Never dove in the Sea, Liveaboard too extreme for beginner?

[tholden1]

I just got certified. I have only dove in a small scuba park's lake. My max depth was 23 feet, calm, 6ft visibility.

I am taking a trip to Thailand (Mid to late November this year) and plan on staying in Phuket. I have heard that the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock are the best places to go. There is a 4-day, 4-night liveaboard that looks nice. They do four dives a day.

I am concerned that this may be overkill since I am so new and have never dove in the Ocean before. Just the training from 9am to 5pm with only three dives at max 23 feet for my certification left me very tired so I am concerned about doing even more in the ocean.

I want to decide now because the liveaboard I was thinking of is almost full so I would need to buy the spot (just for me) now.

I have been considering the following:

Option 1: Take the Advanced Open Water course before the Liveaboard. That way I get five dives in the ocean first. Then go on the liveaboard and perhaps try Nitrox (they certify on board) to help me not feel so tired. This is the more expensive option. It also leaves me doing 19 dives and diving practically every day.

Option 2: Just do the liveaboard and take my advanced open water on the boat. The advantages to this is that it is cheaper. And, perhaps doing the advanced open water on the boat will give me something to do (studying) during my off-time. Still, the 4 dives a day has me concerned. I don't want to pay all that money and then end up only diving twice a day because I am tired.

Option 3: Do some diving day-trips (not to the Similan, just local areas). Then, if I feel confident and want to try it, do one of the 2-day, 1-night overnight trips to the Similan's. Or, if I feel very adventurous and confident, do a 3-day, 2-night on the South Siam or perhaps do a 4/4 on a liveaboard that still has an open spot (might be able to get a deal).

I would welcome any help/advice. I plan on making the decision on what to do in the next couple of days.

BTW, the liveaboard I was thinking of going on requires the AOW certification to do some of their dives. That was one of the reasons I am thinking of taking it either before or on the boat.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Walter]

I was certified on a live aboard. I loved it.

 

[MoonWrasse]

People do their AOW on liveaboards out there.

One thing to consider is that you may find yourself depth limited if you are only OW certified there.

 

[divekraz]

It would seem a real shame to go to Thailand and not to dive as most people dream of going to places like that and are never able to do so. You should never dive beyond your ablility and from what you've said it doesn't seem your there right now but that is a judegement call on your part so here's a few suggestions.

Regarding nitrox, I can not say I feel any improvement in being tired by using nitrox vs air (21%) and use nitrox for other reasons depending on the dive profile. Dives in less than 60fsw I wouldn't bother with nitrox at all. I would suggest you do a exercise routine to improve your cardio, use nitrox when your certified for it, but not because you think you won't feel as tired.

Do the 4 day live aboard for your aow as you will have a DM with you on your dives, cost more but considering your experience I think it would be worth it. Also try to get some more dives in before your trip that will test your ablities more and give you more bottom time to improve your skills.

Have a great time and just make sure your comfortable with whatever decision you make.

 

[OnTheSpot]

only three dives at max 23 feet for my certification

What kind of certification is that? The PADI Open Water course has 4 dives...

I would certainly do some more diving before a liveaboard. By all means book the liveaboard, but at the very least do a nice easy day trip (to Racha Yai for example) the day before, where you can get 2 dives in the ocean, get down to 18m and get your confidence a little higher. Doing the AOW on the boat is good - it means you'll be able to do all the dives and will get a bit of extra attention from the instructor(s) on board.

 

[fdog]

I've seen kids that came on a liveaboard fresh from their cert class, who looked like old pros by the end of the week.

I've also seen divers that did their cert class on board, that had a great time, and looked like 1/2 old pros at the end of the week.

So, I'd say it's not too much to ask. Doing a liveaboard I mean.

<shrugs> If you take too many classes on board, you will miss out on some of the relax-and-have-fun that makes a liveaboard such a great experience.

All the best, James

 

[OnTheSpot]

looked like old pros by the end of the week

Nothing like a liveaboard for a crash course in dive experience! 3-4 dives per day, varied dive sites, other (more experienced) divers to learn from, liveaboards are great. And at the Similan Islands you get a huge variety of conditions and dive sites - deep, shallow, reefs, boulders, swimthroughs, pinnacles, currents.

I had a DM student a few years ago who was an OK diver, but after a couple of liveaboard trips he was so much better - more relaxed, used way less air, knew much more about the marine life etc..ready to be a DM!

 

[MoonWrasse]

What kind of certification is that? The PADI Open Water course has 4 dives...

I would certainly do some more diving before a liveaboard. By all means book the liveaboard, but at the very least do a nice easy day trip (to Racha Yai for example) the day before, where you can get 2 dives in the ocean, get down to 18m and get your confidence a little higher.

As well as getting your weighting correctly adjusted for the climate/salinity change.

 

[tholden1]

My mistake, I should have said that I did four dives for my certification.

Well, I'm convinced, a liveaboard it is.

Now, the question becomes whether to do the AOW before the liveaboard or on it. I can see the point behind doing an initial dive beforehand (Racha Yai perhaps as suggested). If I did that though, the combined price of the livaboard AOW and seperate dive beforehand is about the same cost as doing the AOW before the liveaboard and then just not doing it on the boat. I would also get more dives in.

I am leaning towards doing my AOW beforehand. I'll get to dive some places south of Phuket and get a good intro before the liveaboard. Of course, I hope I like it. That's a lot of dives!

 

[pakman]

If you have the time, do the AOW before the trip but since its the AOW course, its more in water stuff than classroom (if I recall...) so it wouldn't be too bad to do on a liveaboard.

While I agree with what most have said earlier (you'll definitely come out of the trip, whether you started OW or AOW, looking like a pro... ), I'd be worry that the boat won't let you do some deeper dives due to you being OW. That being said, I think most DM's will give you leeway if they see you are diving well...