Snuba

Action Hero · 13th March 2010, 09:59 AM

Has anyone tried this? I really would like to. I have snorkeled plenty and don't want to go through Scuba training until my wife is ready to go through it with me so this seems like a good option for our upcoming trip to the BVI.

Jimmy · 17th March 2010, 12:34 AM

I haven't tried this, but sounds pretty restrictive.
Scuba is really easy, at least as long as you are relaxed and especially if you are already familiar with the underwater world. The only added equipment would be your scuba tank attached to your buoyancy jacket/BCD, the only additional skill to master would be using said jacket along with your lungs to regulate buoyancy (as opposed to using only lungs), and the extra freedom is - or at least appears to me - significant.

Wikipedia reckons snuba gear is minimal compared to scuba, which is nonsense. Replace the snuba harness with scuba BCD + tank, and, along with everything else you were already using for snuba, there's your complete scuba gear.

Ah, I ramble on. Sorry I didn't really answer your question and instead went off on a tangent, but I would highly recommend going straight for scuba diving. If someone was going to panic or have a bad time while scuba diving, the same thing would most likely happen if they were on snuba.

Action Hero · 17th March 2010, 12:39 AM

I tend to agree with you but my wife kinda struggled with snorkeling so its baby steps. Plus my upcoming trip includes the kids so its like a G-Version adventure in regards to risk.

Jimmy · 17th March 2010, 12:50 AM

How old are your kids? Minimum age for scuba is 10 - I plan to teach my 12 and 14 year old siblings when they come visit in june (I'm an instructor.) Kids tend to do really well with scuba anyways, their learning ability is much greater than adults and many times they have no fear, only wonder and amazement.

As for the wife, well, I suppose if she struggles with snorkeling, adding the equipment and knowledge required for scuba could be a bit much - but to be fair, I reckon snuba would be just as bad if not worse simply for the fact that you are restricted by the air hose. Again though, these are just opinions from someone with only a second hand knowledge of snuba.

But you could easily get through the knowledge bit. Both PADI and SSI offer the full academic portion of the Open Water course on their websites, although for PADI you would have to pay (and it would offer you no discount when you went to actually do the course) so you might try to have a free go through of the SSI academics (Slightly different from PADI, but the jist of it's the same - the equipment, ocean and people are the same, after all.)

Oh dear, rambling again. Enjoy your trip anyways, and if you do have questions about scuba, feel free to ask. Peace!

Action Hero · 17th March 2010, 12:56 AM

The kids are 8 and 5. I am basically only talking about the 8 year old... The boy is timid like his mom. She might do alright if we went through a course; she was much more confident with a gun after we went through conceal and carry class so maybe training gives her the confidence she needs. Thanks man. Hey, before I go, check out ActionHeroClub.com and fill out the survey to see how big of an Action Hero you are. I scored a 514 but that's mostly from my military days. Thanks dude.

proximity5 · 15th July 2010, 11:50 PM

If you are interested in snuba diving then I suggest taking a look at the xcaret website. Their Eco Park is the largest place to take a snuba dive lessons and the location is perfect as well: on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Can't get better than that folks!
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