Beginner diver wanting more advanced safety training

[stuartv]

Thanks for the input. One main problem is that I'm in DC, so no real water around, which means diving for me will typically be once or twice a year at most. I don't own any gear yet, though plan on buying a dive computer.

Given that, I think it probably makes sense to do some more recreational dives before doing GUE. (Or something simpler where I can rent gear and just spend some quality time with a top notch instructor working on more safety drills and trim adjustments).

Au contraire, my friend! Millbrook Quarry is only about 40 minutes from DC. I have done most of my training there, from initial OW on up. It is cold. The visibility is usually poor. It only offers a max depth of 90'. But, because of all that, I think it's a pretty good place to train. After my training there, going to places like North Carolina and New Jersey and diving on wrecks did not seem intimidating at all. The conditions in those places were mild, in comparison - except for the occasional high seas and tossing boat, of course.

By mid-summer or so, the top layer of water at Millbrook even gets reasonably warm. It's always cold on the bottom, though.

Besides Millbrook, there is Lake Phoenix, about 3 hours south of DC, and Dutch Springs, up in PA. Both are close enough for day trips to go diving. Oh, and Hyde's Quarry is not far up into Maryland, either.

If you want to dive around here (i.e. the mid-Atlantic or northeast), you should consider ponying up for a drysuit. Then you can dive as much as you want, all year round. I dived at Millbrook weekend before last. It was 38 degrees air temp and 38 degrees in the water. But, it was a pretty day out and with the right suit and undergarments, the temps were no big deal. Besides, it was January! And I still got to dive!

If you only want to dive in warm water, with wetsuits, you still have the option to go down to North Carolina. I have dived numerous times out of Beaufort/Morehead City, which is about a 7 hour drive south. The boats out of there get you out into the Gulf Stream, where warm water is coming up from the south. Halloween 2015, the water out of Morehead City was 70 or 71F on the bottom and I was comfy in my 3/2mm wetsuit.

You might also check out this Meetup group:

DC/VA/MD Scuba Meetup Group

The link is for a meetup tonight, in Arlington. I'll be there. If you come out, say hi!

ps. +1 on GUE Fundies and on Meredith (aka Mer). I haven't taken it yet myself, but I've had several talks with Mer so far. She is super nice and I am hoping to take Fundies with her this Fall.

 

[ls1dreams]

@stuartv - Thanks for the heads up. I have no desire to dive in a quarry really, especially a cold, low-vis one.

I'll have to checkout that meetup soon! Tonight doesn't work for me, but would love to meet some of you.

 

[stuartv]

@stuartv - Thanks for the heads up. I have no desire to dive in a quarry really, especially a cold, low-vis one.

I'll have to checkout that meetup soon! Tonight doesn't work for me, but would love to meet some of you.

Cool. Totally understand. There's always ocean wreck diving. Plenty of it from NC up to NJ and beyond. NC is extra awesome because the water is typically so warm (relatively speaking). And many of the wrecks are chock full of Sand Tiger Sharks, which look awesomely scary but are quite docile. And it's close enough to drive down Friday after work, dive Sat and Sun, and drive home Sunday afternoon/evening.