OW Cert. and then what?

[SwimsLikeRock]

OK, so I expect to be completing my OW certification this weekend... And then what? I'm planning a Caribbean cruise this winter and hope to sign up for a scuba "shore excursion" with the cruise line. So what happens when you get to one of these? Do you buddy up with whoever is there? Dive as one big group? What should I expect in terms of equipment? Guidance? Coaching as a new diver? What should I avoid?

 

[Rick Murchison]

Welcome to the wonderful world underwater!
First bit of advice I have for you is DIVE.
Soon and often - in the same conditions as where you do your certification.
Cruise ship diving is usually dumbded-down to the lowest common demoninator; usually guided dives in benign conditions - unless you specifically request otherwise.
But in the meantime, go diving while you can, before the water gets too cold for you.
Rick

 

[ctmax]

I agree DIVE, DIVE, DIVE..... I was certified in April and didn't think I would be able to find good local diving. I found Scuba Board and have been in the water almost every weekend. Check out the New England Lobsta Divahs forum, lots of info about diving around here.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56

 

[scubaaaronh]

OK, so I expect to be completing my OW certification this weekend... And then what? I'm planning a Caribbean cruise this winter and hope to sign up for a scuba "shore excursion" with the cruise line. So what happens when you get to one of these? Do you buddy up with whoever is there? Dive as one big group? What should I expect in terms of equipment? Guidance? Coaching as a new diver? What should I avoid?

Did one of those type trips once cause my wife had to go on a cruise. we were only able to do a few dives I think it was four on some of the islands we stopped at. It was a rushed thing with decent equipment. We had our own gear with us. They loaded a boat with as many people, scuba and snorklers, as they could and took us to this reef and if you didn't have a buddy they partnered you up. their were three dive masters and you could go with one or venture out on your own. It was an OK vacation but not the dive vacations i like to take.

 

[fpsndiver]

Swimslikearock,

My suggestion would be the same as Murch and others. Dive often, in lakes, quarries, and whatever else you have there close to home. If you are near the beach somewhere, go to the local dive shop, ask to get on a charter. Get experience.

If you really like scuba diving, find a buddy that will get certified too, and then start other classes, advance your training constantly. The learning process never ends, and when you think you know it all, that is when you get hurt. Once you advance your training, and have a good buddy, and you still enjoy diving, I would suggest buying your own equipment. Once you buy your own equipment you are well on the way to being a full blown dive junkie where increased pressure is your only fix.

 

[Mark_N]

OK, so I expect to be completing my OW certification this weekend... And then what? I'm planning a Caribbean cruise this winter and hope to sign up for a scuba "shore excursion" with the cruise line. So what happens when you get to one of these? Do you buddy up with whoever is there? Dive as one big group? What should I expect in terms of equipment? Guidance? Coaching as a new diver? What should I avoid?

Welcome to the great North East. All kinds of diving in our area and all it takes is a desire to get out there and practice those skills. It's a little strange the first time you dive outside of a structured class and have to remember all those little things like navigation. The best thing you can do is find a partner and go do it.

 

[ChrisA]

OK, so I expect to be completing my OW certification this weekend... And then what? I'm planning a Caribbean cruise this winter and hope to sign up for a scuba "shore excursion" with the cruise line. So what happens when you get to one of these? Do you buddy up with whoever is there? Dive as one big group? What should I expect in terms of equipment? Guidance? Coaching as a new diver? What should I avoid?

Whatever you do don't wait 'till winter to dive after OW. You'd be in need of a "scuba review" refresher class by then. Seriouly, you would. Experianced divers with say, 100+ dives can safely take a break from diving and not loose much skills But as a brand new diver the thing you need to do is get in the water. Join a dive club. Get neames and phone numbers of those in the class. Meet other divers and dive frequently. But whatever you do don't wait _months_ between the end of OW class and your firt dive. There should be many divers in your area will to dive with a new guy. Outhere we fight over who gets the new diver buddy on our weekly beach dives


What to expect. The outfit doing the dive for the cruise line will almost certainy expect all of the divers to be very in-experianced divers. As experianced divers would not lkely dive as a shore excursion off a cruise ship. So they are most likely expecting a group of what we call "vacation divers" (that is divers who only dive while on vacation once a year or so) Given that they will likely asign buddies randomly and put a DM in the water with the group and at least attempt to supervise the group.

One other thing. As a beginner you will be fully ocupied with just diving and sucking down air like a vacuum cleaner. No insult intended. We all did that. You will get more enjoyment and minutes under water per dive if you do at least a couple dozen dives at home first. By thiswinter you would even have time to complete the AOW class

What equipment to expect. It could be good it could be junk and it certainly will NOT be high end. It would be nice if you start thinking about buying yur own stuff little by little as you ecide wht it is you want, find a "deal" and can afford it. Don't rush. I assume you will bring you own mask, fins, and stuff. Your own BC or Reg would be nice too. I'd bring a light (yes even for daytime dives)

 

[PairofMedics]

My wife and I realized our long time dream by getting our OW about 2 months ago...and boy did we get the bug! We loved it and still do...but we had to slow down, which was interesting to say the least. As paramedics we're used to seeking the next challenge, more education, etc. We tried this approach with diving and we quickly reaized it wasn't going to work. Our instructor is a great guy who could have made a lot of money off of us(and eventually will) by letting us get in over our heads. Instead he told us we should slow down and get comfortable with being in the water, and he was right. Since then we've stuck to the path of gradually working on basic skills every time we get wet...communication, navigation...and most importantly breathing control. As such we've become safer divers and actually enjoy every minute of our dives. We find new things every time and we still face challenges, but we approach them in a slow, systematic way...and appreciate the knowledge base we build, staying at our current level. We are going through EANx now...which is definately a challenge in some regards...but we're staying shallow for now. We decided to hang around 30 -40ft to work on air consumption, then dive more to 60ft so that when we're ready for deeper water, we're realy ready. But whatever you do...DIVE!!! The more you dive the more experience you get and hopefully the safer you become.

 

[spectrum]

OK, so I expect to be completing my OW certification this weekend... And then what? I'm planning a Caribbean cruise this winter and hope to sign up for a scuba "shore excursion" with the cruise line. So what happens when you get to one of these? Do you buddy up with whoever is there? Dive as one big group? What should I expect in terms of equipment? Guidance? Coaching as a new diver? What should I avoid?

I think Rick nailed it in the first response. I'm up the road fro you and we are just now into the best diving of the year. Down right nice water temps will be yours though September then it cools slowly until December when things start falling faster.

Dive with local shop dives, meet divers, start networking and if you're real lucky you'll find a mentor or 2 along the way. Just dive in your comfort zone and you'll grow into it all. You'll also meet traveled divers and be able to enjoy in depth conversations. New England diving is one locale from which you can say that if you can dive here you can handle most anywhere especially the vacation destinations. Just stay in your comfort zone where ever you dive as your skills develop.

If you're coming to southern Maine sometime PM me and maybe we can have a dive.

Pete

 

[SwimsLikeRock]

Wow!

OK, I get it: dive, dive, dive.

Thank you ALL for the great replies - especially ChrisA - very helpful.

OK... We'll see how it goes!

Now let's see... Butter Will Ruin Arteries Forever. No no. Breaks, Wheels, Rims, Alternator, Fan. Uh... Big White Rabbits Are Fluffy. Something like that.