Any Scuba Divers? - Page 2

SoonerMatt · #21 02-17-2013, 07:17 PM

Rezzing this thread rather than starting a new one.

I'm looking for to get into diving as a hobby and plan on getting my certs before summer. I was thinking of doing PADI's eLearning to get the classroom basics out of the way and then hit up one of the Scuba shops here to get wet. What cert level should I get to before I start going on dives and what will I need to buy besides the goggles, snorkel, and regulator?

tplyons · #22 02-17-2013, 07:24 PM

Well Matt, I've become rather addicted to scuba since this post.

I've gotten my Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Drysuit, and Nitrox certs.

While Open Water is the minimum that you should be diving with yourself, AOW is a continuation of that education which will really expand your diving skills.

For most classes, you will need to buy your own mask (not goggles), snorkel, fins, and neoprene boots. The classes should provide you the rest.

Unless you plan on diving several times a year, owning your own gear is cost prohibitive. My set of regulators cost me approximately $600 and require regular maintenance.

SoonerMatt · #23 02-17-2013, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the quick reply! The good thing about San Antonio is I'm close to a lot of lakes and rivers and since it gets stupid hot here it's a good excuse to spend time underwater

TOOL460002 · #24 02-17-2013, 08:31 PM

Buy your own mask and fins. Get the neoprene boots and fins that attach to them. It's easier between dives to take them off and on and they are more comfortable. Those two are critical, but a dive watch/computer would be a nice thing to own. You never know what you can rent.

I would also advise getting the Advanced Open Water certification, but the most important thing is getting a bunch of dives under your belt before you go out on your own. You will also be able to dive deeper with AOW, and you learn how to plan dives better and you learn how to orient yourself underwater and follow more precise dives.

I was lucky enough to get certified in the Maldives. That is the best diving I've ever experienced. If you can afford it go. Now. That country will be under water some day. I've been diving for over a decade, and have had the privilege to do live on board, 3-4 day trips over the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a great place to dive, and you can get in three dives a day living onboard. Belize is also beautiful.

The coolest thing I've ever seen is a blue ring octopus on a night dive in the Philippines. Amazing but deadly little critter. My goal is to work my way up to a cave dive or two, but I need more experience for that. I've done 50-70 dives, but would want at least twice that before I go into a cave.

It is a Zen-like experience. You'll get hooked. Good luck and be safe!

EDIT: Don't stress about your contacts. I've dived with them on almost every time. When I didn't I was always with a group of 3-4. I made sure there was someone I could follow and someone behind me in case I started to head in the wrong direction.

And KEEP A DIVE LOG. Document every single dive and take the log (or a copy) with you. It's the best way to show someone that you know what you're doing. Swap dive logs with someone if you've never dived with them before. It's good information to have in case things don't go exactly like you planned.

SoonerMatt · #25 02-17-2013, 09:14 PM

Awesome advice.

Should I do any of the training through PADI eLearning or do it all at the dive center? And will I really need to go beyond AOW? (specializations notwithstanding, of course)

Also, what should I look for in masks and fins and what price points should I consider?

TOOL460002 · #26 02-17-2013, 10:21 PM

I know nothing about the eLearning PADI thing, but a lot of it was getting information from videos and books and completing exercises, so you'd be okay without an instructor in the room for that portion.

The mask is the most important thing you will buy. Try them out, adjust the straps, and figure out what's comfortable on your face. It must form a perfect seal without chaffing your face. You don't really need the anti-fog spray. I used a tooth brush and tooth paste on my mask when I got it new. Now all I have to do is spit in it and rub it around once I'm in the water. Fogging SUCKS. The toothbrush/paste and spit thing work; no fogging for me. And rental goggles always fog up. The snorkel part isn't a big deal; you're not at the surface much.

Fins are the same: make sure they fit. That's why I like the boots and the strap-on fins: you can get them on there really tight without them digging into your feet. You want a little plastic box for your goggles. Don't scratch them up or you will be buying another pair. Get a mesh bag to throw your fins/mask in, and you're good. Dive computer/wet suit/etc are your call, but I would see how often you go diving before putting a lot of money into fancy gear you don't really need or can rent (taking a wet suit in a suitcase isn't always doable).

It might be nice to get a watertight bag for clothes, dive log, snacks, book,camera, stuff you don't want wet. I also have a little box that clips onto my bag where I keep my iPod shuffle. Sometimes you are on the boat for a while before you get to your dive site.

Remember to always wash your gear off with fresh water after every dive. It will last longer and smell less like dirty ocean. Hand signals are mostly the same all over the world, but there are some variations, so know your dive group and how they communicate under water. Anything beyond AOW would be Rescue Diver or Dive Master (or random specialization courses as you mentioned). That's your call. I dive on vacation, so AOW and experience are enough for me. If you get into it hardcore you may decide to go beyond AOW, but that's something you don't need to consider just yet.

Also, most sharks and sea snakes and dangerous animals don't care about you and have better things to do than attack you. I would just stress about jelly fish, but that's a surface thing; no worries.

MakiSupaStar · #27 02-18-2013, 12:21 AM

Many many hours. Mostly for work. But some dives for fun. Best diving I've done is in the Maldives and the Big Island of Hawaii.

SoonerMatt · #28 02-18-2013, 12:44 PM

It looks like I can get the OW classroom part done online for $140 and then get the rest done at the dive shop. Compared to other outdoor activities it looms like the startup cost will be comparatively small. Signing up when I get my bonus next month

tplyons · #29 02-18-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

It looks like I can get the OW classroom part done online for $140 and then get the rest done at the dive shop. Compared to other outdoor activities it looms like the startup cost will be comparatively small. Signing up when I get my bonus next month

If you're really good at teaching yourself things, eLearning should be ok. But I'd personally recommend coursework in person to 1) build rapport with your instructors and this way they know your concerns/questions and 2) they'll probably work with you a little bit when buying your personal gear.

For me, total open water certification and personal gear set me out about $800 in NJ. Shortly after, I dropped about $4000 on more gear and more training. This year, I dropped $4500 on a two week scuba excursion.

Watch out, it will be the most expensive hobby you start.

kbuschmann · #30 02-18-2013, 09:14 PM

Hey guys,

I'm a consultant in undersea medicine (diving and submarines), and have a few thousand hours as a technical and rebreather diver. Although, "I don't offer medical advice over the internet", I am more than happy to talk with any of you, by PM, about your diving concerns. Funny, I abandoned the diving forums, but am happy to talk diving with bass players. I wonder if I would have been happy talking about bass playing with divers. Now I'm confused.

SoonerMatt · #31 03-01-2013, 09:54 AM

Yeah, OW training and the basic gear (mask, fins, boots, and snorkel) will set me back about ~~$750~~ $500. The good thing about the shop I'm using is that they give you half off your rental fees for 90 days if you get certed through them. I plan on getting my regulator ASAP though, since renting one isn't exactly cheap.

SoonerMatt · #32 03-15-2013, 05:35 PM

What have I done?

Auzzie-Phoenix · #33 03-15-2013, 06:09 PM

Looks to me like you spent $200 on tanks.

warnergt · #34 03-15-2013, 09:43 PM

I'm certified and I'll never forget the day I got certified. It was
on the morning of the Live Aid Concert (best concert ever).
I went diving and got certified in Baltimore in the morning.
Then, rushed up to Philly for Live Aid. I arrived when Madonna
was on.

tplyons · #35 03-16-2013, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warnergt

I'm certified and I'll never forget the day I got certified. It was
on the morning of the Live Aid Concert (best concert ever).
I went diving and got certified in Baltimore in the morning.
Then, rushed up to Philly for Live Aid. I arrived when Madonna
was on.

Sounds good. What shop did you get certified with in Baltimore? Atlantic Edge?

kanonfodr · #36 03-19-2013, 06:22 PM

I'll bite. Got certified PADI Open Water in July of 2008, AOW in September in Oahu. Dove around there for a year and got the GUE bug. Quit when I moved to Maryland...it's just too hard there to do regularly. Guess I need to get the gear out of storage now that I'm in Texas. The water isn't as nice, but if you can dive here then you can dive in a lot of places comfortably.

Peace,
Greg