Confused about classes

[fins wake]

-0- vis in a quarry can be very challenging!

Yes, but the main thing is that divers dive (regularly) in conditions they are happy with, not that they must do it in a specific location. No one should be forced into a quarry if they don't want to. Challenging to some people is risky to others.

There is nothing wrong with only diving in tropical warm water. In that case, it is a good idea (methinks) to try to do this by having diving holidays several times a year if possible. Also, plenty of people have started in tropical warm water and moved on to other forms of diving as well. :54:

 

[gj62]

This advice is TOO FUNNY.

He/she obviously hates quarry diving.

But the more significant issue is diving regularly. So this advice in this original post is risky. See Walter's advice, supra, about diving locally. It pretty much agrees with the concensus here, rather than this advice, on this. No offense intended, its just that to be a good diver, you need to dive a lot. And diving a lot usually means locally, even if locally means diving at a quarry.

-0- vis in a quarry can be very challenging!

Oh please. If someone is getting certified to enjoy tropical diving in resort settings, the need for local diving is mitigated. The *closest* diving our LDS' go to for certification is a 4 1/2 hour drive to go down a shaft onto a suspended platform. That may appeal to some, but I venture to say it does not appeal to most...

You happen to be right - I've not had an itch to go quarry diving in quite some time (once in 25 years). Doesn't mean I hate it, but I'd prefer Roatan, all things being equal.

By all means, recommend regular diving, or getting a refresher if you only want to dive once a year or so. Beyond that, recognize that some areas don't offer "local" diving, or that people may choose to take 3 or 4 tropical vacations a year and do *all* their annual diving on those vacations... If that be the case, check-out dives in a tropical area are just fine...

 

[hanlyb]

Thanks for all the great advice. I stopped by my LDS today and signed up for classes. I start tonight. Can't wait.

 

[teamheatwave]

I work evenings and some weekend nights. So taking classes locally can be difficult.

When I travel it is usually somewhere with sand and palm trees. With not having any committments, taking a class while away works for me. It might not be right for everyone but that's the way I went. However, I did make arrangements to take some specialties locally.

Keep in mind you don't have to do everything right away. I am not sure what agency you signed up with but as an exampe, PADI offers a step between Open Water and Advanced Open Water called Adventure Diver.

Basically you have a choice of 17 subjects to chose from and to reach Adventure Diver you need to complete any 3 electives of your choice. However, you may want to discuss with your instructor ones that will help build your skill and confidence levels. Knowing what kind of fish you just saw is great but if you can't control your buoyancy and damaged the reef that fish is now homeless! So work together with your instructor to plan out a stategy that is both beneficial and fun.

The step after Adventure is AOW which is 2 additional dives (after reaching Adventure Diver). But to reach AOW U/W Navigation and Deep are required dives for AOW. Provided you did some home study and did your knowledge reviews, you can complete Adventure in a day and AOW in two days. By doing the Adventure Diver one day and finishing up AOW immediatly afterwards will save you from paying for two certifications. The shops I have dealt with skip the processing of the Adventure Diver and just process the AOW paperwork. The thirty dollar savings can pay for a small AA dive light or a snorkel.

As for equipment. Sometimes use of rental equipment is included in class costs so check with the individual dive shop first. I personally waited a long time to purchase gear only because I wanted to rent or try as many different models and manufacturers as I could before making a decision. So maybe it does not seem very economical renting when you can use that rental money towards the purchase, it can save you money in the long run ensuring you spent the money on equipment that was right for you. You can have a first hand knowledge of how gear fits your body, what you are comfortable in and what features you need. Again, to each their own. But that line of thinking helped me out.

Good luck.

 

[Burner]

Personally I would try to learn to dive close to home. You will have a better chance to interview the instructor and find a quality instructor. Also depending on where you live the conditions will much likely be more strenuous then in crystal clear waters where it is warm out.
(Note I don't know what they do for sure in cert dives in the tropics, I'm sure you get some time to go cruise around but I would hope the majority of it is practicing skills until you are comfortable)
My cert dives consisted of getting in the water, practicing your skills, practicing them some more, and practicing them some more. Do you want to waste your vacation doing this or go on vacation or do this at home?

 

[pt40fathoms]

Thanks for all the great advice. I stopped by my LDS today and signed up for classes. I start tonight. Can't wait.

Don't be a stranger and let us know how you're doing with your training.

I'd bet folding money on the fact that your gonna love diving.

 

[nauifins73]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It's very important to get a good instructor, wherever you do it. This can be tricky because until you've dived for a bit, or are at least partway through the class, you might not be able to recognize a bad instructor. So getting specific recommendations in your area if you can is a good idea. And make sure to get a class that gives you enough time to digest everything properly, rather than be rushed. Best to avoid any certified in a weekend things." Damselfish

Thank you, Thank you for this very good piece of information. We have all told people wanting to start diving to check out the Instructor. How does a new student know what to look for except a "chemistry thing". This is the first time I have ever seen it described so accurately. I probably had the worse OW classroom Instructor and didn't have a clue. I was lucky to have a better OW Instructor (a different one) when I did my check-out dives. Plus I did it in a weekend - I would never recommend one of those classes. I had some diving experience as I have been married to a diver for 30 yrs - he was certified since 1970.

Becky

 

[Bluefish]

I'd agree with those who say get your certification done at home, as long as the instructor's good and the conditions are not too miserable. That leaves to just enjoy your vacation instead of study. Some people do there open water somewhere other than where they did their pool and classroom work, but if you're comfortable with the instructor, just get it done.

 

[diver567]

Rent first, read, try out, then buy.

Don't spend too much time poring over books learning about the theory of diving. Go to your local dive shop rent gear from them and get in the water. That's where you're gonna learn best.

 

[bubblesdame]

Hi
Some of the best and cheapest diving in the world can be done in Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras. The cost of the Open Water Course and the Advanced Open Water Course is $159 each and this includes all materials and equipment. Deep Blue Divers has a great reputation and you will get 4 additional experience dives as a part of the package if you do both course with them. Accommodation is cheap $5-$6 per room per night with two beds so if you share then half the price. Wonderful warm carribean sea to dive in, great reefs and awesome creatures what more coould you ask for.