Bermuda: Hartley Helmet Diving, Dry Head & Fish Interaction

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.

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

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.

Times

• Monday 13:30
• Every day except Monday and Wednesday 09:30 13:30
• Wednesday 09:30

Last departure this season: 5 Jan 2027

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Before you book

Group Up to 21 · max 8 per booking

Live guide English, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (5 to 85 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Confirmation Confirmation within 48 h

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems

Operated by Hartley's Helmet Diving

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

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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.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need diving certification for Hartley helmet diving?

No. You don't need any certification. The helmet keeps you upright and pressurized while you walk on the bottom, so it's simpler than scuba or snorkeling.

How deep do you go?

You walk on the sandy bottom in 11-14 feet of water, right in front of the coral reefs.

How long is the underwater walk?

The walk itself lasts 30-40 minutes. The entire tour, including boat time and changing, is 3-4 hours.

Will my glasses or contacts stay on?

Yes. Your head stays completely dry inside the helmet, so glasses, contacts, makeup, and hairstyles are all fine.

Can I take photos underwater?

You can bring your own underwater camera or GoPro. Professional photos and a short video on a thumb drive are available for about $25 per person.

What's included in the tour?

All diving equipment, wetsuits if water is below 80°F, Bermuda water, snacks (Nature Valley granola bars), boat facilities (bathroom, changing room, shade), and the guided walk with Greg Hartley.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The boat docks at Dockyard by the Moongate.

What's the minimum age?

The minimum age is 5 years old.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours are subject to favorable weather. If canceled due to high winds, you can choose an alternative date or receive a full refund.

Can I do this if I have a medical condition?

All participants complete a health questionnaire. Some conditions like asthma or heart issues require your doctor's written consent. Contact the operator if you're unsure.