Discover Scuba safe?

[nolatom]

I agree with whoever said there's so much variability in instructors and how it's done, that it's hard to put a "safe" or "unsafe" stamp on it. Also, those who started with DSD and are still typing on a board like this, probably had a good experience with it. There may be others who didn't, but wouldn't still be participating in these forums.

That said, I started with one in Florida while on vacation (12 years ago), then returned home to get certified since I liked it so much. I just signed up for a pool session when two instructors came by the condo we were spending the week, and gave a sales talk. I was the only one who signed up, paid 15 bucks and got a booklet instruction (no video) about "always keep breathing", then a half-hour or so in a 12-foot pool.

they then asked if I'd like to dive with them that Saturday in the ocean off West Palm Beach, I said sure would. They knocked my $15 off whatever the price was, brought gear along for me, and even picked me up at my condo several towns north of the dive dock.

We were supposed to go out to one of the reefs off the Kennedy mansion, but the boat had oil pressure problems so we just anchored outside the WPB breakwater. There were some OW or AOW classes going on, but one instructor stayed with just me throughout. I don't think I'd been taught about mask clearing or reg retrieval, but fortunately I didn't have to do either. Mostly I was told to watch for and return the OK signal, and to hold up one finger (index finger, ha ha) when pressure gauge read 1000. Was not taught about the computer, but these were only about 25-foot dives (sand bottom at 25, then play by the breakwater rocks with the fish), no current. I lasted about 25 minutes on each, and enjoyed the heck out of it.

Was it safe? I dunno, but if I'd had any reg or mask issues, the instructor was right near me, so I guess my briefing was adequate for the dive we ended up doing. Now, would it have been adequate for the planned drift dive farther offshore in current? In that event, looking back on it, maybe not without further training or basic mask/reg/share/ascent drills.

Not sure about the 6 to 1 ratio discussed above, but does seem to be stretching it kinda thin. Anyway, that's what got me started and if a family member wanted to try it, I don't think I'd tell them not to.

 

[EFB]

While at Sandals Negril in February, we took what they called a Resort Certifcation course, but I now know it was a Discover Scuba course. We is me and my hubby (who have snorkeled but never scuba dived), our friend who had done a previous DSD the year before on a cruise and his wife, who had been previously certified, but had not been active in diving in a long time. There was about 20 minutes of course, a "swim test", and about an hour of pool time. I did not do so well. I stood up the first time I tried to breathe underwater, I lost a left contact flooding my mask and I was also barely recovering from a sinus infection so bad it took 2 rounds of antibiotics (which I had just finished 2 days before the course). I quit and the other three went out with our instructor. 40 feet down- 30 minute dive. While they were gone, I was kicking myself the entire time. I knew I could do this and its not in my nature to quit. When they got back, I approached our instructor (who was calm and just incredible). He said the only thing I needed to learn was how to be neutrally bouyant and buddy breathe. I met him the next day in the pool, learned the skills and the took the four of us out again. I was the last one off the boat...the first 5 feet was scary but once I got to the bottom, I forgot about the panic I felt with the breathing. I did however have to abandon the dive because my ear hurt so bad. I found out that once I left, he took the three of them through 2 "caves"...not long, really wide..but still, scary.

All this to say, we had a great and patient instructor and a good outcome. BUT a lot could have gone wrong. I "just dealt" with the pain in my ear until I could bear it no longer and now I know I should have never gone down if there was pain. I think it was too soon after my sinus infection and I could have hurt myself. I knew that going up too fast was dangerous, but I had no clue how dangerous until I started to investigate and read my PADI handbook. And I shutter to think about what could have happened with the cave situation.

Before we left, I looked into being certified and talked to the other three about it. They thought it was expensive and time consuming when we didn't know if we would even like it. I am grateful I had a good instructor in Jamaica, but if I didn't, between the ear and the panic when I started, there is no way I would ever try again.

 

[FlyerQ]

My first dive probably shouldn't have happened, but it was one of the best experiences in my life. It was 23 years ago, so recollections are a bit hazy...

Anyway, I was on a private sailboat anchored off the Virgin Gorda and a few people were going to do a shallow reef dive. I was not certified, but extremely comfortable in the water, enjoyed free diving, loved being under water, and was a strong swimmer. I petitioned the Captain (an instructor) to let me go and he said no, no, no, no, but finally relented. He gave me a DS type briefing (max depth, ascent rates, always breathing, etc). Next he took me into around 8 ft of dead calm sw for skills - mask clear, reg retrieval, etc. Found them all straightforward. We surfaced and he warned me he planned to pull the regulator out of my mouth at some point during the dive (he never did this) - I think the only reason was to see if I looked worried (which I was not). Anyway, did two dives, 40 ft max, with him nearby the whole time and loved them!

I moved to Florida a couple years later, immediately got certified, then AOW, Rescue, and DCS. Started helping on the boat around 50 dives and later was guiding, assistant instructing, etc.

I do actually have a few points - first, the initial dive experience is formative and will have an impact on ones interest in diving going forward. Second, DS type dives require supervision and low client to staff numbers are mandatory. Third, it is a "trust me dive" therefore carrying elevated risks so if anything regarding the dive, the operators, the conditions, or your abilities worries you then abort. Forth, if your comfortable in the water, have time to practice skills in confined water, are reassured by the quality of your dive professionals, and will receive sufficient supervision then it can provide an opportunity to experience scuba and evaluate your interest at a risk level I personally find acceptable.

 

[Tortuga68]

I moved to Florida a couple years later, immediately got certified, then AOW, Rescue, and DCS

Sorry to hear you got bent

 

[FlyerQ]

Sorry to hear you got bent

::shocked2: Nice one, for the uninitiated DCS is SSI's dive control specialist which sadly does share an acronym with decompression sickness, I guess many prefer divecon - I know I will

 

[Scubadam]

That is how I first started diving. The hotel I was staying at on vacation was offering a PADI Discovery Scuba course, so I signed up. When I took this course there was no class session, just an hour pool dive before taking me in the Carribean for an open water dive. I had a blast, and my instructor was very professional. The open water course requires many hours in the classroom, pool, and at least five open water dives. If you plan on taking the open water course while on vacation, I would contact the dive school or center you plan to dive with before you go.

 

[scubadiveilat]

Don't be afraid of the jargon. Discover Scuba Diving is very safe and fun. You'll reach to a depth that you'll be comfortable. DSD max. depth should be 6m-12m Depending on the place. It's a good start to see if you'll enjoy diving and get a feeling of what your missing.

I've conducted about 100 DSD's. NOT ONE PERSON DID NOT ENJOY IT!!! The majority have returned to have another session.

It's fun, safe and easy.

Have fun and enjoy....

 

[drbill]

As others have said, the specific instructor and dive conditions are important variables. A good instructor with LOTS of Discover SCUBA dives under his or her belt probably is very safe. Doing one in the Caribbean vs doing it in Monterey are two completely different environments with different levels of safety.

 

[CamG]

Greetings marineanimals and I think you have received enough good advice and factors to consider.
I have witnessed Resort's teaching coarses and the pool portion of the class was excellent and the ratio was 4-1!
It was a Padi lead and well done.
The OW dive was in my opinion not a wise choice but my wife attended and she was impressed on the safety and dive execution.

A Discover Scuba is done in a pool and around 20-30 min. max.
It is a light introduction to scuba gear and breathing underwater while in a safe CONFINED environment.
To many variables exist in OW that you can not control.
The instructor that I assist will not entertain the idea of any OW Discovers!
As I have stated this is my opinion and you will have to choose for yourself if it is safe or not.

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

 

[freewillie]

My wife and I did a intro to scuba while vacationing on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. We had a 20-30 min video on scuba, 30 min pool time, then a 'guided' dive with a dive master. The class was limited to two people and the dive site was a protected area of the reef where the others on the boat were snorkling.

I felt very safe and comfortable from the start. I used to swim in high school and have been snorkelling since I was a kid. My wife is not a comfortable swimmer under the best of circumstances and did not enjoy her dive. It wasn't the dive or conditions per se, she just did not like the gear and the water. She was never able to relax and enjoy the dive. While she won't scuba anymore she is glad she at least tried it. good luck