During Dive Fest Barbados, Atlantis Submarines and Barbados Blue pulled off something I’ve never seen anywhere else: divers hanging onto the top of a real submarine for a 10-minute ride down to the reef. Some divers think this sounds terrifying. For me it was a bucket-list dive and one of the most fun things I’ve ever done, diving or otherwise.
In this video:
How it actually works: clearing your ears on a moving sub, staying clear of the props, and the safety plan behind it.
Mermaid Kristen’s "money shot" rising from the water on the bow (with safety divers and Greg the Divemaster on air support).
The moment I found out there was only ONE submarine ride and had to scramble into my gear.
My interview with Andre Miller, and his son Ajhanii, freediving down to the submarine.
How deep it really went (reef ~40 ft, top of the sub ~20 ft) – this varied depending on locations as well as the sub going up and down occasionally.
Why Dive Fest Barbados is my new must-do: the Oistins Friday fish fry, WW1 and WW2 shipwrecks on a single dive, snorkeler-friendly wrecks, the caves, the coral nursery, and the rum distilleries. (Barbados is the birthplace of RUM!)
Want to ride the sub on scuba gear? As far as I know, the only way is to work for Barbados Blue or Atlantis Barbados, but message them and let them know pro divers want a run at it next year.
However, anyone can sign up to ride down inside.
Huge thanks to Seymour and the team at VisitBarbados.org for the invite, Andre Miller (the mastermind on the radio coordinating three boats and a submarine captain), Ajhanii Miller, Logan the photographer, Mermaid Kristin and @gregthedivemaster Greg the Divemaster from Scuba Radio and everyone at Barbados Blue and Atlantis Submarines Barbados.
@BarbadosTourism
@divebarbadosblue9380
@atlantissubmarinesbarbados
Video from inside the submarine courtesy of Jessica Todd: Waves & Wine Travel Co.
🎥 Watch next on this channel:
Dive Fest Barbados full video and how to dive and help outplanting and cleaning in their Coral Nursery.
Dive Fest Barbados runs every August.
More info and dates here:
https://www.visitbarbados.org/dive-fest-barbados
See you there next year.
Subscribe, dive safe, and have a great day.!
Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast.
