Inexperienced Diver needs buddy first week in Sept PG area

[Giggi]

My best friend (a non diver) just moved to Pacific Grove and I will be visiting her during the first week of September and was wondering if there is anyone who might be willing to take me (a newbie with 18 logged warm water ocean dives) under their wing as a dive buddy and show me one or two cool beginner dive spots around Monterey Bay, just for a day, or maybe two? I'm not looking for a babysitter -- just a buddy who is willing to trust me and who will be trustworthy in return. I have never done any shore dives, but am comfortable with boat diving, choppy water, and drift diving.

I'm a good listener and fast learner, comfortable in the water, but also level headed and conscious of safety issues and I do my best to be a good dive buddy. I also take constructive criticism very well. I will be diving this summer (maybe quarry and Great Lakes) to try and keep up and improve my skills, but I do have to warn you that I am a kindergartner in the world of scuba. I am fairly competent with buoyancy control, but require a few minutes to get comfortable with it. I also haul my own gear. If you're interested or would like more information, please feel free to PM me or contact me here. I might even buy you lunch!

Also looking for a reputable dive shop in the area with reliable rentals while I'm there as I do not yet own my own gear. I usually rent gear from a LDS and haul it carry-on when we go to Coz, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of hauling a lot of scuba gear through the airport when I'm only going to do a few dives.

 

[Jim Ernst]

My best friend (a non diver) just moved to Pacific Grove and I will be visiting her during the first week of September and was wondering if there is anyone who might be willing to take me (a newbie with 18 logged warm water ocean dives) under their wing as a dive buddy and show me one or two cool beginner dive spots around Monterey Bay, just for a day, or maybe two? I'm not looking for a babysitter -- just a buddy who is willing to trust me and who will be trustworthy in return. I have never done any shore dives, but am comfortable with boat diving, choppy water, and drift diving.

I'm a good listener and fast learner, comfortable in the water, but also level headed and conscious of safety issues and I do my best to be a good dive buddy. I also take constructive criticism very well. I will be diving this summer (maybe quarry and Great Lakes) to try and keep up and improve my skills, but I do have to warn you that I am a kindergartner in the world of scuba. I am fairly competent with buoyancy control, but require a few minutes to get comfortable with it. I also haul my own gear. If you're interested or would like more information, please feel free to PM me or contact me here. I might even buy you lunch!

Also looking for a reputable dive shop in the area with reliable rentals while I'm there as I do not yet own my own gear. I usually rent gear from a LDS and haul it carry-on when we go to Coz, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of hauling a lot of scuba gear through the airport when I'm only going to do a few dives.

i am always willing to do a dive or two and i dive all of that area on a reg bases, let me know and you may also look at my profile to find more about me or e-mail at jimernst@sbcglobal.net and no i dont mind someone with lesser experience as i was there once too and there are lots of divers with more then i have and that makes me a rookie to them lol, there are several dive shops there, monterey bay dive shop, glens aquarious dive shop at break water cove!!!

 

[rgsteven]

There are a few dive shops in Monterey. The one i usually use is located at the end of cannery row at the Coatguard jetty and boat launch. They pretty much have everything you need. I will be in Hawaii the first first three weeks in Aug. Although the water is way too warm for my liking, I'll force myself to dive. Anyway upon returning I could possibly dive the first weekend of Sept. Have a 14ft inflatable that will do.

 

[rgsteven]

There are a few dive shops in Monterey. The one i usually use is located at the end of cannery row at the Coatguard jetty and boat launch. They pretty much have everything you need. I will be in Hawaii the first first three weeks in Aug. Although the water is way too warm for my liking, I'll force myself to dive. Anyway upon returning I could possibly dive the first weekend of Sept. Have a 14ft inflatable that will do.

 

[mossym]

I have never done any shore dives,

does that mean you only want to boat dive?

 

[Giggi]

Hey gang! Thanks for the pms and offers to buddy. It looks like we have a few people interested and might even make a group outing out of it. I've never been to California before and if I thought I was excited when I booked the trip, I'm twice as excited now. I guess all the rumors and stereotypes we midwesterners hear about Californians being snooty and unhelpful are just not true.

It appears we will be doing some diving on Sept 1 or 2. Anyone else who might be interested, please feel free to chime in here. I'm up for beginner-level diving and plan on bringing my camera and underwater lights (yes, the only gear I actually do own at this point) and since hubby is not coming, I am swiping his mask for the week.

And as far as type of dives, I'm up for shore or boat.

 

[dlndavid]

I will mark my calender. And it's them Southern Californians that are the snooty ones.

 

[MontereyCADiver]

Be sure to throw more posts out there as your arrival date gets closer. There are plenty of locals and non-locals alike that are familiar with the area and will gladly show you some areas of interest.

Lover's Cove in Pacific Grove is worth considering. It's usually an easy entry/exit shore/boat location. (I'm sure you'll do some research into Monterey dive locations before you arrive.)

Keep in touch.

Ciao, Jeff

 

[divenut2001]

Hey gang! Thanks for the pms and offers to buddy. It looks like we have a few people interested and might even make a group outing out of it. I've never been to California before and if I thought I was excited when I booked the trip, I'm twice as excited now. I guess all the rumors and stereotypes we midwesterners hear about Californians being snooty and unhelpful are just not true.

It appears we will be doing some diving on Sept 1 or 2. Anyone else who might be interested, please feel free to chime in here. I'm up for beginner-level diving and plan on bringing my camera and underwater lights (yes, the only gear I actually do own at this point) and since hubby is not coming, I am swiping his mask for the week.

And as far as type of dives, I'm up for shore or boat.

One word of caution. Midwesterners that come to visit usually don't want to leave...

 

[divenut2001]

I forgot to mention that you might want to make motel reservations now if you're planning to spend the night in Monterey since that's a holiday weekend and rooms tend to go fast and skyrocket in price the closer it gets. Have fun...