New diver coming to Monterrey in March

[Jim Lapenta]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but my son is in the USAF and is shipping out from Lackland in Texas first week of March to come to Monterrey to attend the Presidio :14: as part of his training to become an Airborne Linguist:14: . We just got him certified last summer and he was only able to do his OW checkout dives before leaving for basic. He's not dove since but I just talked to him tonite and he's already juiced about diving out there. I have his gear and will be shipping it to him as soon as he's settled. BC, Sherwood Blizzard reg, mask, fins, snorkel, boots, yada yada yada. First thing he'll need tho most likely is a 7 mil suit. I don't think he'll be able to afford or have use for dry just yet. He was talking tonite about doing AOW as soon as he is able to free up some time like I did right after ow but I'm trying to discourage this. I would rather he do an extensive refresher and dive with a group of experienced divers for the first couple of times. He's not dove cold water and has no experience with currents like I have. I'm looking for recommendations for a shop and instructor to direct him to. I'd like to do his AOW thru our shop but since that's not possible I'm hoping someone will put me in touch with a good outfit. I'm nearly finished with DM, manage a shop here in Pa and will be starting Tec/Rec deep this summer. I hope to be able to visit him at some point while he's out there(bringing the drysuit). He'll be in Monterrey for 68 weeks for chinese language. If anyone can help post here or PM me with names, details, etc. Thanks, Jim

 

[Jim Ernst]

i think glenn at glens aquarius on the breakwater would be a good one and also jered at monterey bay dive center, glenns no.1-831-375-6605, and i will get and post the no. for monterey dive center tomorrow for you, if he needs anyone to dive with let me know i am down there almost every othere weekend!! jim

 

[Ben_ca]

You throw a rock in any direction at the breakwater you'll hit an Instructor!

Ok I'm exagerating... but it is a fun place on a busy day.... You see everyone and every piece of dive gear ever sold. You might even see some of us (right Jim?)... Anyway don't rush and enjoy the area... I jsut wish I could be in Monterey for school... imaging getting a dive in every day after work. Poor Kid

 

[dannobee]

Since the language institute is right down the street from one of the most popular dive spots in the US, I'd say he'll come back with more experience than you! Does he post here? If not, set him up here and with Chuck's bay area diving site.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ba_diving/

Ben's not exaggerating. Go to Breakwater on any given weekend, and you'll often find two dozen instructor's dive floats/flags in the water.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks guys. I hope he does come back with more than me. I'll catch him tho when he goes to his next assignments after that tho. Back to sheppard in texas for flight crew training then to oklahoma for on the job training, followed by 1 month in washington state for survival school. Then it's off to Okinawa. Then he'll pass me again.

 

[slingshot]

It was a chilly 51 degrees in the water and in the air at Pt. Lobos over the weekend, south of Monterey. Great diving, decent vis, but a good wetsuit is key. I'd have frozen with just a 7mm unless it was a two-piece or had a hooded vest. I still dive wet though, and feel fine.

 

[Jim Ernst]

You throw a rock in any direction at the breakwater you'll hit an Instructor!

Ok I'm exagerating... but it is a fun place on a busy day.... You see everyone and every piece of dive gear ever sold. You might even see some of us (right Jim?)... Anyway don't rush and enjoy the area... I jsut wish I could be in Monterey for school... imaging getting a dive in every day after work. Poor Kid

hey ben!! how are you? and yes you are so right and almost not exagerating at all, oh and yaaa i feel so sorry for him having to be STUCK down there in old monterey for school, i wonder if i could pass his studies for him hmmm........be worth the diving and staying down there hmmm.......

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Slingshot must have found a hot spot. I had 47F on both dive Saturday. And it will
probably get colder before it gets warmer.

Any of the Monterey shops can set him up with a guide to get through the first few
dives, and I think that would be a REAL good idea.

There's a military dive club in Monterey. See http://www.pom-odr.com/mainfiles/adventures/water/scuba/diveclub.htm

I've put some other info at http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks Chuck. That helps alot. I'll be sure to pass this on also. Jim