Never Been Diving...How Do I Start?

[Seabear70]

Thanks so much for all of the quick replies.


I couldn't possibly afford that. From what I can tell, getting the Advanced Certification for both of us would run about $1,000, and I'm sure that gear isn't cheap. So I shouldn't bother if I don't have this kind of money? I don't want to do anything unsafe, but I can't spend that much.

Ok, here's a question, Are you planning on traveling with anyone that is an experienced diver?

 

[boomx5]

Thanks so much for all of the quick replies.


I couldn't possibly afford that. From what I can tell, getting the Advanced Certification for both of us would run about $1,000, and I'm sure that gear isn't cheap. So I shouldn't bother if I don't have this kind of money? I don't want to do anything unsafe, but I can't spend that much.

Hi Kathleen,

I have a friend who is an incredible instructor in the Berkley area. He is a NAUI instructor and does a very well rounded open water class. Unlike a lot of Scuba instructors (who are part time instructors), Joe is a professional full time Scuba instructor and teaches all over Northern California and also in Washington State. I'm not sure of price or scheduling but you may want to contact and see if he can help point you guys in the right direction. Good luck on your endeavors.

Here's Joe's Contact Info:

Instructor: Joe Talavera
Email: joe@subtidal.net
Website: www.subtidal.net

 

[OE2X]

Come on guys... Relax a bit. She stated that she doesn't have a lot of money and while she wants to be safe, I detect that she is undecided as to whether or not diving is for her.
A resort course while it is far below a basic OW class might be a good way for her to decide if this sport is something that she will want to go further with. If she likes it, then she only blew an extra $50. . So what. Now her OW class will cost $350. Also it is much easier to get turned onto the sport when you are in warm clear water and are not encumbered by a heavy wetsuit, hood and gloves and in low, silted out vis.

I have a bunch of certs and have spent thousands of dollars for them. I can appreciate excellent education and skills and I strongly advocate that pursuit. Lets tailor the education to the persons needs and desires as we have done so for ourselves though. What works for one may not work for another and to imply that you are going to die because you took a resort course is the wrong message. Just as being OW certified does not make you an expert and introduces you to higher learning and skills oppurtunities, so does a resort course.

My two kids want to learn to dive. They will go through full certification, because they want to. They will do it here in the cold water and have a blast. My wife on the other hand is very undecided. The next time we go someplace warm on vacation, I can see her doing a resort course to see if it's something worth pursuing. If it is, then I'll make sure that she gets the best possible education. If she doesn't - then at least she got to do something new in a warm enviroment without a lot of time or financial expense.

 

[Seabear70]

My big concern is that she seems to want to get the cert and then go off into the great unknown with no experience and no backup. That's a recipe for trouble. If they have a couple of experienced divers along, I'd feel better about their safty, but I'd still want them to take the full class.

I'd rather have a couple of new divers than a couple of new statistics.

 

[OE2X]

My big concern is that she seems to want to get the cert and then go off into the great unknown with no experience and no backup. That's a recipe for trouble. If they have a couple of experienced divers along, I'd feel better about their safty, but I'd still want them to take the full class.

I'd rather have a couple of new divers than a couple of new statistics.

Excellent points and I couldn't agree you with you more.

Perhaps what needs to be offered here, is to outline the differences between a resort course and an OW course. I'm unfamiliar with resort courses, so I'll bow out.

 

[cal2632]

One thing to point out - you say you'll be traveling. Taking one resort course at one particular resort will not allow you to dive at the next resort you stop at. You'd have to take their resort course for them to allow you to dive. If you only want to dive one time on your trip, many people do resort courses. If you want to dive more than one place, getting certified could actually wind up being cheaper.

 

[Xanthro]

I was in the same position as you are, except I’ve decided to get my open water before traveling to my destination.

The difference between the “resort” course and full open water is that a resort course in no way makes you a diver. You will learn only enough to get by with a certified instructor by your side, and not enough to get into trouble.

Each resort may require you to take their course. There is a PADI scuba course that allows you to dive with an instructor, and this may be accepted on your dive at other places.

If you aren’t at all certain you want to dive, and you aren’t familiar with the water, I see no harm in taking the resort course. You’ll get in one dive, with a guide, and you can determine whether this is for you or not.

The one warning I would give is check out what the instructor to student ratio is. Obviously, the lower the better. If something goes wrong, even something that appears minor, the instructor has to respond, and the rest of the group is temporarily on their own. With six uncertified divers and one instructor, if two divers have simultaneous problems, someone goes without help, or the experience to know what to do.

This in my opinion is the biggest drawback of the one dive courses. You don’t have the experience or training to handle any type of problem.

The better the course instructor, the lower the student to instructor ratio, the safer the dive will be, and likely more fun.

Just be sure to check out the course in advance.

Xanthro

 

[matt_unique]

I've never been diving before and know absolutely nothing about it. My husband and I will be going to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in December/January and we'd like to dive in both places. Is it necessary to get certified before doing any diving at all? If so, what kind of certification should we get? Is a "resort course" enough? We'd like to keep costs as low as possible, but we also want to be safe. I've poked around the internet a little, but haven't found much info for the absolute beginner. Any advice about starting out or about where to dive in Costa Rica and Nicaragua would be appreciated.

I have visited CR twice. Each time I went diving with Billy and his wife Terry of Deep Blue Diving Adventures. Here is a link to their website (specifically the instruction options):

http://www.scuba-diving-in-costa-rica.com/scuba-diving-course.htm

They offer a discover scuba course for $80 which includes everything (gear, instruction, 2 dives, etc.) I can personally recommend Terry as an excellent instructor. She is also one of the best dive guides I have ever had in my travels. Billy and Terry are American's who moved to CR about 10 years ago to open a dive shop. They are both extremely friendly and run a great shop. The shop is located in Coco (Playas Del Coco) which is about 45 min to the west of the Liberia airport. Coco is about an hour, hour and a half to the border of Nicaragua. I have spent two very full weeks in CR over two vacations so if you want more info on what to see/do I can help out. Send me a private note if you like.

In terms of instruction. The more instruction you get the better. You can also break up the cost/time by doing your pool and academic work in Cali then doing your actual diving in Costa Rica. I think the Deep Blue Cost for these "Referral" dives is $145. Once you do those dives successfully you will be certified as Open Water divers. These referral dives would be completed over 2 days. You would probably want to dive this much anyway so I would highly recommend this alternative. It also allows you to break up the cost a bit. A resort course (or discover scuba) will only allow you to dive with a particular shop.

Whatever you choose to do, Terry will do a great job.

--Matt

 

[justleesa]

Aloha!

You might want to find out if the shops you have looked into offer the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program. No certification is required. This is where you are breifed by a diving instructor, short verbal test (if you were listening to the breifing or not), jump in and do some skills on the line and then off you go for a shallow dive (max 40'). .That might be what you're looking for.
We do at least 2 or more every day. Most people get thru it and say that it is the best experience they ever had, some go on to get certified. Then there are a few that can't get over the closed in feeling that seem to have.
Good luck,
Lisa

 

[rje634]

I've never been diving before and know absolutely nothing about it. My husband and I will be going to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in December/January and we'd like to dive in both places. Is it necessary to get certified before doing any diving at all? If so, what kind of certification should we get? Is a "resort course" enough? We'd like to keep costs as low as possible, but we also want to be safe. I've poked around the internet a little, but haven't found much info for the absolute beginner. Any advice about starting out or about where to dive in Costa Rica and Nicaragua would be appreciated.

First off welcome to the board!!!
I would highly recommend getting Open Water Certified with a recognized agency (PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc) before you go on your trip. Not only will you enjoy the diving much more you'll be a little more at ease while your diving.

If you happen to be thinking of doing a discover scuba resort course this is the story of my wife and I and our resort course experience in the Bahamas. I don't want to scare you but I think it's better to know what can happen when your in a different country trying scuba for the first time. In the end everything was OK and we are now both addicted to diving and can't get enough.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=705724&postcount=15

Find a good dive shop to get certified at and then while your on vacation just enjoy the diving without any of the studying or skills that go with learning to dive. I live in NY and can't help with finding a dive shop but I'm sure that if you pose the question on the board someone will be able to recommend a good dive shop in your area for you to check out.
I'm also sure that someone on scubaboard will be able to put you in touch with some great dive operations for your vacation