Hello from the desert

[billfrombyron]

Hello all I'm a new diver and now firmly addicted!

I just got my first kit today after the rented Aqualung balance screwed my back up pretty fierce, and the Scuba pro T-one just doesn't work well for me. I tried the nighthawk, and the balance for rear inflate and I do prefer back inflate to jacket.

I have just ordered my stuff from leisure pro and was stunned to find they deliver out in my corner of the world here in Dubai.

Please let me know if I made any bad choices here on my kit! I went with a Zeagle Stiletto LTD, Aeris AT 400 ION with swivel for my regulator, Mares MV octo, and a Sherwood 2 gauge console in metric. All in all it was just over 1100 bucks delivered to me here! Ill post up some pics once it arrives.

My other gear includes a cheap scuba pro SMB, twin max fins, sub gear full length Lycra suit, cressi look 2 mask.

I also picked up a nice Fuji EX80 with water proof case good to 40m and my much beloved Oceanic Geo 2.0 computer. Ive had the geo 2.0 out on 4 dives now and its fantastic, plus having the ability to download the log book is pretty cool.

Once all my gear arrives......Nitorx tank rental is only 13 bucks a tank per day!

I finally decided to join after ALL and I mean literally ALL of my research on these items your fine board kept popping up.

I got PADI open water, advanced open water, and EANX at the end of May 2011, and I will be finishing the PADI Full Face Mask course tomorrow for the 4th.

As for full face masks I'm sold, so please don't try to sway me. I have it down to 3 models, 1 the Ocean Reef Neptune Space, 2 OTS guardian, 3 the Poseidon ffm. Once I get a few more dives in, I have arranged a rental of all 3 to test out on a few of the local wrecks.

My next certification course will be the padi wreck diver next month.

I'm looking for dive buddies in the UAE if anyone is interested.

-Byron

 

[tcbc8222]

Byron,

I just signed up and had my first classes in Al Boom over the weekend. I should be OW certified soon and will procede to Advanced shortly thereafter. What shop are you diving out of?

Thanks,

George

 

[billfrombyron]

I used Atlantis dive shop as they are significantly cheaper than Al boom with the online course discount. I also liked the staff much better as they can coherently plan dives.

Take the AOW online course and then go to Atlantis Dive Center for your cert, for Nitrox, buy the books at Al Boom, then take the cert test at Atlantis Dive Center and you can get it much much cheaper then had you taken it online or at either dive center. Ask Sheena for the online discount prices

-Byron