Chicago Area Newbie looking for all kinds of advice

[dbulmer]

rjs,
Take up Laser's kind offer! It's the best thing you could do.
I've taken up UK diving and I'm really glad that I can ask some questions of our local divers here.

 

[garyfotodiver]

Scuba Systems in Skokie is my LDS. They have a training pool on-premises. Nancy is a decent person there.

 

[SDAnderson]

Why not come on out and join a bunch of folks this Spring as we dust off our gear and hit the water? What you need more than anything else is a support group of divers around you that can help you with some of your questions and share some of their experiences with you. Even if you don't dive this early in the season, you'll still have the chance to meet some people and get a leg up on the rest of the year. Most weekends there are folks meeting at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, less frequently this time of year at Pearl Lake in Rockford. Watch the Great Lakes Wrecking Crew forums for announcements of folks headed to either one.

You might also consider some of the local dive clubs - they can be an excellent source for mentors. The Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers has a list of many of the local clubs, check them out and see if you find one that's close and that interests you. I'm also going to pitch one of the clubs that I belong to, The Tritons, who have a long history of working with new divers, including a training program that isn't affiliated with any shop. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of each month in Des Plaines and everyone is welcome.

 

[Sideband]

I'll be at the Tritons meeting tomorrow night (first time). I'll maybe see you there!
Joe

 

[scubaranger]

hang in there and welcome in just a short time i have learned alot. there is a wealth of wisdom here take it for whats it worth. analyze it, but the last say is on you weather its a LDS, online or here you got the last say cause it's your neck. be safe
alex t.