General

turtle while scuba diving in tobago cays

Fabs Safaris differs from your average scuba diving trip by the fact we are free to conduct all our dives on our catamaran. As such exploring some of the remotest diving areas the Caribbean has to offer. At Fab Safaris we have a range of diving courses fully certified by PADI ran by our fully qualified instructor. Safety is our top priority, in case of an emergency Vaza Vezo has the necessary equimpent.
8 fully equipped scuba diving equipment are available for diving purposes as well as spare snorkels, masks and fins.

Scuba Diving Equipment

scuba diving equipment

We have 6 Mares Vectra Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD’S) and 6 Aqualung Calypso Regulators for course use and for hire. We have 70 kgs of dive weights onboard and 8 weight belts.

We also have 8 underwater dive torches for night dives.We have a few spare masks and fins, however we recommend that you bring your own mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits so as to guarantee a good fit and comfort in the water.

scuba diving with turtle

On Board the Vaza Vezo we are equipped with two Bauer Junior II Compressor, one electric and the other diesel. We carry sixteen aluminium 12 litre tanks onboard in our customised dive tank racks.

Diving Safety

scuba diving safety on your holiday

A well planned casualty evacuation is in place with links to the nearest recompression facility in case of an emergency.This is constantly re-checked to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible. Diving is performed with full safety equipment. The catamaran is outfitted with First Aid Kits, Lifejackets and Medical Grade Oxygen. A fully trained Emergency First Responder is on board.

Safety is the number one priority aboard the Vaza Vezo. We plan all our dives as recreational dives (no decompression dives). However in the unlikely event of decompression illness we are prepared with a casualty evacuation plan, 2 x 4 litre medical grade oxygen units and a remote emergency oxygen unit (REMO). This re-breather system extends the use of our oxygen unit to 8 hours, easily sufficient to get you to Trinidad or Barbados where the nearest recompression chambers are, both of which are only a thirty minute flight away. Diving insurance is compulsory and we strongly recommend getting it from DAN (Divers Alert Network) www.DANEUROPE.org . For entry level training (Padi Open Water Diver Course) we can currently organise a DAN student membership which is free insurance for this period of training free of charge. Some holiday insurance packages include diving cover – please check with your insurer.

Training

scuba diving off yacht

Fab Safaris caters for all levels of scuba divers. For those who have never dived before Grenada is a fantastic place to learn. For those more experienced you will enjoy the diversity of marine life in the Caribbean.

Open Water trainees will need to purchase the Open Water Diver Manual and complete all the Knowledge Reviews prior to arrival on site so that we can get you qualified and diving in the minimum of time.

scuba diving techniques

Everyone will be required to pass a swim test before taking part in diving. Either demonstrating a 200m swim with no time limit or a 300m swim with mask, snorkel and fins with no time limit. You will also be required to float for 10 minutes.

If you are planning to complete a course please purchase the relevant diving manuals and complete all the Knowledge Reviews prior to arrival.

Environment

scuba diving in the grenadines

The water temperature usually ranges between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius in the areas that we operate in. We recommend a 3mm wetsuit for use on the expedition. Whether you use a short or a long wetsuit is entirely up to you, however people at the site during the austral winter usually prefer long suits (while for those attending during the austral summer a shorty is normally sufficient). Depending on the weather, conditions, and time of year, underwater visibility generally varies between 10 and 30m.

scuba diving on ship wreck in the grenadines

Depending on local weather and sea conditions, you should be able to complete on average two dives per day. However this is only a guide, and depends on local conditions and your personal choice.

Diving Courses

Eagle ray spotted while scuba diving

Fab Safaris caters for all levels of scuba divers. For those who have never dived before Grenada is a fantastic place to learn – why learn in a pool when you can learn off a beach. For those more experienced you will enjoy the diversity of marine life in the Caribbean.

Our PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor offers a range of courses from Scuba Diver to Divemaster. We also offer Emergency First Response primary and secondary care courses.

If you are planning to complete a course please purchase the relevant diving manual and complete all the Knowledge Reviews prior to arrival. For Open Water Diver Course it is possible to complete your knowledge development online at www.padi.com (Search for e-learning).

We are a project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility Education) coral watch dive operation. As a coral watch dive operator we regularly monitor coral reefs and submit the data to provide critical information on coral bleaching and other serious health issues.

If you would like to volunteer to participate in this research project then it will be possible aboard. Don’t forget that this year is the International Year of the Reef 2008.

Scuba Diving Prices

Course fees include Full Scuba Kit Rental. This includes BCD and regulator, weights and tanks but excludes wetsuits, fins, masks and snorkel. We do recommend bringing your own mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit to guarantee a good fit and comfort in the water.