I'm really happy I found scubaboard.com! I'm going to to Australia in about a month and am looking forward to going to the Great Barrier Reef. I really want to try an introductory scuba dive, but I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing. Can anyone recommend a local dive school in northern New Jersey where I can get some pool experience so I can ease some of my fears and have a more enjoyable time when I get out to Oz land?
looking for local dive school
- Thread starter Mags
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You can't just go take some intro scuba dives. You need to become a certified diver, which requires significant class time, pool time, and several open water dives. Sometimes you can do this in a week or two if you have plenty of free time. Look up scuba in the phone book and call around and see what the places can do for you.
Probably a better option is to find a scuba shop near where you'll be staying and have them either do a "resort course" where you'll do a dive or two in shallow water under close supervision, or if you have enough time, take your whole course in Australia and do your open water dives on the reef.
Probably a better option is to find a scuba shop near where you'll be staying and have them either do a "resort course" where you'll do a dive or two in shallow water under close supervision, or if you have enough time, take your whole course in Australia and do your open water dives on the reef.
H2Andy
Contributor
jonnythan:
that is how i actually got started diving, and it was a very positive experience
for me. it got me in the water quickly and safely, and it got me hooked.
the drawback, of course, is that you're limited to 40 feet depth and can only dive with an instructor (these are the PADI standards; it may vary).
this is just me, but i would try to get certified in the next month, before
going to Australia. that would give me more freedom to dive. a C-card is
a license to learn anyway, so just keep in mind that you are just starting out, and when you go to Australia, let the crews and other divers know your diving level, and learn as much as you can. oh, and have a blast =P
The biggest problem with getting certified in the next month is that the guy lives in New Jersey...
It's drysuit season.
It's drysuit season.
H2Andy
Contributor
jonnythan:
ah yes... missed that. well... resort courses are a wonderful thing =P
Of course, another option is to do all the classwork and confined water (pool) stuff in the coming weeks... and schedule the open water checkout dives with a scuba shop near the reef. You could get certified and do some real diving down under without having to waste time during your vacation taking a class.
Then when you get back to NJ we can take you on some real diving
Then when you get back to NJ we can take you on some real diving
Bob3
Contributor
Hey, I used to live in NJ. They have heated pools in a lot of the places.
Seriously though, It'd be a good idea to get as much water time in as possible before heading out, a major portion of feeling comfy in the water is the basics; mask clearing, etc.
IslandHopper
Guest
jonnythan:
Not true ... there are a LOT of operators in Australia that will let you scuba dive with no prior experience ....
They do it under the direct supervision of a Divemaster (and his ass't instructors) and over relatively shallow reef (40' or less) so that the surface is always a short distance away. These folks are really good about making people comfortable ... I'd have to say it's less risky than a persons first OW dive for certification
Still ... no harm in doing a couple pool dives in NJ first .... it can only serve to make the Reef dives MORE enjoyable.
You can call around your local shops and see if any do a try dive - but what i would recommend you consider is doing your pool and academics locally - some places will do this in as little as a weekend - then if you do 4 dives in Oz - you`ll be fully certified for ever and ever
I don`t know any specific shops in your area but of you call around and talk to them and see how you feel about them
I don`t know any specific shops in your area but of you call around and talk to them and see how you feel about them
H2Andy
Contributor
i think jonnythan and sealkie have hit on the best solution:
do all your training here, and then do the four certification dives in Australia. You can do them in a day or two at the most, and the rest of your vacation you can dive at will.
just let everyone know your level as a diver, and take the whole thing as
a learning experience and you'll have a blast.
do all your training here, and then do the four certification dives in Australia. You can do them in a day or two at the most, and the rest of your vacation you can dive at will.
just let everyone know your level as a diver, and take the whole thing as
a learning experience and you'll have a blast.
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