Thoughts on Bahamas Cave Diving

[JohnAd]

I just returned from my first ever trip to the Bahamas (report to be posted soon), and I would be interested in some responses to some thoughts I had. My trip included two islands (Andros and Abaco), and it mixed open water ocean and inland cave diving. What puzzles me is the relative overall lack of interest in the cave diving to be had there.

On Andros I did one cave dive (Guardian), and it was severely limited in penetration (one AL 80 with H valve) because of the lack of anyone qualified to go with me. The local DM with whom I dived there lamented the fact that he had no one to dive the caves with in the area on his days off. The main line in the cave had enough algae hanging from it to show how rarely it has been visited. The shop who supplied the DM/guide and tanks has an agreement to fly a fully credentialed cave diver over from Abaco on the rare occasion that someone with full cave certification shows up and insists on a real cave dive. Any idea what that would cost?

When I went to Abaco, I dived with that fully credentialed diver they would have summoned if I had insisted on it--Brian Kakuk. I had a couple excellent days of diving in the most beautiful cave system I have seen. In talking with Brian, I got the clear sense that despite the extremely high quality of the cave diving to be had there, not much interest is being shown. He is the only professional guide on the island, and none of the other dive shops have any interest in it at all. There are few locals who dive caves, and the tourist cave divers (like me) are not climbing all over each other to get into the caves.

If you go to cave country in nearly Florida, it feels like most of the residents are cave instructors, and they seem to be doing OK despite all that competition. I was in the Yucatan a few months ago, where a large number of professionals are providing services to a steady stream of customers. What's the difference?

In summary, my question is this: what's wrong with the Bahamas? With all that superb diving available there, why is so little diving being done?

[moody]

As someone who strongly considered the Bahamas for my last trip but went with the caves in Mexico instead it came down to cost. I live in Canada and the Bahamas trip would have cost me more than twice what Mexico cost. I'm not saying the caves in Bahamas aren't worth the extra $$$ but I just didn't have the money. I ended up doing a week in Mexico and then a week in Marianna for what it would have cost to go to the Bahamas.

[gschaut]

Will be going down to Abaco next April to dive with Brian. He (and the Abaco caves) come very highly recommended. But this trip is going to cost "a bit" more than Florida or Mexico. But when your sweetie wants to visit the Bahamas for our next vacation, Abaco it is!

Cost probably is a very big factor in holding down the amount of cave diving in Bahamas. I have been, and plan to go to Florida many times. Don't know how often I will be able to afford to go to the Bahamas.

[rddvet]

I've wondered the same thing myself. Kenny Broad did a guest lecture down here and at dinner talked about the Bahamas. Since then I've wanted to go. I think cost really is the biggest culprit. Even leaving from Florida, it's not so cheap getting to Abaco. I have my pilot's license and can easily fly to the Bahamas, but that's even more pricey when renting a plane. You have to pay each day even if the plane's sitting on the tarmac. Buying a plane is in my distant future, and I beleive then I'll be much more likely to take myself over to dive.

Did you fly out of Miami or Ft Lauderdale? And did you stop over in Nassau, or get a direct hopper flight. Your insight into logistics may help others who would like to go.

[gschaut]

Did you fly out of Miami or Ft Lauderdale? And did you stop over in Nassau, or get a direct hopper flight. Your insight into logistics may help others who would like to go.

United Airlines, Buffalo to Dulles to Lauderdale to Marsh Harbor. Not the cheapest or fastest connections. BUT... I've always had the superstision that if I stay with the SAME Airline, I've got less chance of luggage getting lost. I've always been afraid of luggage being transfered from one airline to another. United is the only airline that services both Buffalo and Marsh Harbor.

I plan on traveling with most of my own equipment, and just picking up tanks at Abaco. Not so much a cost consideration, although the price of luggage charges is a bit lower than rentals in Abaco. I just feel more comfortable with my own gear.

[rongoodman]

The caves on Abaco are at the top of my list, but they will cost twice what a similar trip to the cenotes will. I'm going to wait until after I finish my Advanced SM class and get some practice using LP85s with my Stealth, instead of the Al80s I'm used to in Mexico.

[rddvet]

My understanding is that unless you bring your own, steels will be hard to come by anywhere near the caves in the Bahamas. Unless Brian has some that he rents. I may be wrong, but it's what I've heard through the grapevine.

[wings-n-wheels]

Www.keywestexecutiveaircharter.com. We are based in Sanford florida and can bring divers and tech gear with us. We go to all the islands In the Bahamas and Caribbean. I cave dive myself and have been asking other people about interest. Alot of people talk about going, but never actually go. Bahamas are cheaper than Key West to stay as well. Bringing tanks is no problem but must be "empty" for the flight. 407-416-7849 or 386-299-8671

[moody]

My understanding is that unless you bring your own, steels will be hard to come by anywhere near the caves in the Bahamas. Unless Brian has some that he rents. I may be wrong, but it's what I've heard through the grapevine.

Brian does have a full compliment of rental gear including steels and he also has the only O2 booster in the Bahamas if you are a CCR diver, I'm not sure if be rents to you unless you are diving with him though. Whereas in Mexico, once you've gotten yourself familiar you can just rent a car, tanks, and pay the landowner an entrance fee ($10-20 at the most) to access the cenotes and you are good to go. Where as in the Bahamas it's $200 for a half day of guiding.

[RN]

Whereas in Mexico, once you've gotten yourself familiar you can just rent a car, tanks, and pay the landowner an entrance fee ($10-20 at the most) to access the cenotes and you are good to go. Where as in the Bahamas it's $200 for a half day of guiding.

This is the main thing that's kept me from going there. At $200 each, that's $400 for me and my wife. I can go to Mexico and dive for a lot less, even when paying a guide. I don't know the logistics of diving in the Bahamas and why it costs so much, but I think if they were able to get the costs down to similar to what it costs in Mexico, more people would travel to the Bahamas for cave diving.