new diver

Hi, I’ll be visiting the Philippines this Dec and looking to take up OW course and do my first dive as well. I’ll be in Manila for a week and another week in Cebu. Seeking recommendations for diving spots / schools that are beginner friendly and have great reef. So far, I have gathered the...

Hello, I am a new diver in the Rapid City Area of South Dakota. I just got my open water certification this year (2024). I love the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, but am also looking to dive locally. Always in search of a good dive buddy and if you want to dive locally in South Dakota, just...

Hi all new to forum and scuba diving wanted to do this for many years and last weekend i took my OW certefication with SSI and next weekend i will take my AOW. My dream for diving is to go toward tecnical diving with CCR and i have a bunch of questions. First i have a hard time finding any...

Hello, Today I did two dives for my open water certificate. Everything went well and at the end I had to do the controlled emergency ascend from 5m. I had some equalizing issues so I has to stop at around 2m below surface. And then me and my instructor continued. I think at that pause moment I...

Hello, I am a new diver that recently got certified, I Am looking for a dive buddy, I have surfed all over in San Diego, so I am familiar with the ocean, but I am very new to diving and would like to practice skills, and dive in a safe manor that is within 18m I'm certified to, anyone else who...

hello new diver, looking into buying midrange gear, maybe used and just get them serviced at a local dive shop(for the regs) found a couple good deals online, need advice on what to choose. background be diving mostly in california and traveling to warmer waters like mexico, and south east...

Hello everyone! I’m currently in the process of getting my open water cert through SSI and have completed all course work just scheduling my pool training and then my cert dive. I’m reaching out because I purchased my own gear and have been doing reviews and such but wanted to know if anyone has...

Hello all - my name is Bill. I have been recently certified OW. I am heading to Bahia Honda State Park and am looking forward to a dive to Looe key From what I understand this is a good drive for beginners. I have some concerns that i'd like some guidance on. I feel as though key elements were...

My 18 year old nephew wants to get certified, and on a separate post about this, many people suggested Florida. I'm looking for recommendations for where to get certified, where to dive, (good dive shops) and what area to stay in and places to stay - any and/or all of that! I've never been to...

Hey! So I just have a quick question about regulators. I’m a pretty new diver and have only done about 8 dives. 4 with my gear. I have a Prana Genesis reg and octo and after my dive the other day, after cleaning my gear, I assembled my gear again just for fun/practice. When I pressed the purge...

Hi, I am a beginner AOW diver based in UK and trying to gear up for a local cold water dives. Would also use this gear for warm water vacation dives. Would like more experienced divers to comment on my gear choices before I take a plunge, especially Xdeep ZEN vs. i.e. ZEOS or should I go with...

Hello all! I just got back from a pool test dive with my Apollo Bio drysuit. It was my first time trying a neoprene drysuit, and I had quite a time grappling with thermal layers. Seeking advice and insight. --- For additional context: - Setup inclues a hydros pro bcd and mare quattro fins. -...

Cold weather and winter delays, buying and replacing gear according to need, gall bladder surgery, multiple tooth extraction, 3 implants in lower gum. Not all scuba training facilities are the same. A word to new divers, don’t give if you really want to be certified, sometimes qualified dive...

Hi all, I am a marine biologist and (finally!) a diver (PADI AOW) I learned to dive in Sharm El Sheikh with Umbi Diving Village (highly recommend, they were absolutely wonderful and so relaxed!) this year in March. I am on my drysuit diving course at the beginning of May so I can dive in our...

So I just got a used vtx as my first dive computer and before anyone asks yes I know about the terrible battery and dim screen. I got the thing for 100$, the features and price outweigh the problems in my opinion. I figure if I get 4 chargeable cr2s I can just swap it out and that will save me...

Hi, I'm a new diver and one of my goals is to improve my buoyancy control, however there are no classes for that in my area as far as I know and I'm not sure that I would be able to attend one anyway. My question is: What are some practice exercises that I can use to improve my buoyancy skills?

Hello! I'm new to the Forum, Scuba, and California. My long term goal is to get into Tec and I'm looking to build up my experience by exploring local dive sites near LA. Does anyone know of any groups that shore dive regularly on the weekends that are accepting newcomers or is anyone...

Hello All, I am finally at the point where I will be purchasing a full set of Scuba gear (minus tanks) and I was hoping for some input on my choice of BCD. Right now I am looking at the ScubaPro Hydros Pro w. Air 2, versus possibly the Zeagle Ranger. Both have very good reviews and I am trying...

I just finished my OW cert in Fort Lauderdale Florida and had an amazing time. I am hooked to say the least. I still want to get more tropical clear vis divers under my belt before I do anything here in NY but if anyone knows any good dive boats in NY I'm all ears! Be safe everyone!

I am not scuba certified yet, but I am planning to get certified around august/september in time for college, which is only 15 minutes away from the beach. Once I have everything set up gear and certification wise, how would I go about finding dive buddies? There is no scuba club at my college...