National Anthems: Home | Africa | Americas | Asia | Australia&Oceania | Europe | Olympic Anthem |
 
Passports: Home [ Africa ] [ Americas, Australia & Oceania] [ Asia] [ Europe] [ Other documents ] 
Travel:[Europe] [ Asia ] [ USA-Canada ] [ Latin-America ] [ Africa ] [ Australia ] [ Carabben ] [ Air ] [Cruises ]
Forum
Live chat

Re: Power Snorkel, Snuba, or Helmet Diving? Posted on: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 08:44:48 +0000 (UTC)


Odysseus wrote:
> Power Snorkel, Snuba, or Helmet Diving
>
> I'm planning my shore excursions for Grand Cayman, Cozumel,
> and Costa Maya. Does anybody have any comments or opinions
> on power snorkel, snuba, or helmet diving?


Besides the fact that they are all moderately risky activities,
because the training provided is usually grossly inadequate?


Despite what they tell you (especially for snuba in Coz!), all of
these activities have you using compressed air underwater (just like
Scuba).

Your objective risk of injury or death from DCS (decompression
sickness, or "the bends") us very small because you stay shallow and
for short durations.

However, the risk of an Air Embolism (AGE) is not particularly low,
nor us it all that well mitigated by training. On compressed air,
simply holding your breath and standing up in a 5ft deep swimmimg pool
can cause a rupture severe enough to kill.

As such, any of these sorts of get-your-face-in-the-water-quick
programs should be reviewed carefully.

A friend of mine us trying to get the Cozumel Snuba concession on
videotape when he makes his "safe because you're not on compressed
air" claim, because if this gets back to the USA company, they will
have their concession licence cancelled.

Bottom line is that I won't let any of my loved ones take any of these
sorts of trips.

-hh