Helmet Diving Bermuda - Great Underwater Walk

If you can't Swim
Try Helmet Diving in Bermuda

So you are wondering what helmet diving in Bermuda can be like? You've tried snorkeling, but you think you inhale more water than air.

And scuba diving is not an option either. You can't swim. Besides, without glasses, you can't even see a single fish in front of your nose.

Well, before you resign to a glass-bottom boat ride or a Bermuda island tour, consider helmet diving in Bermuda. This is also known as bell diving.

There are no lessons or swimming ability required. All you need is just a sense of adventure.

This is like an underwater walk on the ocean floor! In fact, if this is the first time you are trying Helmet diving in Bermuda waters, this could probably be the best walk you have ever taken in your life!

So how does it work? A diving helmet works like a glass turned upside-down in water. Fresh air is pumped in through a hose that comes right from above the water level, and bubbles out from the open bottom. Your head stays dry and you can reach and touch your face or adjust your glasses. The heavy helmet feels weightless.

Over the last many years that my family and I had been coming to this island, we have signed up with virtually all the best Helmet diving centers in Bermuda. These diving shops routinely take visitors from ages 8 to 85, usually on three-hour excursions.

However, out of the entire excursion time, the underwater walk lasts only for about 25 to 30 minutes. This is because the operators take small groups under the water by turn.

Here is one of our experiences of helmet diving in Bermuda.

We made our reservation with one of the best dive operators that schedules routine helmet diving in Bermuda by boat. We were taken to an excellent water area close to the western end of the island.

In a group of six, we climbed down the ladder until the water was at shoulder level. Paul was our guide. As Paul lowered the helmets over our heads we heard bubbles rising in the water. We slowly stepped down to the sandy ocean floor, about 10 feet below the surface. So you see, it's not too deep.

The helmets, which weigh 14 to 18 pounds above water, felt weightless down here. Paul handed us a long bar that we needed to hold on to. This is to keep our group of six together so the underwater video cameras could film us.

The remaining passengers on board watched our underwater walk as they awaited their turns. Paul gave each of us an open mussel. In no time a group of sergeant majors and butterfly fish targeted our offerings.

Blue angelfish, red squirrel fish and a sparkling parrotfish accompanied us.

They waved their fins in front of our helmet glasses and swished their tails and swam off as we reached out to touch them.

Paul then started communicating with us using signs showing us to walk forward. He then made a "C" with his thumb and forefinger, to indicate a coral. We saw a sleeping coral that looked like a tree on a winter day, with its smooth and naked branches.

Another coral was fully awake. It was brown, fluffy having tiny flower heads, wide open and waiting for plankton (microscopic sea life) to float by.

Paul gave each of us a magnifying glass so that we could see through it, as he offered the coral a tiny piece of fish. The small tentacles quickly grabbed the food and swallowed it.

As we walked along the soft sand, Paul pointed towards another coral, shaking his hand and mouthing the word "Ouch!" indicating that it was a stinging coral. Those corals use their stinging ability to paralyze planktons.

We stopped besides a sponge. Paul pointed towards its breathing holes and sprinkled some sand above them.

The sponge exhaled a puff of water and the sand scattered.

We spotted a sea cucumber. Paul held it so we could stroke its soft skin.

All too soon, in about 25 minutes, it was time to head back to the boat for hot shower and dry towels.

After the showers, as we sat on the open deck, we learned from the guides that there are two giant hogfish named Theodore and Samantha, who love mussels. A few lucky people are able to hand-feed them whenever they show up.

The most rewarding moments for Paul is when he brings down amputees, paraplegics and the blind – people who can only dream of diving.

On one occasion, a large grouper cuddled up right into the arms of a blind man, allowing him to feel its whole body. When the man climbed out of the water back into the boat, he joyously exclaimed, "I saw everything!"

Underwater helmet diving in Bermuda is awesome for those who can see. It's no different for those who can't.

Well, if you think it’s worth considering a helmet dive because this might be the last chance to experience Bermuda underwater life before you resign to a sight seeing tour, I can help you with the best options.

My family and I have explored almost all the helmet dive operators in Bermuda in search of the best. We keep coming back to this island as helmet diving in Bermuda has become one of our favorite passions.

Here are the top operators for helmet diving in Bermuda:

Greg Hartley's Undersea Walk

This adventure of helmet diving in Bermuda is on the sandy bottom in 10 feet of turquoise water, between coral reefs and waving sea fans. Find out more about this great helmet diving in Bermuda.

Bermuda Bell Diving

Bermuda Bell Diving offers guided underwater walk through shallow coral reefs to depths of 10 feet to 12 feet. Know more about this Bermuda's great helmet diving tour.

Peppercorn Diving Center

Here is also another helmet diving shop in Bermuda that has successfully climbed the ladder of our favorite list of dive centers.

Have you tried helmet diving in Bermuda?

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If you can't Swim Try Helmet Diving in Bermuda

If you can't Swim
Try Helmet Diving in Bermuda