Question from newbie... Getting Certified in Winter where it's COLD!

[Tinytechie]

damn we lost one

 

[String]

#1 Can I do classroom and pool stuff here and get cert dives in New Zealand?

Yes. Although too late for NZ now, why not do it where you live so you arent wasting ANY holiday time in classrooms or learning?

#2 Is it even worth the trouble to try and push this through with so liitle time before the trip?

Yes

#3 I have moderate asthma, but work out regularly, will the asthma be a hinderance to getting a medical clearance?

It may well be. You need to see a qualified hyperbaric doctor (NOT a GP) to examine you. Asthma may or may not preclude diving depending on many factors. GPs don't really understand the diving specifics so you need to make sure its a doctor trained in hyperbaric medicine. If you have asthma and you DONT go to a doctor you wont be accepted on the course (due to a yes on the medical form). This really should be highlighted to anyone considering it - make sure you see the right type of doctor.

 

[seaducer]

Update:

I wish to thank all for their input and information, it was very helpful. I also want to thank the following: my LDS and Dan, Chris @ SDI, and the dive shop in NZ, Splash Gordon. After some emails went sent and questions asked it was confirmed that I could do the cert dives in NZ on a global referral.

However, my doctor was less helpful with my medical cert (required in NZ) regarding my asthma, he wanted me to come in for a chest xray and spirometry.

Time is very short (trip is Feb 1) and with changes to the itinerary, we were only going to have 3 full days in NZ, one day inaccessible to diving due to flying out the next day. We would have HAD to do cert dives each of our two free days....at approx 6 hours total time...this was too much for the wife and I, so we pulled the plug on the diving and have selected some nice things to do, see NZ and RELAX!

I was impressed and blown away by all the work and emails done to get my questions ansered and the SDI/PADI referral thing cleared up. You all have some great people in your dive community and you should be proud.

We will prolly do the dive classes when there is less time pressure....of course my in-laws live near Grenoble, France and we're planning a winter trip...I might have to learn to ski also!!

Thanks again, I'll return if I have any more questions.

I'm typically a glass half full kind of guy, so here is my spin on your situation. Bad news is, you can't dive in NZ. Good news is, you will have the time now when you do persue classes to do it right. It is very easy to get certified in a weekend these days. But you are not really learning to dive in that short amount of time. So if diving is something you really wish to do, then take the long course at your LDS. In the long run you will have had more time in the water and more practice with critical skills before your checkout dives. This means your first few dives after class will be more comfortable, safer, and less anxious.

Enjoy your trip...