myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

I noted the following from another post...

Also, you will probably find that none of the dive shops here will simply rent you tanks or equipment to go and do your own thing

We will be visting Tobago and staying several days in the Charlottesville Area and then several days in the Courland Bay area (Black Rock).

We fully intend to purchase dive packages (probably a 10-dive pakage).

However, we had also hoped to rent tanks to dive in sheltered areas such as Man-O-War bay.

The notation in the other post would imply that very few or none would rent tanks. We would agree that a great number of dives in Tobago should not be a "do it yourself" dive because of drifts, currents and other conditions. Safety is of utmost concern.

We were hoping that some shore diving in sheltered bays could be done by renting tanks.

So....... 1. Are there in fact some dive centers that would rent tanks to certified divers for sheltered shore dives? 2. Do you think the center through which a 10-dive package was purchased would be more likely to rent us tanks for sheltered shore diving after having observed us on "dive center organized dives"

Hi Leo,
Most dive centres I contacted in Tobago only do escorted dives. The only centre I found last year that would let you do your own shore dives was Aquamarine at the Bluewaters Inn, but they would only do taht after you had dived with them for a while and were happy with your skills. So I'm not sure if they would just rent out tanks.

Regards
Kevin

Sites for 'sheltered shore diving' are really few and far between around the island - and yes, dive centres here will only let you loose on these unescorted once they have seen your dive ability for themselves. Even then, you may find some reluctance because of the sometimes unpredictable nature of the conditions here, even in sheltered areas. You may in fact find that they will want you to have dived the site at least once before with a dive leader so you have some prior knowledge of the site.

You are therefore far more likely to acheive this with the dive centre you book your dives with. In fact, I would say if a dive centre lets you go diving here on your own without seeing your dive skills for themselves I would steer well clear.... they do not have your personal safety at heart!

This is a toughy!!

Last year at our hotel there were 2 Royal Marines(one ex,one still in) who probably had hundreds of dives between them, in some of the most inhospitable waters in the world as well as the great ones! However both had to go out and get a BSAC and PADI each just to dive on "Holidays"

There is no doubt they were as qualified as any Dive Master on the island in the art of scuba, although not in teaching it and could be considered safe bets to dive alone.

Point being they were not allowed to dive anywhere in the world, despite their being well versed, unless they had a recognised commercial divers ticket. This is because the dive schools have to work long and hard to build up their credentials, reputation and accreditation to PADI, BSAC etc and are not about to loose that regardless of what qualifications you can show them, until they have seen you dive.

So i feel that with a couple of escorted dives to show you know your stuff, you may find dive schools willing to let you rent tanks!

However, if you look at it from a commercial angle, they are not making the same amount of money from just tank rentals! and should anything go wrong its they who will not necessarily be blamed but will certainly have the stigma (and possibly loose accreditation) of an accident. Then look at the profit difference on a tank rental to an escorted dive,most likely with a full boat and ask yourself what you would do?

I appreciate the feedback received so far. Hopefully there will be additional feedback. Safety is certainly the number one concern. We have no experience with Tobago's shore dives as to how calm the waters might be.

The intent was not to descend very deep. In St. Kitts there were a few sheltered bays where it would have been nice to be able to descend 20 feet or so and leisurely explore the calm bay.

Perhaps there are no calm bay areas in Tobago. I though Man-O-War bay would have a few areas where the water was very calm.

The plan was more of an "underwater snorkeling" type of dive.

I do understand the concerns of the dive centers. It would certainly be "bad press" for the center if something were to happen.

One more thought - perhaps philosophical.

Let's assume two divers have air tanks with them.... either by traveling with empty tanks or perhaps tanks purchased at a dive shop in Scarborough.

The divers then present themselves at a dive center in Speyside or in the Crown Point area with their empty tanks.

Are we saying that the dive center would refuse to refill the tanks?

I'm trying to sort out the underlying reason for not renting tanks..... safety, business economics, potential loss of certification, potential for bad publicity?

Having rented air tanks in other locations, I don't think it is a PADI or SSI restriction.

Hi Leo,
I suspect it's partly safety and partly economics. Not many dive centres do shore dives around Tobago anyway, all the ones I have been with a have been focused around boat dives mostly because people find them more interesting on holiday as you get bigger fish, better coral etc.

Having said that I have been snorkelling at Englishmans Bay, Off Coco Reef and Bluewaters Inn and I think they would have made some nice shallow shore dives which I enjoy anyway as you can normally get over an hour on the dive and better photos if your not chasing after a dive guide all the time.

About the only place I have ever been where you can just hire tanks and get on with it on your own is Malta in the Med but I think you can only do that with a diving medical and permit.


Out of interest my local dive shop in the UK will not just fill anyones tanks. Unless he knows you, the boss will always check logbooks and Ccards before filling tanks of people coming down on holiday.

Regards
Kevin

Leo,

I'm trying to sort out the underlying reason for not renting tanks..... safety, business economics, potential loss of certification, potential for bad publicity?

Would it be a good idea to ask the dive shops themselves ?


Jill

Leo,

Another Yank! I just bought the Lonely Planet guide to diving T & T, but lent it a friend, so don't have it front of me. It did mention several shallow dive/snorkel sites.
Check out [Editor: Broken link removed] for snorkeling sites. It sounds like this is the type of "shore diving" you're asking about. It looks like there are plenty of places to get wet.

I'll bet any shop you have dived with might rent you tanks for shore dives once you've proven yourselve reliable and responsible.

I'm going there in September and some of the spots mentioned on the linked site above sound like they'd be great night dives and much better photography opportunities then sailing by the outer reefs at several knots!

Be sure and post a trip report for the rest of us when you get back.

Bubbly,
Gary

Gary,

I'll certainly post a full trip report for everyone. However, we are long range planners! You'll actually be going before us. We don't head off for Tobago until early in 2005.... Feb-Mar timeframe. I do have my housing reservations and my airline tickets are purchased. So I'll be reading your trip report well before you get a chance to read mine.

I did receive a couple of e-mails from some of the dive operators in line with what you were saying. ....... That is.. observing us on a few dives, assuring themselves of dive location etc.

Leo