djslim
Pittsburgh
A question about this place:
What's "walk underwater with helmet" called? It's something I've heard other people say I can do in Kona... This is not snorkelling, is it?
Answers:
Leah
Kona
They must be talking about snuba diving. You know what that is?? You probably do, but if you don’t it’s hooking up to oxygen, but still freediving like snorkling. You have a hose that runs oxygen from the boat and you can walk or swim around down below without having to come up for air…BUT also without a heay tank or the scuba diving routine.
Now I don’t know for sure if that’s what they are talking about..I’m only assuming. Maybe there is something completely different that I don’t know about. Hey, if you hear about something else let me know yah? I would love to know of something new for going under water. I’m a water freak myself…love it! I know if God would not have created me in His image, I would have looked more like a fish. haha
KonaFab is counting his blessings
Big Island
You’re right, snuba it is. You are still tethered to something on the surface, but get to walk around on the bottom. There are also intro scuba dives you can do if you go out on one of the snorkel trips down to the Capt Cook monument down in Kealakekua Bay (K Bay). That is where Capt Cook was killed by the native Hawaiians and the small plot where his monument is located is the only piece of land deeded to the English in America.
Scuba is much more fun and the tank is heavy until you get in the water. Then, it is weightless and the waters here are so warm, you don’t need a wetsuit. I often go without, or with the short wetsuit I have.
djslim
Pittsburgh
So you can scuba dive without certification? Is snorkelling different from scuba diving? Would one prefer one over anothger for any reason?
KonaFab is counting his blessings
Big Island
You can do the intro dives without being certified and they only take you no more than 40 ft down. That is pretty good since most of our dives off the shore are about 60-65 ft. Scuba requires more equipment, but there is also more freedom. The intro dives are mostly educational as they try to teach you the basics of diving, hand signals and safety. They provide the equipment you need and two tank dives are about $90, I think. It’s so warm in Hawaiian waters that you do not need a wetsuit or shorty. I’ve got one but wear it less and less because you have to rinse it out everytime.
Snuba is when you are tethered to something on the surface and get to walk around on the bottom with a hose attached to a pump from the surface. Pretty tame, but good for those who get claustrophobic. Also, with scuba, many people have ear problems and cannot equalize pressure when they go down. Even about 5-10 ft down, you will have to hold your nose and blow to equalize or your ears hurt and you cannot go any deeper. People with ear injuries, or shattered eardrums cannot scuba as they cannot equallize pressure as they go down.
djslim
Pittsburgh
So it sounds like one would rather do scuba than snuba if you want more freedom. I was originally under the impression that snorkelling was for people who didn’t have scuba certification. If not, is there a reason why one would go snorkelling instead of scuba diving apart from the extra cost?
thanks for all your help!
KonaFab is counting his blessings
Big Island
Snorkeling is the cheapest way to go for people who are visiting for a short time. Snorkeling is great if you can hold your breath a long time and want to go deeper underwater. You can go on an intro scuba dive that does not require certification and should be a lot of fun.
I would recommend scuba if you like adventure and trying out new things.
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