Caribbean Helmet Diving

Moray eels are just one of the sights open to Caribbean helmet divers.

One of the main attractions of the Caribbean is the region's warm, clear seas and the colorful corals and rich diversity of sea life dwelling in them. For those not trained in scuba diving, usually the only way to explore the underwater world is snorkeling. In the Caribbean, another option exists in the form of helmet diving. This requires even less training than snorkeling because helmet divers do not even need to know how to swim.

Identification

Caribbean dive helmets are lighter, modern versions of this antique.

Helmet diving uses technology similar to old fashioned, heavy duty naval dive helmets made from brass or spun copper. Compressed air is pumped into and out of the helmet through a hose from the surface through a free-flowing system. Air pressure keeps the water out of the helmet. This is why Hartley Undersea Walk of Bermuda writes "you can reach in to touch your face or adjust your glasses" because it is mostly the air and not the seals that keep water out of the helmet.

Requirements

Helmet diving in the Caribbean requires no special training. Minimum age requirements vary, with the lowest minimum reported at 5 years of age. Because of concerns with water pressure and decompression sickness, a safe operator will prohibit pregnant women, anyone with a heart or lung condition, and anyone who has been on an airplane within the previous 12 hours.

Format

Caribbean helmet dives are essentially undersea walks at depths of about 15 to 20 feet, and operating from a fixed location. Helmet divers don't swim and don't wear fins. After being fitted with a helmet, divers climb down a ladder and to the sea floor for a guided tour of the nearby coral reef and its sea life. Dives across the Caribbean usually last 30 minutes.

Locations

Bermuda and Nassau, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, are usually thought of as the main helmet diving destinations of the Caribbean. However, helmet diving is available on some of the other Caribbean islands, such as Grand Cayman.

Warning

Because it doesn't require training, helmet diving is often thought of as an accident-free and completely safe way to explore the underwater world. However, equipment failures and medical accidents do happen, occasionally resulting in fatalities such as Timothy Eugene Mowry's death in Grand Cayman in 2008. The safety requirements for helmet diving should be taken seriously.

References

• Hartley Undersea Walk Bermuda
• Seatrek: Customer Requirements
• Caribbeanedge.com: Explore Under the Sea
• CDNN: Sea Trek Helmet Diving Victim Named
• Underseawalk.com: Brochure