Considering diving

[finstoleft]

I live in Raleigh, NC and beginning to take some interest in the sport of diving. However, being new to this I do not know of who would be the best place to learn. Does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[H2Andy]

finstoleft, i've moved your thread to this forum to get you the local's input

welcome aboard, and good luck with your dive training!


my advice: get the best instructor in town. you won't regret it

 

[fireflock]

There a number of places to get certified in Raleigh, but IMO Gypsy Divers is the best. They have (among other things) a pool onsite which makes things soooo much easier and enjoyable.

www.gypsydivers.com

Many shops (including Gypsy) offer a try scuba experience that will get you in the pool and breathing from scuba gear. It's a good way to give it a try and decide if you want to sign up for an open water class.

Rich

 

[Kriterian]

I live in Raleigh, NC and beginning to take some interest in the sport of diving. However, being new to this I do not know of who would be the best place to learn. Does anyone have any advice for me?

I've been certfied twice and went with Gypsy Divers both times. In order not to be biased, I'll list all the other Raleigh/Durham/Cary shops.

• Gypsy Divers
  3651 Bastion Lane
  Raleigh, NC 27604
  (919) 255-1931
  
  They're located at the back of Tower shopping center off US 64 near the beltline. They have their own indoor, heated pool on site and are an SSI based shop. They do their check out dives at the quarry called Fantasy Lake in Rolesville, NC.
  
• Down Under Surf and Scuba
  2857 Jones Franklin Rd
  Cary, NC 27606
  (919) 852-5333
  
  I've been in there shop a few times, and purchased my regulator there. They are a PADI based shop, and often are the hosts for DIR diving sessions in the area.
  
• Water World
  135 S Miami Blvd
  Durham, NC 27703
  
  I don't know much about the shop. I've been in a few times and it's fairly big, but other than that I can't offer much. They are also a PADI based shop.
  
• Reef and Ridge
  They used to have a shop in Cary, but I didn't see the last time I was there. It's hard to tell from their website where they are based now, so check their website for more info. They are also PADI based.
  
• Capital Scuba
  3601-A Quarry Road
  Wake Forest, NC 27587
  
  This is the dive shop that's located at Fantasy Lake in Rolesville. I've seen instructors and students at the quarry, and they seem like a good bunch.

I'm sure there are a bunch that I've missed, so hopefully others will chime in with more information. Welcome to diving and don't be afraid to check it out. Alot of places offer "Discover Diving" courses where they let you try it out in the pool for free. Gypsy's discover classes are going on constantly, just give them a call.

 

[finstoleft]

Thanks everyone for the updates. I am pretty amazed that you guys are so pasionate about your sport. I guess the stories are true about divers.

 

[Jason B]

I'll throw another vote out there for Gypsy Divers.
Hurry up and get certified and come diving with us.
Oh, welcome!

Jason

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.

The staff at Gypsy and Down Under are both great. I know most of them well and either would be fine to get certified by. The owners of both shops are super nice guys and are dedicated to their customers. I would base my decision on which shop "felt" best to me and which one was closest. I hold certs from both shops and frequent both....tooo much according to my credit card. I would also like to invite you to come to either or both of the shops clubs meeting. Both shops have good active clubs, in case you have not guessed I am a member of both. You don't have to join to come to the meetings, visitors are always welcome. We also have a digital UW photographers group in the area that you are welcome to come visit and join.

Again, welcome to the board and the Raleigh diving community.

 

[DuckDiver]

FINS, I'm starting the Open Water class at Down Under on July 25th, Mondays and Wed. for three weeks and then a weekend of checkout dives. I know there are spots left in that class. They do not have their own pool, but they are about $150 less than Gypsy.