Phoenix Area Dive Buddies? (Or groups?)

[AlmightyApkallu]

Hello!

Recently I became a certified OWD. Unfortunately my built in dive buddy is taking a little extra time to get her certification. I would still love to dive and get some practice in as I've definitely found a new passion in this amazing hobby. Unfortunately I'm a newb, a complete rookie so I'm not sure if anyone would be willing to buddy up with me or if any groups would have me along.

Just thought I would ask. Would love to do some local diving out at lake pleasant and maybe graduate up to Southern California when I get comfortable there.

If anyone would be willing or know anywhere I could do so let me know! Thanks

 

[JohnnyC]

Ask around the local shops and see who's got trips planned.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

Hey JohnnyC, thanks for the reply. I'm not really looking to do trips right now, unless you mean local ones to lake pleasant or at the farthest Southern California. I'd really like to get comfortable out at the lake for a good dozen or so dives.

 

[JohnnyC]

Yeah, Lake Pleasant. Lots of divers do trips to the lake. Shops down in Tucson go up for training. Lots of divers. Check out Vegas dive groups too for trips out to California.

Realistically though, as long as you're willing to drive out to California, don't necessarily limit yourself to diving with AZ people. In fact, despite living here, I don't actually dive with anybody from Arizona. Closest is some mutual friends with guys that go to Mexico to cave dive. So you might as well take a look at some California boats and see if you can just show up and post about your trip here before you leave. People here are pretty nice, I'm sure someone would be more than happy to buddy up.

 

[BFRedrocks]

Not trying to advertise them, but LP Scuba takes their boat out on Lake Pleasant basically every Saturday and most Sundays if you're interested in just going out with a few folks. Usually the boat only has 4-5 divers max on it, so it's pretty calm and the viz is way better than from the shore. Just a thought to get you some extra practice at the Lake. I'm out there about once or twice a month but have been mostly diving solo since my solo certification.

 

[broncobowsher]

Just make a post, "lake Pleasant on xxx date, who wants to come" and see what you get back. Best if you can give some advance notice. You can usually find some people who are willing to go out. It's human nature that if there isn't a date there isn't much commitment. But add in a date and people will make time on that date. You may get counter offers back as well. Most anything local is going to be Lake Pleasant.

I've met up with some fun people and had good times doing it this way. I've partnered up with everyone from first dive outside of class all the way up. I like the getting away from the shadow of a shop led dive, adds diversity.
Show up to a spot and see it loaded with open water students and you can pick a new spot down the shore a little bit. You are not tied into a given area.

It's still a little winterish right now so don't expect too much activity right now. But as we start getting a little warmer and the days start to get a little longer there will be more activity.

 

[diversteve]

Check www.arizonascuba.com
The Thursday afternoon/night dives start up again next month.

Also as it gets warmer, check whose diving San Carlos (shops). We go there by ourselves but always run into someone on a shop dive from here. Often from El Mar - since they either carpool down or charter a bus twice a summer. And the water is warm mid to late summer and stays that way for a while. Staying above the thermocline, I dove in a t-shirt the 3rd week of October once. Dipping below it was too cold though.

 

[AZTinman]

There's no shortage of shops in the Tucson & Phoenix area that have organized groups diving Lake Pleasant, locations in Sonora, Mexico and Southern Cali. Some of the shops have organized dive clubs.

-AZTinman

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

Thank you folks for the replies!

I'm honestly a bit nervous to go to San Carlos. Mexico looks absolutely beautiful and I would love to visit, but with the crime as it is down there right now it makes me a bit nervous. I might would visit Cozumel. I do hope that Mexico becomes safer, would love to visit but that's a whole other topic.

Night dives starting out sound risky, how do the afternoon dives work? And is it only Thursday afternoons? What about weekends? I'll definitely check out ArizonaScuba.com

I guess that's a good idea, simply setting a date and seeing if anyone wants to come along. Again, my big thing is I'm worried that I might hold some one back or be too much of a newb, I don't want a dive buddy to have to feel like they have to instruct me or help me in any way, which they shouldn't need to as I'm pretty confident with what I've learned thus far.

I'll check more shops out as well and see if they can tell me anymore about organized clubs/groups, that's what I'm looking to find right now.

 

[diversteve]

I haven't been to one in years but AofS used to get a pretty good crowd: http://www.academyofscuba.com/scuba-social.html