Best place to learn for beginner

[scubapoker]

Hi everybody,

I am interested in getting certified for diving this winter and was hoping to get some feedback on my "plan". I can't find anybody who wants to scuba dive with me so I am planning on just going to the PADI website and taking their online course and then going down to Bonaire in the Carribean to do the open water testing.

1) Is this a bad idea....to do course online? I just prefer to do it at home rather than committing to a class. I suppose if I had a friend to go with, I would do the class.
2) I want my first diving experience to be the best so I am considering Bonaire because I've read that most of the dives can be done from shore which I prefer. Has anyone ever dove in Bonaire? My main concerns are calm waters, high visibility and warm water....and of course lots of interesting fish/marine life. Does Bonaire meet these needs?
3) For those who have been to Bonaire, is there a particular dive shop you would recommend I go for open water testing? So far, I am leaning towards Deep Blue View dive shop? Is that a good one?
4) I know that I should never dive alone.....but if I am going alone to Bonaire and I complete my certification, how can I dive from shore if I don't have a buddy?
5) Can anyone recommend a better place than Bonaire that meets all my criteria to learn to dive? I live in Toronto so please don;'t recommend Fiji or Thailand or Australia bc it's just too far. I suppose I'm looking for the best place in the Caribean for a beginner like me.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Jax]

Hi, Poker! Welcome!

Have you checked out this forum? New Divers and Those Considering Diving - ScubaBoard

There are some good threads "stuck" to the top of the forum - read through them about how to choose a good class and who should be responsible for what . . . You'll find loads of good info there.

I hope you enjoy the reading. :wavey:

 

[scubapoker]

Hi jax

I took your advice and read the thread about who is responsible for what. I gather from that thread that it isn't a good idea to do an online course and then just go down to Bonaire to get certified. My other option is to do the class training here in Toronto and then go to Bonaire for ow testing.

Can somebody please help me with my other questions I posted about Bonaire?

Thanks!

 

[SoccerJeni]

Well, I don't know anything about Bonaire, but I got my certification by taking the class and doing the pool dives in Missouri. Then I went down to Nassau, Bahamas and did the OW dives there with Stewart's Cove. I really enjoyed Stewart's Cove. I did have a friend with me diving, however, I saw that there were several divers there that were alone. Most of them were travelling with their spouse and their spouse didn't dive. It looked as if they were hooked up with a insta-buddy on the dives.

 

[tflaris]

Hi jax

I took your advice and read the thread about who is responsible for what. I gather from that thread that it isn't a good idea to do an online course and then just go down to Bonaire to get certified. My other option is to do the class training here in Toronto and then go to Bonaire for ow testing.

Can somebody please help me with my other questions I posted about Bonaire?

Thanks!

Bonaire has good Vis, lo to no current. While there is boat diving just about everything is shore diving.

I would recommend it to a beginner or new diver.

Its a great way to develop good ocean skills minus the boat. Once you feel comfortable you can add a couple of boat dives to your skill sets.

Never used a shop always dove with Buddy Dive.

Hope this helps.

Tony Flaris
SSI 26849
NAUI 44662


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[scubapoker]

Thanks for ur input. Is Dive Buddy a dive shop/club in Bonaire?

 

[Hawkwood]

Hi everybody,

..... So far, I am leaning towards Deep Blue View dive shop? Is that a good one?
....

We have stayed at Deep Blue View. Menno's set-up is a bed and breakfast located in one of the residential neighbourhoods (Republik). They run a very nice B&B and dive operation. The have 4 rooms available. Breakfast is aways great - omletes of your choice.

You can do your OW dives with him.

Menno has his own compressor and will do enriched air if you wish. He has large lockers for you and multiple rinse tanks.

He also has a terrific boat and will take you out to Klein Bonaire for a day of diving

I'd recommend them.

 

[tstormdiver]

Hi everybody,

I am interested in getting certified for diving this winter and was hoping to get some feedback on my "plan". I can't find anybody who wants to scuba dive with me so I am planning on just going to the PADI website and taking their online course and then going down to Bonaire in the Carribean to do the open water testing.

1) Is this a bad idea....to do course online? I just prefer to do it at home rather than committing to a class. I suppose if I had a friend to go with, I would do the class.

From what I've seen of *most* online courses, they seem to be somewhat lacking. I don't know, for me anyway, there is just something about face to face with an instructor, building a raport & trust with the instructor, being able to ask questions about material that may be confusing. Why not do a class at home? You may be able to make a/ some friend(s) that could turn out to be great dive buddies. You can then get a referral & finish your final dives at the destination of your choice.

 

[motorref]

I did the SDI on-line course for OW and Nitrox, but chose that route because I travel alot and getting home in time to meet the course schedule was a big issue for me.
I co-ordinated my on-line class work through Grand Bahama Scuba (in Freeport, Bahamas) and completed the OW portion just last week.
I cannot say enough good things about Fred and Melinda Riger, the owners; they were extremely helpful, patient and knowledgeable, and I had a blast!
My wife is a non-diver/won't get her hair wet/I'll sit on the beach kind of vacationer, and she was comfortable enough with them to suggest that next year we take my daughters down to get certified through Fred and Melinda.
I think the most important thing is that you open a line of communication with the shop you're interested in, and make sure they can answer your questions and you're comfortable with them.

KevinL

 

[Starcruiser]

For what it's worth, I'd recommend doing the in-shop course. I was in the same boat you are in, didn't have anybody to go to the class with. I met three or four people I hit it off with, and we completed the OW course and dives and had a great time. I still run in to a few of them, even though I moved to a different shop. It's a great way to get into scuba and make new friends at the same time. I have to agree with TStormdiver, the face to face approach is much more effective than the online courses, IMHO.