Hello, I'm a new diver.

[Yoopidou]

I had never dived before last saturday. During the two days of the week-end, I got my OWC. I live on Oahu, Hawaii. I don't feel very confident diving with my son, who just got certified too. What should I do now? Just go and dive from shore with him? Take a charter dive? The dive shop recommend doing the AOWC but shouldn't I get more practice first? And where to find buddies and the great diving community?
Thanks

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Try going to your LDS where you got your OW cert and ask the same question. They might have divemaster-led dives at the shop, and you should drop in on those. If they don't, ask them if they know where people usually find buddies where you live. Or just wait at the LDS and trade numbers with people, being up front about your experience.

Some people recommend AOW right away, but I agree that a few more dives of practice improving your buoyancy and other skills (with experienced divers) would help first.

Ask the same question in the Hawaii section of the site (Hawai'i 'Ohana). Maybe you can find a buddy there.

 

[mala]

do the aow.

its 5 extra dives anyway and you get plenty of non training moments to enjoy the dives and have an instructor with you .

 

[Dive the World]

I had never dived before last saturday. During the two days of the week-end, I got my OWC. I live on Oahu, Hawaii. I don't feel very confident diving with my son, who just got certified too. What should I do now? Just go and dive from shore with him? Take a charter dive? The dive shop recommend doing the AOWC but shouldn't I get more practice first? And where to find buddies and the great diving community?
Thanks

Welcome.

Yes more dives is the way to go. Try and see if there is a dive club around.

if not - do a few dives with your LDS and then try a few shallow dives from the shore - close to the shore around a lot of folks - nice and easy - don't feel pressured into doing to much too soon.

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

Look for a dive shop that put guides in the water till you feel comfortable, or hire a guide. I took my AOW, nitrox, right after OW, and deep within a month. It wasn't that big a deal to me, because I understood this in no way made up for experience that you only gain by diving. Certifications don't make you a better diver, diving does. Yes there is some great shore diving on Oahu, but having done my OW and AOW sometimes getting in and out of the water can be a challenge in itself with the waves.

 

[Yoopidou]

It sure shows me how to start diving.

So the plan is :

1.Choose a dive club. I found dive clubs associated with shops. It seems to be just what I want.

2. Shore dive in shallow waters that I already know from above from snorkeling and where there are many other divers. Practice the skills some more because I don't think achieving them once on the first or second try is enough to respond adequately in deeper water. I will work on my buoyancy too.

3. Maybe hire a guide for the first time diving in unknown spots, or find a more experienced diver to go with me and my buddy, or even better, be my buddy.

4. Go on charter dives but first, make sure they put a guide in the water.

Tell me if I forgot about something,thanks.

5. Once I feel more confident in my abilities,start my AOW with a LDS that I really trust.

 

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board and to the underwater world!!!

Great advise above and sounds like you have great plan to go further in your training while having fun under the water.
While you're at it, please feel free to drop on down to your local forum and join in the fun here:
Hawai'i 'Ohana
You should be able to find some awsome new dive buddies here to...dive on in and enjoy.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Sounds like a great plan... welcome to the wonders of the wet side!

 

[Yoopidou]

Thank you all for the encouragements and the great tips.

I will look at the Ohana forum.

I am very eager to go diving now!