Newbie, and no plans on losing this addiction!

[scobyroo]

Hi to everyone on the board!
I am as green as they come, just got my c card and have yet to do a non-training dive. I've always thought diving looked live an amazing pass-time, but from the second I hit the water for the first time I realized it could be a lifelong addiction.
I'm lucky enough to work for a cruise line, so I'm able to travel to some of the best dive spots anywhere and have the freedom of time to actually get out there and dive.
I was doing my OW cert. with about a month left in my contract, but because of 3 hurricanes and a medical emergency suffered by my instructor I was unable to finish the course. I guess the silver lining was that I had completed enough to get my diver cert, but will need to do OW dives 3 & 4 t get my OW cert. I was bummed, but life goes on!

I'm on vacation (ironically enough, being on vacation means being landlocked and far away from the great dive spots that my job takes me to!) so when I get back on the ship I am immediately making plans on getting those last two dives done and getting the certification I initially was working towards!

I wanted to say hello to everyone, and share my excitement with people who understand! (Most of my friends on the ship who do not dive quickly learned to roll and their eyes when I rambled on and on about my training. They just don't get it!)

Happy diving!

 

[ron_cooper]

I was the same way. At the time I needed glasses and laser was out of my price range. So the diving was ok but not great. Since then things have changed, got my eyes done, and started going crazy with my new addiction. Since getting serious I probably have enough equipment to start a dive shop, as long as it is for one man.
The courses I have taken were for my own benefit, not to just collect cards. I still dive recreactional but at the tech end of it. You will find alot of useful info here on the board, most will be explained as to why someone does something a certain why. It will give you options to think about. Some will be people that are not accepting of others opinion. Take it all with a grain of salt, and do your own decisions.
Check out other equipment set-ups also, I wasted a few houndred bucks on stuff I baught because I didn't know better. And dive as much as you can, having a C-card gives you the basics but practise makes you a better dive. Almost like a license to learn.

 

[scobyroo]

I've already read a lot of great threads and posts on here, and it's really great to get all these different opinions and anecdotes. There's only so much time to learn from your instructor during certification, and I'm excited to be able to use this board to keep my mind sharp while I'm away from the water.

 

[ta]

Hello and if your cruise job ever takes you over to Tampa FL area, I'll be happy to partner up with a fellow excited noob. Best of luck on your remaining OW cert dives

 

[scobyroo]

Thanks ta, the ship isn't scheduled to head that way, but those things can change!