Hi from the UK

[UKPhil]

Hello everyone from Harlow in the South East UK. Just qualified as a PADI AOW and Rescue Diver after a five year gap from the Open Water course and have caught the diving bug! With 30 dives and Rescue Cert. I feel I'm just starting out, I would say to anyone in the early stages and lacking confidence (as I was) that it will fall into place and is well worth the effort. As other's have said, finding a good instructor you feel at ease with and taking your time is the key regardless of agency; I did my OW in 5 days and didn't feel confident, but my AOW / Rescue was spread over the last six months, with a couple of dive trips in between. I felt I got a lot more out of doing it this way, and made more friends along the way!

happy diving to all!

 

[terrydarc]

Hi, Phil!
Welcome! How did you find getting back into the cert process after 5 years? Some relearning, I'd guess. Where did you get your BOW in 5 days? I'm planning on that in a couple weeks being the newbiest of newbies.
Terry

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hello Phil, greeting from Sunny San Diego, CA. Welcome to the ScubaSource family! Glad to have you aboard!

 

[scubakat]

Hi Phil, welcome from the Nortwest part of North America! Glad to have you with us!

-kate

 

[ScubaBaby]

HELLO PHIL!

Welcome to ScubaBoard.
I am sooo pleased to have someone on the board from :
1) the South-East UK
2) someone so close.

I'm from Colchester, Essex. Not far from you at all. When I move in a few weeks, I'll be even close - in the Thurrock area. But dont worry, I don't plan on stalking you...yet anyway!!!! x

Anyway, ScubaBoard is a great place to pick up extra information!

 

[DennisW]

Welcome to the board from Melbourne, Florida.

 

[simonk999]

Was born in Epping many many moons ago, and lived in Harlow until I was 9, when my family moved to the States. Now living in SF, California. Welcome!

 

[keralucu]

from a half English diver in Thailand! And congrats on getting back into diving after so long. It must feel great.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures in the water.

Cheers

 

[UKPhil]

thanks everyone for the good wishes, next big trip is to Sharm at Xmas, with my wife Geraldine who is also a diver, but in the meantime will do some 'fun' diving at Capernwray quarry in the NW UK Check out this Link

terrydarc, I did the OW in 5 days in Birmingham at a place that doesn't exist anymore, but I think quite a few of the UK PADI centres do it. I think my choice now would be a week in Egypt (Explorers Tours do the course all in including accommadation + flights for around £400!).

ScubaBaby, if you're moving to Thurrock, you'll have the joys of diving at Lakeside to look forward to... ;-)

regards and good diving,

Phil

 

[ScubaBaby]

Fraid I've been there and done that - and still smell from the pleasurable experience!!!???

After my experience of having a whole heap of zero vis...i dont think i will be swimming round that lake again anytime soon lol xxxx

Nice to have another Brit on board!