are designed to absorb moisture. A flooded mask may, therefore, lead to saltwater absorption by the lens.

When you get back to dry land make sure you clean the lens in the cleaning solution. If the lens is sticking to your eye or has started to dry out, apply a few drops of eye drop solution.

Be careful with your choice of anti-fog when cleaning your mask. Anti-fog can easily be absorbed by the contact lens and can lead to eye irritation.

If you ever experience signs of eye infection following a dive, see the doctor as soon as possible. Infection from waterborne bacteria can lead to serious problems that should be fixed as a matter of urgency.

Hard lenses

Hard lenses are the most traditional type of contact lens. They are made of glass and are generally smaller than soft lenses. This means there is often a small gap between the lens and the eye. Bubbles of gas can build up in this gap during ascent which can lead to the lens becoming out of focus.

Hard lenses are also more prone to being washed out when coming in contact with water. This means if your mask becomes flooded you might have to close your eyes completely to make the lens stay in your eye.

It is generally best to become familiar with soft lenses if you are to go diving learn to leave your hard lenses behind at home.

Monthly or daily lenses?

Contact lenses come in two forms monthly’s and dailies. For water sports, it is recommended to use dailies. Daily contact lenses are designed to be thrown away at the end of the day and a new pair worn the next day. When diving there is a significant risk of your mask flooding and the contact lens becoming contaminated. It is therefore much safer to throw away a contaminated set of lenses after the dive rather than to try and disinfect it.

Can I snorkel with contact lenses?

Snorkeling is very similar to diving, and the masks are similar in size/shape. The main difference between snorkeling and diving is that you will not go so deep, and mask floods are less likely. It is also easier to get back to the boat or to shore to deal with any contact lens problems if they occur.

If you are a regular wearer of hard contact lenses, you can quite safely wear them for snorkeling. Just try to avoid getting any water in your eye. If you do, close your eyes to avoid losing the lens. After the activity is complete, clean your lens, and apply some eye drops just to be safe.

Can I surf with contact lenses?

Can I wear contacts in the ocean while surfing? Opticians usually recommend that contact lenses are not worn for water sports, particularly when surfing. This is because you will inevitably get water inside your lenses. Especially when the waves hit your face. Seawater can contain microbes and nasty contamination, particularly near the shore. Normally, for people without contact lenses, this contamination can quickly get washed away by tears. Contact lenses, however, can absorb this moisture and leave it sitting against your eye.

The eye is a very sensitive part of the body and easily absorbs gases and liquids that come in contact with it. Therefore, if you decide to use contact lenses for surfing it is recommended to use dailies and try to remove them as soon as you finish the activity.

If you start to feel any itchiness at all, stop surfing, leave the water, remove the contact lenses and apply some eye drops. If you notice the beginnings of an infection starting to develop in your eye, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

There are horror stories about people who have lost their eyesight due to microbial infections developed after contact with seawater. One option to make sure you are even safer is to wear goggles over your contact lenses. This will prevent water from entering and coming in contact with the lens. Of course from a fashion perspective, you may no longer be the coolest surfer on the beach!

What are the risks of diving or snorkeling with contact lenses?

The biggest risk when wearing contact lenses during diving or snorkeling is that your mask becomes flooded and the lens either washes out or becomes contaminated.

Divers who wear contact lenses should, therefore, make their buddies aware that they are wearing contact lenses. It may be hard for a buddy to understand why a diver wearing contact lenses is struggling underwater. So telling your buddy in advance makes it easier for them to look out for you.

As well as issues underwater, contact lens wearers may suffer irritation after a dive. This can be exacerbated if the lens becomes contaminated with seawater. For this reason, you are much better to use daily contact lenses and swap them after the dive. If you choose not to replace the lens immediately after the dive, a few drops of eye solution will help to keep the lenses clean help remove contamination.

The other risk present with contact lenses is the escape of nitrogen from the eyeball during ascent. For soft lenses this is not a major problem and the gas can escape through the lens. Hard lenses, however, can allow a build-up of gas behind the lens which can lead to the lens becoming out of focus.

What about stick on corrective lenses for diving masks?

Sticker lenses are another alternative to custom lenses. Sticker lenses again come in fixed dioptres and fix to the inside of the mask. While a cheaper alternative to proper custom lenses, some people find sticker lenses are prone to becoming unstuck after a few dives. It is therefore recommended too either buy proper custom lenses or use contact lenses.

best way to clean snorkel mask so it does not fog up — A split frame mask like this can usually be replaced with custom lenses with different prescriptions for each eye.

What are the alternatives to contact lenses?

Of course, as on land there are alternatives to contact lenses. When diving, you will be wearing a mask, a mask is of course like a pair of glasses. So why not have fixed lenses on the mask? We will now explore some of the options relating to lenses on masks.

Prescription masks

Prescription masks are like prescription glasses. The lens will be chosen based on precise eye measurements. Custom lenses can be put inside most masks on the market. It is therefore common for you to provide your existing mask which you know fits well for the custom lenses to be fitted to.

The main disadvantage of custom lens masks is price. It can cost between $300 and $400 for a high-quality set of prescription lenses. Unless you are a very regular diver, or you are unable to wear contact lenses, this may not make financial sense to you. In this case you may be better sticking with contact lenses.

A slightly cheaper option is to purchase drop-in lenses for your mask. These lenses have not been crafted for your own eyes but are available in common dioptre measurements. For diving these are generally good enough for most people. A set of droppings can be bought for around $100 to $200. They are therefore a good compromise between proper custom lenses and using contact lenses.

Going without contact lenses

Some people with only minor eyesight issues may simply decide that they can cope without any adjustment. Before making this decision, it is a good idea to try snorkeling or swimming without your glasses to see what visibility is like. Do not simply dive straight into a SCUBA dive without understanding the restrictions you will face.

Remember, you cannot speak underwater, so hand signals are the primary means of communication. If you are unable to see what your body is doing with their hands from a few meters away, you should definitely invest in contact lenses or a prescription mask.

Top tips for wearing contact lenses while SCUBA diving.

Can you wear contacts in the ocean? Yes, just follow our tips below for contact lens wearers:

If possible, wear soft lenses
Try to wear daily lenses rather than monthly
Always tell your buddy and dive guide if you are wearing contact lenses
After a dive always clean your eyes with some eye drops
Always carry a spare set of contact lenses in case you lose them during the dive
In the event your mask floods squint to help hold in the contact lens in place

Conclusion

So, can you wear contacts in the ocean? Yes, and there are many other options that exist for correcting your eyesight underwater. Contact lenses are probably the simplest method for those already familiar with wearing them. While prescription masks sound great, they are expensive. Wouldn’t you rather have a shiny new dive comp?

Whichever method you choose to correct your eyesight, ensure you are familiar with it. Do not try to put contact lenses in for the first time ever while rocking around on the speedboat journey to the dive site!

Some of the most beautiful views you will ever experience will be in the oceans. Make sure you experience these moments with the best vision possible.

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh – Camel Dive Review

TRAVEL

DTS Contributor

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Diving in Sharm El Sheikh – Camel Dive Review

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Today we are diving in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt!

WHY ARE WE DIVING IN SHARM EL SHEIKH?

Sharm El Sheikh is known for its cheap certification courses, great reefs, the Ras Mohammed National Park, and several scuba diving wrecks. There are many dive shops and dive sites around Sharm El Sheikh.

We chose this location because we were already interested in a trip to Egypt; my wife wanted to get her Open Water certification and I wanted to dive at a wreck. This had nothing to do with our choice, but Camel Dive Club welcomes divers with disabilities. There was a diver in a wheelchair on several of my dives and they were great with getting him onto the boat and into/out of the water.

Check out the different types of scuba certifications available.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

We took a short flight from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, where we were picked up by our dive club/hotel and driven to the hotel that was a half-hour away.

The only difficult part was purchasing the tickets from Nile Air. My credit card kept flagging the purchase as fraudulent and would not complete the transaction, but also offered no explanation, making it look like the issue was Nile Air’s website. The only way I could get it to work was to be on the phone with the credit card fraud department, while making the purchase and have them approve it in real time.

We took a 6+ hour bus back to Cairo, which allowed us an extra day of diving. The dive club also provided transportation to bus station.

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh, at the Dunraven Wreck — Dunraven Wreck. Photo courtesy of Chris

WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

There are over 30 different sites. Some are accessible by shore diving, and others require day trips by boat.

In Ras Mohammed National Park, I dove at Ras Za’atar, Jack Fish Alley, Shark & Yolanda Reefs, which includes the remains of a 1980 wreck that scattered many toilets and bathtubs on the ocean floor. The first dive at this site had a strong current and we barely made it to the wreck. A few days later there was no current and had time to swim through a small cave and around the wreck.

Dunraven Wreck (max. 28 meters)
The Dunraven Wreck was a British Steamship that sunk in 1876. You can enter the hull at the rear of the ship or several other large holes.

S.S. Thistlegorm (30m)
S.S. Thistlegorm was a British, merchant navy ship that was sunk in 1941 by the Germans. The ship’s cargo consisted of trucks, motorcycles, jeeps, tanks, plane parts, guns, ammunition, and locomotives.

The Temple (20m)
I took my refresher dive here. Nice coral and eels. I was a little preoccupied with remembering my training.

Woodhouse Reef (30m)
Woodhouse Reef is where we worked our way down a canyon, exited, and completed a drift dive along the wall.

Thomas Reef (20m)
This was a great drift dive that is worth revisiting. If the current is good and you are good with your air consumption, then you can make it all the way around the circular reef. We only made it 75% of the way. If you wish to go deeper, there is a canyon at 35m.

Ras Nasarni (6-30m)
This dive site had a nice current that took you along the shore, past snorkelers and freedivers. What I remember from this site is my guide high-fiving a freediver and seeing my first sea turtle.

TELL ME MORE

There are a few dive sites accessible from shore, but all the sites I dove were off a boat.

The Thistlegorm is the furthest dive site and takes about 4 hours to reach from Sharm El Sheikh. Ras Mohammed National Park was about 2 hours away and the rest were closer to an hour.

DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

It depends on the time of year. I was there in late October and my guide preferred a long wetsuit. I was comfortable with a short wetsuit. If you dive at night or go into the Thistlegorm wreck, torch rental is an extra cost.

Use our wetsuit temperature guide to find out if you need a long or short wetsuit on your next diving trip.

The dive center I used really pushed enriched air. If you were certified there, you received a free nitrox upgrade for life and I took advantage of it on all my dives. Enriched air was a requirement to dive the Thistlegorm wreck, but you could avoid the certification costs and pay for training, which happened to take place on that dive.

Diving with a anemone fish — Anemonefish. Photo courtesy of Chris

WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

There are sites for all new divers; Open Water divers and technical divers. You must have 20 dives before they will let you into the Thislegorm wreck. Fortunately, I was able to stay an extra day and make the dive as my 21^st. They were very strict on that rule and could not be talked into letting it be my 20^th dive.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

The air temperature was consistently 30°C and the water 27°C on my dives. The visibility was always good. There can be strong currents and we did multiple drift drives and it varies by day.

Take a look at the diving at the SS Thistlegorm wreck.

HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

Discounts were available if you booked ahead. Pricing was a la carte. Standard dive prices were 75 Euros for 2 dives by boat, with an optional 3^rd dive for 27 EUR.

There were supplemental costs for the Thistlegorm (90 EUR), Dunraven (40 EUR) Ras Mohammed National Park entry fee (5 EUR), full equipment rental (30 EUR), Nitrox per 12L tank (6 EUR).

WHERE DID YOU STAY?

We stayed at Camel Dive’s hotel, which offered discounts if you were diving or taking classes with them. Prices varied seasonally, as well as length of stay, classes being taken, number of dives and meals eaten at hotel.

I had no complaints with the room. It was clean and basic. The breakfasts were fantastic. I was a little annoyed that they were preaching against the use of plastic, but your only water options were plastic bottles that they were happy to sell you.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

The diving at Sharm El Sheik is fantastic and affordable. Similar to the prices when diving in Koh Tao, Thailand. It was laid back and very different from the rest of Egypt. There wasn’t much happening on land that interested me. It is a resort town, which is not my style, and it is still recovering from the loss of tourism after a terrorist attack.

I would recommend diving in Sharm El Sheikh. If I was living in Europe, I would find my way back repeatedly to dive. It isn’t the easiest or cheapest trip from the US, but I hope to come back someday.

WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

I didn’t do much other than dive. I would like to have hiked Mount Sinai and visited Saint Catherine’s Monastery, but I did not allow for enough time to go from 30m below sea level to 2,285m above sea level.

Diving in the Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman

TRAVEL

Emma Ong - PADI MSDT

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Diving in the Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Today we are diving in the Cayman Islands, at Grand Cayman – the largest of the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands covers 3 islands in the western Caribbean Sea; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The Caymans are a British Overseas Territory.

HOW DO WE GET TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS?

There are direct flights to Grand Cayman from all over the US and Caribbean on Cayman Airways and many other domestic US airlines. There is also a nearly direct flight from London, with a quick stop in Nassau, Bahamas. Flights from Florida are the quickest, at 1.5-2hrs. The British Airways flight from London takes approximately 11 hours including the Nassau stop.

diving in cayman islands - grand Cayman — Photo provided by: Amanda

WHY ARE WE DIVING IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS?

The diving in the Cayman Islands and Grand Cayman is known for having crystal clear, warm water all year long, but the wall dives are what sets Cayman apart. The island is surrounded by dramatic wall drop-off. The top of the wall begins around 50 feet (15m) and drops down to a few thousand feet, making it accessible for all levels of certified divers.

turtle diving in the cayman islands — Photo provided by: Amanda

Diving in the Cayman Islands is home to all kinds of marine life, including three species of sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays and sharks. Nurse sharks and Caribbean reef sharks are most commonly seen, but if you find yourself in the right place at the right time, you can even see a Hammerhead shark! Even without the big wildlife, the reefs are healthy and teeming with smaller reef fish.

There are many top-notch PADI and SSI dive centers, offering the full range of courses as well as guided dives.

WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?

The Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac) have a total of 365 moored dive sites, with the majority of them on Grand Cayman. A few of our more famous and well-known dive sites are:

Trinity Caves (15-30m+) – made famous by the movie The Firm with Tom Cruise. Trinity Caves has a series of canyon ways and swim-throughs that begin around 18m and end off the edge of the wall at 20-22m

Orange Canyon (16-30m+) – one of the more dramatic drop-offs on the west side, Orange Canyon gets its name from the dramatic canyons that lead over the edge of the wall and the gigantic orange elephant ear sponges that line the wall.

Wreck of the ex-USS Kittiwake (21m) – Sunk in 2011, the Kittiwake was a submarine rescue and support vessel. Because it was sunk as an artificial reef, it was cleaned up and opened up to allow for wreck penetration. You have easy access to many rooms, including the engine room, boiler room, and galley. It was originally sunk upright in 18m of water, but a tropical storm in 2018 pushed the ship onto its port side and into slightly deeper water. Although it can be slightly more challenging for some as the angle of the ship can be a bit disorienting, most divers find that it looks more authentic and interesting resting on her port side.

Oro Verde wreck (max 17m) – the Oro Verde was a ship that was sunk in the early 1980’s. After 40 years underwater, she has been bashed and broken and is now a “wreck of a wreck”. Although most of the ship is no longer recognizable, it makes a great home for lots of wildlife, especially critters that like to hide out under the bits of wreckage, like lobsters and eels.

Eagle Ray Pass (15-30m+) – located on the North wall, Eagle Ray Pass often lives up to its name! With a swim-through leading over the edge of the wall, this site is a great place to look for eagle rays cruising out in the blue, over the edge of the wall. Here, the wall itself is almost a sheer 90-degree drop, making it exceptionally dramatic.

Tarpon Alley (15-30m+) – Another favorite North Wall dive, this is a great spot for our reef shark friends. Especially in the summer, reef sharks are often spotted here cruising the reef or our in the blue. This site is also home to a group of tarpon that usually hangs out in a series of small canyons on the top of the wall.

Devil’s Grotto (6 – 18m) – This site is one of Grand Cayman’s most famous shore dives. It only takes a quick swim on the surface or underwater before the hardpan bottom drops off to a beautiful reef. The grotto is most famously known for its incredible limestone swim-throughs. During the late summer (August/September) you can sometimes find these swim-throughs full of tiny silversides… and all the bigger fish that want to eat them! Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen every year, but when it does the dives are an incredible sight, with tarpon, jacks, and snappers darting in and out of the swim-throughs, eating as many of the tiny baitfish as they can. The feast can last for a few days or a few weeks!

Stingray City (4m) – Once called the best 12 ft dive in the world, Stingray City is a one-of-a-kind dive. Stingray City is located just inside the barrier reef on the North sound. On rough days, fishermen would once anchor in the large sandy patch to clean their catch in the relatively calm waters inside the barrier reef. After years of discarding scraps overboard, Southern Stingrays began to associate the sound of boat engines and anchor chains with a free meal. After many years of this, divers realized that the stingrays were docile and friendly and could be fed by hand. Now, divers can visit the site, kneel down in the sand and interact with wild Southern stingrays while a dive guide feeds them.

TELL ME MORE

Cayman is home to all sorts of diving. The Cayman Aggressor is our only liveaboard which will travel to all three islands, weather permitting. On Grand Cayman, boat diving is the most common way to see our dive sites. Our wall dives are less than a mile offshore, making boat rides very quick. Some sites are a bit farther from dive boat docks, but most dive sites can be reached in 10-30 minutes depending on the speed of the dive boat. Cayman is also home to a few amazing shore dives, the most famous being Devil’s Grotto.

shark diving in cayman islands — Photo provided by Amanda

DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?

Our water temperatures are between 78 – 85 Fahrenheit (25-30 C) so in the summer, most people forgo wetsuits for rashguards or even just bathing suits! In the winter, the water does get a bit colder, but usually, a 3mm is sufficient. Most dive shops offer 3mm shorty wetsuits to rent.

Cayman dive shops also have a great selection of rental gear, so no need to haul all your gear if you don’t want to. There are also 2 full-service dive retail shops on the island where you can purchase anything you might need. It is good to note that because of the marine park laws, gloves are not permitted.

WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?

Most dives in Cayman can be done with an Open Water certification.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

Cayman is known for its consistently good conditions. Water temperatures range from 25-30°C. Visibility is usually 18-30m. Because the island is relatively small, calm diving is almost always accessible somewhere on island. The Westside, off 7 Mile Beach, is usually the calmest, being on the leeward side of the island, and this is where most dive operations are located.

The North wall is often the most sought after dive spot but is often only consistently calm in the summer months (June-Sept). The East end of the island is home to a few dive operations as well. It is often the roughest side of the island, but it is the best place to consistently see reef sharks.

Our high season is generally from November to April, with the busiest times around Christmas/New Years and Spring Break (mid-March – Easter). Cayman does not usually have much in the way of currents, so there is not much, if any, drift diving.

HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?

General prices are:
2-tank dive – $110 USD
Gear packages – $25-$35 USD
Open Water course – $400 USD

WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?

Staying in the Cayman Islands is known for being a rather expensive destination. While there are affordable options, many hotels will range upwards of $500 USD a night in high season. We have a few big names as well, such as the Ritz-Carlton, the Kimpton SeaFire resort, the Westin and the Marriott. There are lots of options for vacation rentals through AirBnB or VRBO which can be more budget-friendly options, especially if traveling with larger groups or families.

WHERE DID YOU STAY?

We stayed at the Comfort Suites. While not directly on 7 Mile Beach, the hotel is approximately 2 minutes away from the sand, as it sits directly behind a beachfront condo. Prices are some of the most reasonable on the island at around $250 USD a night. Rooms are clean, basic hotel rooms with mini-fridge and kitchenette.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I love Grand Cayman and diving in the Cayman Islands. I’ve lived here for nearly 5 years, so I might be a bit biased, but I would absolutely recommend it. The Cayman Islands isn’t always the most budget-friendly of destinations, but there are definitely inexpensive options for rooms and food if you do a bit of research. Cayman is considered one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and the people are very accommodating and friendly.

Grand Cayman - Cayman Islands — Photo provided by Amanda

WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?

There are great topside activities as well as opposed to just diving in the Cayman Islands! 7 Mile Beach is definitely the most popular and famous with gorgeous white sand and shallow clear water. You can snorkel off the beach or rent all manner of watercraft such as Hobie Cat sailboats, kayaks, paddleboards, and jet skis.

There are other great beaches to explore around the island, with tons of public access points, just look for the brown signs with the swimmer!

Other topside spots are the Botanic Gardens, Cayman Crystal Caves, Starfish Point, and Rum Point, to name a few. The restaurants on the island are some of the best in the Caribbean with all types of food. Caribbean and Jamaican, Italian, Asian, Indian, American… you name it, you can find it on Grand Cayman.

For a good beach party, check out Royal Palms Beach Club, Coral Beach or Calico Jacks. Other favorite bars are Rackams and the Sandbar.

How to make a Weight Belt for Diving?

DTS Contributor

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SCUBA diving will require some weights. Some people will need more weights, and some people can go down with little to no weights. The weights help us go down and maintain our buoyancy; even when our tank becomes more buoyant and we need to make a controlled safety stop. So how to make a weight belt for diving, and what are the different types of weights that you might come across during your diving adventures?

How to make a weight belt for diving?

To make a weight belt for diving, always lay the belt and the weights on the floor. This will prevent any accidental dropping of weights. As we say to our students; if the weights drop on your foot, it’ll be painful, but if your weights drop on MY foot, you’ll be in even more pain!

Lay the belt on the ground with the buckle face up. Lay the weights with the rounded side on top, and the flat side on the ground. Putting the weights on the correct side will make it more comfortable when you are wearing the weights as it will lay flat against your wetsuit or rash guard.

Thread one end of the belt up and through the first slit, and then down through the second slit. Slide the weights to the buckle and then keep adding your required weights.

Ideally, you want the weights to sit on either side of your body, and be balanced. For example, if you need 4 weights, then slide two of the weights closer to the buckle, then leave a gap and slide the other two weights closer to the open end of the belt. I like to leave a gap as this is where the tank will sit on your back; it stops the tank from pushing the blocks uncomfortably into you!

Do I need my own weights and weight belt?

In the parts of the world where diving is commercialized and rental equipment is common, many divers will not own their own weights. Even if they own the full set of BCD, regulator, mask, wetsuit, fins, etc. they will usually rent weights (and a weight belt if required) alongside a tank.

Some people, however, do prefer to purchase and travel with their own weight belt. This is ideal if you need a specific length or prefer to have a personalized belt.

Whichever style you use, the effect is the same – wearing them helps make you sink.

What weight systems are available?

As with any scuba products, manufacturers have raced and competed with each other to develop the latest and coolest weight systems.

Weight Belt

The most common weight system is the weight belt and nearly all weights are designed to fit onto weight belts in one way or another.

Weight belts are very simple. Made of strong nylon webbing, a weight belt usually consists of the belt itself and a metal or plastic buckle. The buckles are designed to be quick release so that you can dump the belt and its weights in an emergency. Weights are then designed to fasten onto the belt.

Integrated Weight

The other type of weight system is ‘integrated weights.’ This is when the weights can be integrated into your BCD with a quick release for dumping the weights quickly and safely. Using an integrated weight system is very popular among dive professionals as it is less cumbersome. It also allows the dive pro to easily take weights out underwater if they find their customer needs an extra weight instead of taking off a whole weight belt.

What types of weight are there?

There are a number of styles of weight available:

Lead blocks – these are the most traditional weights you will still see most diver using. Typically weighing between 1 to 13 pounds (0.5 to 6 kilograms), these blocks are designed with two slits that allow them to be threaded easily onto a weight belt. While sometimes causing discomfort to divers on the land as they can dig into your hip bone or push against the BCD, you will hardly notice them once underwater. Available in uncoated bare metal or with a plastic or rubber coating, these long-time favorites are here to stay.

Bullet weights – these are similar to lead blocks but usually a bit smaller. Cylindrical in shape with a single slit through the middle, they are often more comfortable than block weights as they are lower-volume. Without the second slit however they are prone to sliding up and down the weight belt, so weight retainers are essential to keep them in place.

Lead shot bags or ‘soft weights’ – bags full of lead shot are becoming a popular alternative to solid weights. These are ideally suited to being used in BCD integrated weight systems or placing inside pockets so that they do not damage your equipment. Lead shot bags are ideal when practicing scuba diving in a swimming pool as if they were dropped during an exercise, they will not damage or crack the pool’s tiles.

Some lead shot bags come with an opening to thread directly onto a weight belt, while others are designed to be placed inside a weight belt with pockets. Be careful when buying soft weights to make sure the bag is completely sealed. This will prevent lead from seeping out into the ocean.

Conclusion

Learning how to make a weight belt for diving will become second nature after a few dives. The key is to make sure that you create the weight belt on the ground to stop you from dropping any weights onto the foot or onto your foot. And knowing how to make your weight belt quickly is very handy when someone yells out ‘whale shark’ and you need to enter the water ASAP!