Diving Qatar

[Gibb]

Folks
Any divers in Qatar are welcome to come allong to the local BSAC club on a Tuesday evening.We call it DSAC ( Doha sub Aqua Club) All are welcome, any cread, colour or disipline. No body is turned away. We currently have about 150 members and dive on shore mostly but there are allways trips being run to various sites offshore. We have our own club house and Bar as well as a very busy training schedule. All of which is BSAC.
When you arrive in Qatar ask at any of the dive shops where our club is and they will all be able to tell you. But if you still cannot find it then look for the Oasis hotel, Its near Ras abu fly over. We are on the 2nd turning on the right after the flyover and have port and starboard lights on our gate. Try any Tuesday night at about 1930-2000 hours.

A VERY friendly bunch - with a great club night as Terence mentions! Still got the hangover from last night!

 

[anton]

Hi Roxanne/Greg and Gibb (sorry been out a bit),
Just saw the posts as I arrived back in Doha from some awesome diving in Sri Lanka late yesterday evening.

Looks like I now have a line on a decent priced boat! I plan to do 2 wrecks this weekend, MO and some other wreck out near Halul Island. I will be diving a LOT again now that I have recovered near 100% from my accident so if you show up in Doha 1st week of December, just drop me an email ( anton @ kaska DOT net) and I can get in touch with you in case DSAC does not have something going on (which I doubt-they are VERY active !)

Gibb-If you are interested in this weekend, let me know offline. I just got back and got word we have a dive on for the weekend. Not sure if it is Friday or Saturday... likely a spearing outing as well, though-your call, you are welcome to join (MO I think). There may be free divers and snorkelers along also-not sure/still trying to get info. Chris is off with the club on a liveaboard in Musandem (Oman/UAE) until this weekend I think.

hi there...i will be traveling to Qatar/DOHA in the first week of DEC 04 - any suggestions, hook ups? Antwon - where can I find you/your dive group?

Roxanne and Greg

 

[Gibb]

Hi Roxanne/Greg and Gibb (sorry been out a bit),
Just saw the posts as I arrived back in Doha from some awesome diving in Sri Lanka late yesterday evening.

Looks like I now have a line on a decent priced boat! I plan to do 2 wrecks this weekend, MO and some other wreck out near Halul Island. I will be diving a LOT again now that I have recovered near 100% from my accident so if you show up in Doha 1st week of December, just drop me an email ( anton @ kaska DOT net) and I can get in touch with you in case DSAC does not have something going on (which I doubt-they are VERY active !)

Gibb-If you are interested in this weekend, let me know offline. I just got back and got word we have a dive on for the weekend. Not sure if it is Friday or Saturday... likely a spearing outing as well, though-your call, you are welcome to join (MO I think). There may be free divers and snorkelers along also-not sure/still trying to get info. Chris is off with the club on a liveaboard in Musandem (Oman/UAE) until this weekend I think.

You have mail!

 

[anton]

Gibb/Roxanne/Greg/any others here in Qatar,

I am organizing a trip out to the M.O. on Friday. The M.O. is a LARGE wreck dive offshore about 1.5 hours near the oil platforms. As for the diving, there is usually a bit of current and the viz is good. Lots of fish and growth as this sunk around the time of the Iran/Iraq war a few years back.

This dive is an Advanced Open water or equiv. rating dive due to current (somtimes strong) and depth range (starts at 1m and drops below 18m) unless you are freediving of course. (there will likely be a freediver along)


The boat has onboard coolers so I leave my big one at the dock usually and is 33 foot if my memory serves me right-It has plenty of space. I will bring the oxygen/first aid kit along.

If you are interested, let me know ASAP so I can save you a seat. Cost for the boat will be 200 QAR(about 54 USD) / person and covers the boat costs. Bring your own eats/drinks and equipment/cylinders. Let me know if you want me to organize the cylinders for you or you have any questions.

*There will be some spearfishing going on so if you do not mind, feel free to join us.

(email: anton @ kaska.net )

 

[Mark911]

I stay in Doha and would like to do some diving. Do you have a contact number for yourself or the club.
Thanks,
Mark A

 

[roxannep]

hi anton, i just got word last night, our trip to Doha for first week in DEC has been pushed to JAN - around the 18 - 24. Will you be available then. Also, would like your recommendation for a fairly reasonable place for accomodations in Doha. Sorry, can't afford the Ritz! ...need to save money for dive tanks! Also looking for reliable rental car for that time - Are there rentals near the airport..or only at the airport. Do you advise I book here from the states or wait til I get there.
Thank you for all your help - we look forward to visiting your beautiful Doha and of course the diving!

Roxanne and Greg
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Hi Roxanne/Greg and Gibb (sorry been out a bit),
Just saw the posts as I arrived back in Doha from some awesome diving in Sri Lanka late yesterday evening.

Looks like I now have a line on a decent priced boat! I plan to do 2 wrecks this weekend, MO and some other wreck out near Halul Island. I will be diving a LOT again now that I have recovered near 100% from my accident so if you show up in Doha 1st week of December, just drop me an email ( anton @ kaska DOT net) and I can get in touch with you in case DSAC does not have something going on (which I doubt-they are VERY active !)

Gibb-If you are interested in this weekend, let me know offline. I just got back and got word we have a dive on for the weekend. Not sure if it is Friday or Saturday... likely a spearing outing as well, though-your call, you are welcome to join (MO I think). There may be free divers and snorkelers along also-not sure/still trying to get info. Chris is off with the club on a liveaboard in Musandem (Oman/UAE) until this weekend I think.

 

[anton]

Hi Mark,
http://www.bsac.org/branches/row.htm for DSAC info-The meetings times/day is current (my neighbor attends)
PM/Email me for my number

I stay in Doha and would like to do some diving. Do you have a contact number for yourself or the club.
Thanks,
Mark A

 

[Mark911]

Hey, Mark here
There is a British Sub Aqua club in Doha (DSAC), the email address is dohasac@hotmail.com
Diving is not brilliant but if you like to get wet, give it a go.
Cheers

 

[roxannep]

Hi Gibb and Anton...

Whew, I finally have a locked in date of when Greg and I will be in Doha (we had thought we would be there in Dec). Within the time frame of 25 through the 27 of Jan, what are your recommendations for diving. If there is a PADI or other certified Dive organization/school that can offer any certification above our PADI level Advance Open Water, we will welcome this opportunity for additional certification.

We will be arriving the late evening of the 24 and fly out the evening of the 28.
Thank you for all your suggestions! I would like to be able to contact you upon arrival - and am not sure on the availability of internet access.

Roxanne and Greg

Hi Anton! How did the big trip go?

Hi roxannep!

Been here in Qatar for the last 14 months - and joined the local BSAC branch a few weeks ago. Since then, I have done at least two dives a week, sometimes a lot more.

We do a night dive on what is called the Old Club Reef every Thursday evening, and there is always a boat dive at the weekend as well as a shore dive.

Anton is right (he helped me out a lot when I first came on here) the viz is not always great, but there are some nice wrecks.

I personally went on a great weekend trip a few weeks ago. Went camping on a desert island on the Thursday night, and did three dives including a great dive onto a wrecked dhow at 20 metres.

There is also the M.O. - not dived it yet but it is a great wreck, about 20m high from top to bottom and home to a colony of barracuda.

There is also terry's Tug at about 32 metres and lots of other good wrecks out in the Gulf.

Current can sometimes be a problem, and can make some dives quite demanding.

If you are a well qualified diver, you can join my club on some trips if there are spaces. We allow this quite often.

If you want, leave a message on here, I'll give you my email and my number here in Qatar.

I'm sure between us, Anton and myself can hook you up with some good dives.

 

[anton]

Roxanne/Greg,
Good to hear you will make it. Check your PM for my phone and contact details. Internet cafes abound and some hotels have net access as well.

I am not sure if you will have enough time for something above PADI AOW but perhaps specialties... There are 2 local dive shops with PADI instructors so that would be possible (bit shot time though)

I would recommend diving 25/26th (early the 26th due to flight the next day) Our weekend schedule is Fri/Sat so the "Friday" here is Thursday... You will be here in the mid to end of week. I can join you for 1 daylight dive in the afternoons or even a night dive if you want. I work until 3 though and get get to the shore sites by about 3:30 if I push it. I can also put you in touch with 2 people here-1 would cost a bit with a divemaster/local shop etc., the other an AOW diver with a shop... not so formal but cheaper if you are on a budget. It depends also on your skill. They both can also arrange boat trips to wrecks offshore weather permitting (my trip this weekend will likely be cancelled due to high winds). Let me know if you want me to try and set anything up and I will do my best.

Hi Gibb and Anton...

Whew, I finally have a locked in date of when Greg and I will be in Doha (we had thought we would be there in Dec). Within the time frame of 25 through the 27 of Jan, what are your recommendations for diving. If there is a PADI or other certified Dive organization/school that can offer any certification above our PADI level Advance Open Water, we will welcome this opportunity for additional certification.

We will be arriving the late evening of the 24 and fly out the evening of the 28.
Thank you for all your suggestions! I would like to be able to contact you upon arrival - and am not sure on the availability of internet access.

Roxanne and Greg