i need a refresher...do i NAUI again or Padi...whats the difference?

[Skooter]

Just a thought but find a good instructor and explain your situation, then ask to do a refresher/advanced open water course. That way you will get at least 6 open water dives with the instructor and you should be ready to go when you are finished.

 

[klovesdiving]

At first i thought once i put everything on i'd be good to go. But for the safety of others and me i want to take a course...I didnt really want to take the whole thing again but i looked at my old dive book and chart....kinda forgot what everything ment. once I see and hear what they are i'll be fine. So the course is the better way to go... Alot of shops that were around when I took the course are now gone so I have to find a place I like and trust.

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

Okay, try what Skooter said, the refresher will just be going over basic skills, and you can get to do your diving while getting another cert. Then get out an dive more, don't wait another 6 years

 

[Zen Diving Inc.]

null

Jim, im not saying your questions are over the top.... Our opinion on whats relevant widely differ... Thats a dive shop interview... Not necessary for a refresher. Id rather have a brand new instructor gun hoe about to the "T" then some 20yr i know everything just do this for a refresher course... Its not rocket science. Oh and brand new has little relevance as one may have many years under the belt and training that supercedes the average vet on any given sunday... Im with you on the over protective part... I get it.

 

[spectrum]

I orginally learned in a private class. I cant find the instructor who taught me so now I have to find a class, i know there is so much i have forgotten. As for the equipment i think i'll buy new so there is no suprises

I have fun with everything and where ever I go!!!

I think you need to be really honest about what "at least 6 years" means and do so in the context that this all of the diving you did. If you said you had gone on to make 50 dives that year you would have a body of experience. In your case you have the blur of a certification event which is hardly diving.

A good instructor will tailor the refresher course to the individual's needs. After a review of critical academic topics like don't hold your breath you may get into the water to establish a baseline. What is unknown is how well you were taught and how much you retained. Many divers are ready for a refresher the day they get certified for OW so the go take AOW!

If your goal is to really get a solid restart as a diver carefully select an instructor to help you get there. Jim has a good list of questions. i will concede that most people that need to ask these questions won't know some good answers from bad ones unless they have been reading here or in the right publications. in those cases look for something logical that seriously addresses the topic.

Pete

 

[neilcp]

I won't comment on which refresher you should go for, but here is my take on the equipment:

I would personally scout around for a used BCD. Ask friends and other divers for people who might have upgraded and are selling off stuff. Try forums or online sites. Try to avoid buying from a dive centre (as that would be akin to buying a used car from a Taxi company).
Regarding the regs, I would buy NEW. Ofcourse they will cost more than the used ones, but these are your life lines and you don't really know how the previous owner has treated them. Don't risk your life, to save a few bucks (ok, more than just a few bucks).

 

[cocoajoe]

I haven't read thru all the responses but most likely you'll find it's the intructor that makes the diff. I do want to give you some advice from back when I was struggling with buoyancy: Spend $50 on a DM on your first real dive. Taking a refresher is what you need to do first but that's probably going to be in a pool.

I also want to add that I didn't have and still don't have a regular dive buddy. So, being a new diver confidence in myself suffered. I hired a DM two seperate times and as a result I developed a sense of 'hey I can do this' attitude. Now, I regularly solo dive the bridge and on drift dives (if no buddy) I hang with the leader.....not as much fun but I don't worry about it anymore. Good luck

 

[farsidefan1]

I want to congratulate you for recognizing you need a "refresher course" .Lots of divers would just strap it up and hope for the best. I would not buy a BC unless I could try it out first. If used take it for a dive - if new make sure the shop lets you try it. As for the reg, they are pretty bulletproof. A good quality used one should be fine.

 

[DukeAMO]

I agree, for a a BCD it's less important that it's new, and more important that it fits well. BCDs tend to run large, so don't use your clothing size as a guide. When snugged down, you should have at least an inch or two left in the straps in either direction (to loosen or tighten). Underwater, you will have to snug it down again, but then it should stay snug, not shift around, and not float up around your shoulders. (Feel the shoulder straps and make sure there's not a gap under them.) And it should be comfortable enough that you forget it's there. It should look pretty new, with no rust or musty smell, the inflator/deflator should work well, and you should make sure all of the velcro, clips, etc are in good condition. A test dive is the best way to try it out. You can also get a used BCD serviced, and it doesn't cost much (check with your dive shops).

For a regulator, I bought mine new and would probably do it again. But if you can get a used one from an active diver who says it works great and they're just upgrading, then why not? Again, a test dive would be helpful, so you can make sure the regulator and 2nd stages don't flood, breathe hard, or make funny noises. Also allow $50-100 to get it serviced at a dive shop right away, and call ahead to make sure you can find a local dive shop that will service it before you buy it.

Unfortunately a lot of scuba gear out there is from people who bought up the contents of a storage unit someone stopped paying for. I'd steer clear of that -- no telling what condition it's in.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Jim, im not saying your questions are over the top.... Our opinion on whats relevant widely differ... Thats a dive shop interview... Not necessary for a refresher. Id rather have a brand new instructor gun hoe about to the "T" then some 20yr i know everything just do this for a refresher course... Its not rocket science. Oh and brand new has little relevance as one may have many years under the belt and training that supercedes the average vet on any given sunday... Im with you on the over protective part... I get it.

Actually the dive shop interview is another set of 18 questions. These are the ones I'd ask of any instructor for any course if I did not know them. Might change a few things around if it was an advanced or tech course but the idea is the same. A diver is hiring an employee when they pay an instructor for training. They are chooising someone to teach them something in an environment that is normally hostile to human life. Why put less effort into that than they would selecting a new TV? If it were someone to train my kids I might even do a Megan's Law search on them. I'd expect it. So it's why I got clearance from the state the same as a teacher for working with kids. Then went through the background check that the Girl Scout's have to work with them. That was a thorough one. They called my references, my employer, did the FBI check as well as the state check, etc. They don't play around.

BTW here's the dive shop interview questions. And like the instructor ones if you want to see the answers I look for and why, ya gotta get the book.

1. “How long have you been in business?”

2. “What brands do you regularly carry and do you service them in-house?”

3. “If I have a brand that you don’t carry, can you service it or tell me where to get it serviced?”

4. “If I want an item that you don’t have in stock or a brand that you don’t carry, can you get it or will you refer me to somewhere that I can get it?”

5. “What agency or agencies do you offer certification through?”

6. “Can I choose my instructor?”

7. “Where do you hold classes?”

8. “Who sets the class schedule?”

9. “How big are the classes?”

10. “Are your instructors allowed to give more time to individual students if they need it?”

11. “What items are included in the costs of the class?”

12. “What type of rental equipment do you have and will it be what I use for my checkout dives?”

13. “Do you offer local diving opportunities?”

14. “What types of trips do you offer?”

15. “Do you support or recommend any dive clubs?”

16. “Do you offer discounts on equipment and trips to students and regular customers?”

17. “May I have the names of divers you have trained, as references?”

18. “What sets you apart from other shops that would make me want to train with you?”