Question Getting back into UK (cold water diving)

[joemcd]

Due to a change in job I gave up diving in 2014 but returned back to diving in 2020, got a rebreather and did my MOD1. I've been diving in warmer waters since then, using a drysuit though. I'm based in London and would love to get back into UK diving.

I'm wondering what's the best way to get back into it. I have dry gloves for my suit but I've never used them. Find a buddy online and do something in Wraysbury? Should I dive right in with my CCR or do a dive or 2 on OC? Any ideas/suggestions would be great.

 

[MarkA]

Suppose for the UK, the default answer would be join a BSAC club that suits you. Even if you don’t want to join, go and have a chat with some local to you at their weekly meetings, and get some ideas.

Disclaimer. I am BSAC trained so might be biased

 

[joemcd]

Suppose for the UK, the default answer would be join a BSAC club that suits you. Even if you don’t want to join, go and have a chat with some local to you at their weekly meetings, and get some ideas.

Disclaimer. I am BSAC trained so might be biased

Thanks Mark. I might just give that a go. In the past I found BSAC members to be a bit standoff-ish (nowhere near as bad a GUE folks) but it's probably time to re-asses my assumptions.

 

[Marcozx]

What unit? I am on a AP, regularly dive with a bunch of lads at vobster if that's close enough for you

Im guessing step 1 would be to go through the unit, cells, pos, neg etc etc and make sure your super happy diving the thing.

 

[Edward3c]

Thanks Mark. I might just give that a go. In the past I found BSAC members to be a bit standoff-ish (nowhere near as bad a GUE folks) but it's probably time to re-asses my assumptions.

Not all clubs are the same. Some are very technical oriented others single cylinder. Just go and talk to them to see what sort of diving they do. The BSAC Find a Club Tool.

 

[Marcozx]

The bsac find a club tool, if you click advanced, can select a club with CCR divers

 

[boqurant]

Had some of the worst dives of my (admittedly short) diving career in Wraysbury Freezing cold, no viz, no animals... it almost put me off the whole thing!

 

[happy-diver]

I am always terrified when winter comes around thick heavy extra stuff then I plan
then jump in and it is exactly the same as last time, no matter where last time was

Congratulations on the rebreather thing

 

[Luiz Laba]

Due to a change in job I gave up diving in 2014 but returned back to diving in 2020, got a rebreather and did my MOD1. I've been diving in warmer waters since then, using a drysuit though. I'm based in London and would love to get back into UK diving.

I'm wondering what's the best way to get back into it. I have dry gloves for my suit but I've never used them. Find a buddy online and do something in Wraysbury? Should I dive right in with my CCR or do a dive or 2 on OC? Any ideas/suggestions would be great.

Depending HOW COLD, I have several dives in the NE until end of November, yes it is cold, but never needed to spend TONS of money on dry suits, unnecessary, unless really needed and when budget is not a problem. I usually use a 7mm wetsuit, boots and gloves and all good.

 

[joemcd]

What unit? I am on a AP, regularly dive with a bunch of lads at vobster if that's close enough for you

Im guessing step 1 would be to go through the unit, cells, pos, neg etc etc and make sure your super happy diving the thing.

I'm on an XCCR. Yeah the main thing I've always done is that. Learned my lesson of diving it when not feeling 100% sure