Cert Dives: Where to go?

[cwalker]

Let me explain my situation so everyone can give me the best advice.

I just finished my OW class and pool dives. Me and the wife are going to Curacao for a week in Feb (she does not dive). I was planning on doing my Certification dives there.

I have a "free" ticket on Airtran Airlines. I was thinking about taking a long weekend trip in December by myself to do my Certification dives. I live in Maryland. Looking at either Florida or Grand Bahama Island.

What do you think? Good idea? Which place would you go? I really want to take my time on the Cert dives and practice as much as I can before going to Curacao.

 

[DandyDon]

Key Largo! Great place for a beginner. Shallow reef dives, no current. That's where I went when I was new. Now I go for the deep wrecks, hard currents, but that's another story.

Contact operators there about doing "Referrals," or maybe your instructor can set you up. If you have everything planned well, you might be able to fly into MIA, FLL, or WPB early in the morning, grab a rental car, drive down, do 2 checkout dives that afternoon, do the other 2 the next morning, then do a newbie trip with 2 dives the second afternoon.

I like stay at the Hungry Pelican / Suset Cove. Check their web sittes. Adjacent properties managed out of the same office.

I'll unavailable for a week, but if I can help later, let me know...?

don

 

[Padipro]

Air Tran flys right into the airport here and there are many great dives spots for a beginner to do the checkout dives.

Contact Pro Dive for information on prices and trip scheduals. They do alot of certifications from Open Water to Instructor so they're very good and experienced. The staff is great and the boat is large and very nice.

Good Luck,

Scott

 

[ayb1]

The wife and I did our certification dives in Las Vegas. We found several dive shops offering their open water dives in Lake Mead.

It was quite different.. and, I must admit, there wasn't a ton of aquatic life (we saw a few fish and a sea turtle)..

But when you talk about doing a double whammy and having a great vacation AND doing your dives, it definitely worked out great!
--Alex

 

[RICHinNC]

if those cert dives cost as much as the course itself...i just dont understand why people waste money like that. if you got moneyh to burn ...give me a call...ill let you take me with you where ever you are going....be your dive bud....

save the dough...do the cert dives as part of your class...spend the other money on me preferably....or other dive toys

 

[DandyDon]

RICHinNC once bubbled...
if those cert dives cost as much as the course itself...i just dont understand why people waste money like that. if you got moneyh to burn ...give me a call...ill let you take me with you where ever you are going....be your dive bud....

save the dough...do the cert dives as part of your class...spend the other money on me preferably....or other dive toys

But he lives in Maryland, where I'm sure the water is pretty cold now. He wants to enjoy diving, and doing the checkouts in Key Largo would be a lot more enjoyable than in a cold New England quary. Sounds like a good idea to me! Demonstrate skills in warm water with tropical fish swimming by...

Go for it, Cwalker!!

don

 

[sigelr]

I agree with those advocating the Keys. We're from Chicago but I had my son and daughter to their check out dives in Key Largo. You can't beat it for relatively quick, easy and affordable. We used Capt. Slate's Atlantis dive center which can get crowded on their big boats but they do a nice job. Also, they do a Friday morning creature feature that's fun. You should allow an extra day within your schedule for the unforeseen bad weather or bout of seasickness so you're definitely able to complete the certification while you're there. IF you're feeling adventurous, try a night dive. My daughter did her coursework over two days and the night of her 2nd day's testing we did a night dive - she loved it!!! Wherever you go - enjoy!

 

[DandyDon]

sigelr once bubbled...
We used Capt. Slate's Atlantis dive center which can get crowded on their big boats but they do a nice job. Also, they do a Friday morning creature feature that's fun. You should allow an extra day within your schedule for the unforeseen bad weather or bout of seasickness so you're definitely able to complete the certification while you're there. IF you're feeling adventurous, try a night dive. My daughter did her coursework over two days and the night of her 2nd day's testing we did a night dive - she loved it!!! Wherever you go - enjoy!

Yeah, well - I think I might actually suggest his ex-wife's place:

www.amoray.com

I wouldn't use them today, but for a newbie - they're great. They also use catamarans, which are easier riding - for those who take a day to get their sea legs.

Still, generic Sudafed an hour before diving is a good idea to help open ear tubes, and generic Claratin to help prevent seasickness. Claritan D 12 hour or a generic eqivalent will work. Start taking before boarding the plane, to help with plane equalizing and motion illness possibilities, and to ensure you don't have a reaction to this med.

have fun! don

 

[NJDiveGirl]

Key Largo for sure!

 

[MikeFerrara]

Wherever you can find the best instructor. There's water everyplace.