Advice requested: first dive in Turks and Caicos

[Palmeirense]

Just a thought, but you might consider doing the pool training locally before you go, if that's feasible. It will give you an extra day of diving on the vacation, and probably will leave you better prepared to do your open water dives. Having the time to progress in the pool at a reasonable pace will make you a more solid, more well-rounded diver from the start, and you will be able to enjoy your vacation diving to a greater degree.

That's a good idea actually, I'll look into that.

 

[RJP]

Just another question:

When people do their open water certification dives in a nice dive spot, do they spend all the time under water doing the exercises described in the e-learning or there is opportunity to swim around and enjoy the sea life as well?

As you read in the training manuals each of the four OW dives includes "tour for fun and practice" as part of the dive.

When I did my check-out dives in West Palm Beach on each dive we knocked out the necessary skills at the beginning of the dive and then cruised the reef for whatever time was left based on remaining air supply and NDL.

 

[RJP]

Just a thought, but you might consider doing the pool training locally before you go, if that's feasible. It will give you an extra day of diving on the vacation, and probably will leave you better prepared to do your open water dives.

A contrary opinion:

Since the OP did "e-learning" for the academic, I would NOT suggest doing confined-water (pool) work with one instructor and then doing open-water with yet another instructor.

Academic+pool with one instructor, then OW with another is fine.
Academic on-line, then pool+OW with a single instructor is fine.
Academic on line + one instructor for pool + different instructor for OW is likely to create some difficulties/challenges - based on a complete lack of ANY continuity between one phase and another.

Just a thought.

 

[scubadada]

Hi Palmeirense,

Who are you diving with in Providenciales. I hope it is Caicos Adventues. My son and I dived with them last July and they were one of the best operations we've dived with. We observed their training procedures and they were outstanding. Once you've finished your training, the dives will be excellent. The Reef Sharks are amazing YouTube - Old Shark and Big Shark

Good diving, Craig

 

[boulderjohn]

Just another question:

When people do their open water certification dives in a nice dive spot, do they spend all the time under water doing the exercises described in the e-learning or there is opportunity to swim around and enjoy the sea life as well?

By far most of your time will be spent just diving. The skills do not take all that long, assuming you can do them OK.

 

[halocline]

- Does one become certified immediately after the 4 open water dives? If I want to start diving the day after my 4th dive, can I?

- Assuming I become certified on the 3rd day, I will still have 4 days to dive. Would it be wise/ambitious/prudent to book further dives for the other 4 days? I've done snorkeling many times and love it! This is the single most relaxing activity I do in my life. That said, should I wait and see if I like diving before I book further dives or it's pretty certain I'll get hooked up straight away?

- Do spots on the diving boats sell out in advance this time of the year or it's always easy to find a last minute spot? Does one become "bored" by diving with a single operator and if so, should I book dives with different operators?

I would be grateful to hear your advice!

I'm not sure if you can do all the confined water sessions (that's the pool work) in one day. I trained for my DM in the caribbean at a shop that certified probably 15-20 vacation divers/week. Usually the schedule was two days for the confined and academic, then 2 more days for the OW dives. You should be able to do most of the confined in one day, finish the next morning, do OW 1 that afternoon and then OW 2-4 the third day.

You absolutely should dive as much as possible the rest of the week. Diving is a set of skills that need to be practiced. It's possible that the instructors who teach you there will also guide dives, so you might be essentially getting more dives with an instructor, which is an ideal way to start your diving career.

In Roatan, the confined water sessions took place in the bay, not in a pool. This is far preferable IMO. Maybe it will be the same for you, I hope so!

As far as booking the dives in advance, you might ask your dive op for advice on that, but definitely make sure you can dive the rest of your stay there. And there's no need to wait until the next day, just go and do another dive that afternoon if you want.

Have a great time!

 

[Palmeirense]

Hi Palmeirense,

Who are you diving with in Providenciales. I hope it is Caicos Adventues. My son and I dived with them last July and they were one of the best operations we've dived with. We observed their training procedures and they were outstanding. Once you've finished your training, the dives will be excellent. The Reef Sharks are amazing YouTube - Old Shark and Big Shark

Good diving, Craig

Hi Craig, I'm leaning towards Caicos Adventures indeed. I've heard only positive things about them. Awesome video!

 

[scubadada]

Palmeirense,

I would suggest arranging and reserving all of your activites, pool, OW dives, and post certification dives, before you depart. I'd get the first two items done up front and then enjoy the last 3 days as a certified diver. Caicos Adventures has great guided dives that would be perfect for you right out of training.

Have a great trip, good diving, Craig

 

[Damselfish]

I just completed my PADI E-learning and I'll be in Turks and Caicos in two weeks to spend my one week vacation there.

-snip-

- Assuming I become certified on the 3rd day, I will still have 4 days to dive.

Cramming it in 3 days is very quick and far from ideal, especially if you have any problems. So definitely get in as much diving as you can. Just keep in mind, if your 'week' is 7 nights, that usually results in 6 days of diving max because you're traveling on the first and last days. Remember you need to allow sufficient time between diving and flying.

Say you get there Saturday, probably you won't do pool work until at least Sunday. Monday-Tuesday OW dives. You could go diving Tuesday afternoon if you're certified at that point, if they have an afternoon boat. That leaves Wed & Thursday for sure, and maybe a Friday morning boat depending what time your flight leaves on Saturday.

You can always contact the op you will be getting certified with and ask them how their schedule looks, if you need to book dives ahead. I'm sure they will understand someone who is learning who thinks they will want to get in as many dives as they can but isn't quite sure about the whole thing yet.

 

[scubafanatic]

...be careful though......I've been to T&C twice ( T&C Explorer week long liveaboards) and had a good time....but the wall diving (which is actually my favorite type of diving) can be a little spooky to a new diver as they are 7000 ft. straight down....kinda like hanging off the edge of the Grand Canyon....KEWL ! :cool2: