Dying to get started!

[flamingrill]

Hello everyone! I just got my OW certification and I am dying to get started. I'm looking forward to getting opportunities to dive in the area. I haven't invested in any gear yet because hope to get my feet really wet first just to make sure this is really for me. So any pointers appreciated!

 

[CelticRavenVA]

Hello and welcome... can chat later but for now, hope to see you diving soon....

*gets back to work*

 

[charmygirl]

Hello, and welcome to diving. Where do you want to dive?

K

 

[flamingrill]

Hello, and welcome to diving. Where do you want to dive?

K

Right now, anywhere. I want to get some experience in before buying my own gear, so I feel I'm pretty limited. I will rent if I have to. I've been reading about great trips but they required advanced OW and I'm not there yet. I need to find kind souls who are willing to drag a newbie along. So far it seems I have found one though!!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

As far as waiting to get your own gear goes I can see your point but you find yourself in sort of a catch-22. You don't want to spend the money unless your positive you like it but if you don't own your own gear you'll probably never really become a diver.

It's like owning your own skis or bicycle. If you have the gear you'll use it, if you have to rent you'll go very often, or not at all.

As far as finding buddies your local dive shop should have a buddy board. Our students find plenty of people willing to go diving with them when they write their names on the buddy board, plus attending local dive club meetings will get you off the ground too.

You should have a basic idea about your desire to dive from your open water checkouts. If you enjoyed them you'll love diving because open water checkouts mostly suck.

 

[Don Burke]

Right now, anywhere. I want to get some experience in before buying my own gear, so I feel I'm pretty limited. I will rent if I have to. I've been reading about great trips but they required advanced OW and I'm not there yet. I need to find kind souls who are willing to drag a newbie along. So far it seems I have found one though!!

Up your way, there is Mt Storm and Millbrook.

Down here in the Norfolk area, we can get you in the ocean or Chesapeake Bay well within OW limits.

 

[moxie]

What shop did your certification?

 

[cornfed]

Right now, anywhere. I want to get some experience in before buying my own gear, so I feel I'm pretty limited. I will rent if I have to.

In my opinion it is best to rent for a while for two reasons. First you can see if you really like diving and second you can try different types of gear to figure out what works best for you. The down side it is makes diving more expensive in the short term but look at it as an investment in the future.

 

[MSilvia]

I was in the same boat when I got certified, and I'd recommend renting for a while with an eye toward trying out different things and finding what you like.

When I started, the shop required that we buy our own hood, boots, and gloves, so I rented everything else. As I started diving, I realized that in New England water you need good exposure protection or diving won't be any fun. I found most rental wetsuits ill-fitting, and pre-peed-in, so I made the investment, was very happy with it, and had one thing less to rent the next time.

Then I bought mask, fins, and snorkle, so I could both be sure of a good fit, and be able to at least snorkle when I wanted to. All the while, I continued to use rental equipment, and tried to get at least one thing I needed every time I went.

A weight belt was an easy one, as was a knife. After a dozen dives, I bought my own regulator, and it wasn't long after that that I'd tucked away enough money for a BC. That was a big one... once I had something I liked, I could start making adjustments to trim, and found my diving improved dramatically as I got used to diving in the same gear every time.

Of course, as I became a more and more avid diver, I've upgraded or changed equipment a few times, so I'd advise you to consider how far your diving might take you, and see if you can get gear that'll be as appropriate then as it seems now.

 

[RICHinNC]

Renting is a good idea....but if they give you JUNK gear...have the courage to say NO.

Welcome to the board.!!