Kayaking, Diving, Skiing, & Surfing Forum. - Want to Hookah dive

We are going to be in the Orlando area in two weeks and I would like to take my family Hookah diving. Any recommendations on where to go, who to contact? Thanks.

Are you qualified? Breathing compressed air at depth is a serious undertaking. If you're not scuba certified, are you planning to do a hotel type dive ( an escorted dive that is preceded by some classroom instruction and traqining exercises)?

Are you qualified? Breathing compressed air at depth is a serious undertaking. If you're not scuba certified, are you planning to do a hotel type dive ( an escorted dive that is preceded by some classroom instruction and traqining exercises)?

I was first certified in 1974 but not in Hookah. The plan is to find a hotel type dive. None of my kids are certified however all of them have been on a "Discover Scuba" pool dive. If I can find a place to dive I plan to take an online course in Hookah. This looks like a fun thing to do at the lake!

Hooka is really no different than scuba-just no tank strapped to your back. I have a double rig that we use when lobstering in relatively shallow water (30' and less). I've found the inland stuff like diving the springs, etc relatively boring. Certainly not like a reef dive in sw. I'll hunt around and let you know if I find anything.

I have done both and would go scuba all the way! You may have an opportunity to try Discover Scuba with the kids in the ocean as well. Additionally, PADI has developed some great programs for young divers including Bubblemakers and the Seal Team to introduce kids 8-12 to diving in a safe/supportive fashion. These would likely be at a number of resorts. I'm not sure how old they are, but that may be something to look into.

With Hookah, you're not restricted to the tank, but as someone mentioned you're still dealing with the issues regarding decompression that can be potentially dangerous.

I personally love the freedom of diving and with the right weighting/buoyancy, I think it's less restricting than hookah...but my opinion.

Have fun!

Don't rule out "Snooba" dives either, if you can't find someone to rent you a hookah. The Snooba stuff is similar, but instead of having a compressor on the surface to tow around, you have a SCUBA tank on a little flotation board. And no matter where you get the air, when breathing compressed gas the rules are the same. For this type of surface supplied diving, its just the same three rules. Don't ever hold your breath. Don't pass your bubbles. And don't panic.

I've been diving for 48 years. I have a Brownie's Third Lung, and it suits us just fine. There's really nothing much to see below about 30 ft. in most cases, anyhow, so the depth limitation is really a non issue. I like not having to deal with dive shops, or filling, storing, transporting, and carrying tanks around. I really like being able to get four hours of diving in on a half gallon of gasoline.