Bermuda: Hartley Helmet Diving, Dry Head & Fish Interaction

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.79 (501 reviews) 90% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 21

LanguagesEN · FR +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Helmet Diving in Bermuda Without Getting Your Hair Wet

You descend 11-14 feet in a Hartley helmet with your head staying dry, walk on the sandy bottom in front of Bermuda's coral reefs, and interact with trained fish for 30-40 minutes. The full tour takes 3-4 hours and includes all equipment, wetsuits if needed, and access to the boat's bathroom and changing facilities. Photos cost extra. The boat departs from Dockyard, and you'll need your own transportation there.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Hartley Helmet Diving Experience

Arrive at Dockyard by the Moongate
Put on wetsuit if water below 80F
Walk down 9-foot ladder to boat
Wear Hartley diving helmet
Walk on sandy bottom underwater
Hold and interact with Celebrity Fish
Listen to Greg Hartley's biology lesson
Complete 30-40 minute undersea walk
Optional purchase of photos and video

The Experience

You walk down a 9-foot ladder attached to the boat, step onto the sandy bottom, and suddenly you're standing on the seafloor in 11-14 feet of water with a helmet on your head and your hair completely dry. That's the whole thing with Hartley helmet diving in Bermuda—no scuba certification, no snorkel tube in your mouth, no contacts falling out. Just walk, breathe, and look around. Greg Hartley, who runs the operation, calls it easier than snorkeling but more interactive than scuba, and after you've done it, that's exactly right. The helmet stays pressurized as you move, so your head never gets wet. Glasses stay on. Makeup stays on. You can even smile for photos without worrying about water up your nose.

The undersea walk lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, and most of that time you're hanging onto a grab bar while Greg points out the trained fish he's named after celebrities—Diana the angelfish, Charles the Hog fish, Donald the grey snapper, George the blue-striped grunt, Herb the red-speckled hind. You can hold them, caress them, let them swim around your gloved hands while someone takes your picture. It sounds strange until you're actually down there and a fish is eating out of your palm. The whole tour runs 3 to 4 hours from start to finish, which includes the boat ride out to the reef, the gear setup, the walk itself, and time to change and dry off. If the water temperature drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, they provide thick full-length wetsuits and hot chocolate afterward, which matters more than you'd think in the Atlantic.

The boat has a bathroom, a changing room, a sundeck with shade, and a glass bottom if you want to see what's below before you go down. You can bring your own underwater camera or GoPro, and there's storage for your clothes and valuables. Photos and a short video on a thumb drive cost about $25 extra per person. Hotel pickup and drop-off aren't included, but the boat docks at Dockyard by the Moongate, where the cruise ships are, so it's easy to find. You'll need to bring a bathing suit, a towel, and what they call "a spirit of adventure"—which, fair enough, you probably already have if you're reading this.

One thing to know: all participants complete a health questionnaire before diving, and some pre-existing conditions like asthma or heart issues need your doctor's sign-off first. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and they can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs. If you have walking difficulties on land, underwater walking is actually easier, so it's worth asking if you're unsure. The whole thing depends on favorable weather—if winds pick up, you get an alternative date or a full refund.

What’s included

All diving equipment, including the Hartley helmet, is provided.
You'll receive thick full-length wetsuits and hot chocolate if the water temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The boat includes a bathroom, changing room, sundeck with shade, and a glass-bottom viewing area.
Snacks (Nature Valley granola bars) and Bermuda water are provided.
Storage is available for your clothes, towels, and valuables.
Underwater cameras and GoPros are allowed.
Professional underwater photos and a short video on a thumb drive are available for an additional charge of about $25 per person.
You bring your own bathing suit and towel.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Hartley's Helmet Diving

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see the reef and interact with fish without getting wet or needing certification. The 3-4 hour commitment means a full morning or afternoon, which is what allows time for the boat ride, the walk, and a comfortable pace on the bottom.