RMichaelson86:
Sounds good. I think I'll make some phone calls and set things up. I'll need to research equipment, I would have no clue where to start. Again the boards will be helpful when it comes to this.
What do you mean by DIR group? Thanks
Welcome to Scubaboard!
I really can't add to much more as far as vital information to what has already been posted, everything said is good stuff.
PADI, NAUI, SSI, are the main certifying agencies and any place you pick will probably be one of these.
Glenn at Glenn's Aquarius II is a real good guy and he has a great location. All his employees are great too. I don't know anything about Monterey Bay Dive Center so I can't comment.
DIR stands for "doing it right". This movement or school or diving philosophy was started back in Florida with a tight knit group of cave divers. Cave diving is very hazardous so they developed a system of safety protocols that set a new standard for surviving some of those treacherous dives. This philosophy soon spread accross the US and around the world and now has been accepted as an advanced training standard for diving. They have their own classes to teach people about DIR. You have to be at least open water certified to get into a class. Most people know about DIR but there is actually only a very small percentage of people that have been officially trained by a DIR instructor. However, there are many people not officially trained that have adopted the gear configuration because of it's no nonsense, back to the basics approach. I for instance use this configuration because it absolutely makes sense.
I'm sure you will learn more about all this when you get into the diving.
I would hold off on buying gear from anybody right now until you get a good number of dives under your belt. Rent and use all kinds of different gear and brands, and look at stuff people are using and ask a lot of questions. When I bought gear originally I wound up having buyers remorse about some of the stuff I bought. I went to one shop that carried only a limited line and sold me what they thought I should have. I didn't know anything and took their word for it. Well later when I learned more and saw more I realized I spent thousands on gear that either now sits in a box or I got rid of it.
Most of the crap they will try and sell you you will not need. You would be amazed at how minimalist and stripped down some of the veteran divers are out there that ran the whole course themselves. Learn before you buy and you will save yourself big in the end.
We also have a new dive club up here on the North Coast <
http://www.northcoastdivers.org >
There are no dues or monthly meetings, rather NCD is a scheduling organization that gets divers together for dives on the North Coast above San Francisco. All skill levels are welcome and we go to some really neat spots. Once a month we have a full day event where we have 2-3 dives followed by a pot luck picnic.
Monterey would be the best place to get started and get a dozen or so dives under your belt, then consider joining us up here for some dives. I know it's a drive but you could even camp out if you want at any of the many great campgrounds in the area.
Any of us would be glad to help you out with any info, just ask.
ZKY