Dying to get started!

[cornfed]

flamingrill,

There are many shops in the area so you should be able to find a wind variety of gear to try. Right off the top of my head I can think of places that you can try jacket BCs, back inflate or even a BP/Wing all of which are convenient and more or less on the way to Millbrook.

 

[flamingrill]

Thank you all for the good advice so far!

Moxie: What shop did your certification?

Actually starfleet scuba in bocas del toro, panama. So I did loose out on the opportunity to meet people around here by just taking the course in the area. I do like the idea of probably running over to a dive shop to see if they do have a club or a buddy board, and while there check out prices for stuff. I already purchased the snorkeling gear, so a suit would probably be my next big purchase (I don't even want to think of the pre-peed-in factor). For right now I think renting is my best bet. Mostly what I need is the motivation to keep going, hence finding some good buddies.

Right now I'm taking it slow. I have an offer to go to Millbrook so I'm thinking of heading there first because it is the closest spot.

 

[UP4AIR]

Welcome to the best sport on the entire planet! The places that you will go and the creatures that you will see will be endless.
As for diving...one shop that you may want to contact is "The Dive Shop" in fairfax Va. www.thediveshop-va.com they run a fun dive at Millbrook every Sunday and can get you with another diver if you dont't have a buddy.

 

[NINman]

My god I missed a greet!!! Welcome to SB...

 

[hex92]

Buy a decent suit. Nothing will put you off scuba faster than being cold in some ill fitting rental. See if you can work a deal with a local shop to apply some or all of your rental fees toward future gear purchases. That way all the money you spend renting is lost forever.

Dive Millbrook and Rawlings a few times. Get your confidence up and concentrate on developing your skils in a nice protected environment. That way when you jump into the big blue you can just enjoy the dive and all the wonderful shades of brown and grey that the Atlantic has to offer.

 

[flamingrill]

I got my chance to try out the Millbrook "mud-hole" and after having it being described that way, I pictured the worst. It wasn't bad at all, the visibility wasn't too good, and it was cold, but it's better than nothing. It did help me to decided that at least for now I will rent when I want to go somewhere. Now I just have to head south!

 

[cornfed]

It wasn't bad at all, the visibility wasn't too good, and it was cold, but it's better than nothing.

I was there on saturday and the visibility was the worst I've ever seen there.

 

[flamingrill]

I was there on saturday and the visibility was the worst I've ever seen there.

When i saw all those people there I was surprised they were not bumping into each other. I just barely avoided landing on someone because they had white tanks. I was told to try again in late july or august when the bloom starts to die off.

 

[cornfed]

When i saw all those people there I was surprised they were not bumping into each other. I just barely avoided landing on someone because they had white tanks. I was told to try again in late july or august when the bloom starts to die off.

If you drop over the wall and get down around 40-50' the visibility generally clears up. I suspect the run off from all the rain we had recently was the major factor but I could be wrong.

 

[nauidiver2004]

I"m new also and started buying gear. Mask, snorkle, fins, booties for class. Gloves and a gear bag for the check out dives. As a gift to myself for earning certification, I bought a regulator. The choice was easy since for the pool and check out dives I used a variety of different regs and finally decided on the one I bought (Aqualung). The shop I went thru was really great, I would try equipment during class and they would make suggestions based of what I wanted and thier expierence as to what I needed. I'm taking the advanced class now and looking at/ trying out BC's. Again the shop has been great. Your shop may even discount the rental fees or your purchase price a bit when you do decide to buy.