Question

[Cod]

Yes sir it did Thanks!

 

[Hotpuppy]

I'm going to try and get a couple of dives before we head out but like I said real life sometimes gets in the way.

My concern was basically the Dive Op taking us out with our inexperience and possible first time ocean dive....trust me i plan on telling them we're completely green / noobs / inexperienced whatever you want to call it.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I had the same fears when I went. In reality I think they were thrilled that I was up front with my experience and they took the time to make sure I knew what I was doing. I was at much smaller operations though and did not book through the cruise line.

My advice:
- You are buddy diving with your daughter, so do what you feel is comfortable.
- Tell the DM you are new and only have your OW training. They will want to see your logbook anyhow.
- If during the briefing they say something you don't want to do or don't feel comfortable with... such as "at X point we will go through a cave", speak up. It's perfectly okay to say, "I'm a new diver and I may not feel comfortable going to 80 feet with you. Is it okay if I hang out at 60 feet and watch?" The answer should be "yes". You can also say, "I'm not comfortable with an overhead environment, is there another path I can take to meet you on the other side?" Btw, I did both of those things in my first 4 dives during the dive briefings... and as a result did not go where I was uncomfortable. The DMs worked it out with me and had no issues with my concerns.

Remember:
- Diving is supposed to be fun.
- The more time you have blowing bubbles the easier it gets
- NO dive is fun when you are scared, over your head, or in trouble.

Not sure where you are going, or what the viz is like in Tennesee... but I think you will have the time of your life in the Caribbean! It was like being in the biggest salt water reef tank you can imagine.... amazing fish everywhere, some scary, some cool. Can't wait to go back!

 

[Hotpuppy]

Oh, one other tidbit I'll recommend. If you don't have a camera.... take a one time use Kodak camera.... they are $8 on Amazon and good to 50 feet officially. I took one to 78 feet without it popping.... They take their best pictures in the 15 to 20 foot range. They will not take National Geographic pictures, but they will take pictures that you can look at and remember what was in your dive. My avatar pic was taken with one at 15 feet on a safety stop in Cozumel in January.

If you have been to the Cruise ports before but not dove you are in for a treat. They were sort of mickey mouse hokey tourist traps before.... Diving is the real deal. The people are laid back, they take safety very seriously, and you will meet neat people and see incredible things.

 

[ScubaDocER]

I have two people in the pool tomorrow who are going to St Martin next weekend. If you have a good shop nearby there is always a way to get back in the water with an instructor. You need to adjust your priorities to allow for that. So one day you say we are going to the pool to practice. Work calls? You are not at home. School play, cheer-leading, ball practice, or friends meeting at the mall? Sorry, something more important to do. Simple really. Life should never rule us.

Hello Cod,

I would like to emphasis a point that Jim made. Life can indeed make it challenging to do the things we want to do. The best laid plains often go awry. If you have decided to take the time to take your family on a wonderful trip through a beautiful part of the planet, it would be worth the time and effort to make the trip as enjoyable as possible from a diving perspective. You guys are about to enjoy some of the best diving the planet has to offer. It will be more enjoyable if you are comfortable and confident in this paradise. Please consider the suggestions made to put some time in the pool or at a local dive site before you embark on your trip. While a guided DM can/may provide a watchful eye over you, they may not be able to correct your buoyancy, get you trimmed and weighted properly, or make sure you're relaxed and comfortable on your dives. A little time invested before the trip can make the difference between this being a very good trip, or being an outstanding one.

IMHO what makes a dive trip great is not only what I see in the water, but how I FEEL in the water. If I am struggling with my gear, sinking and rising randomly, breathing faster than I should, or feeling nervous because I have not "done this" in awhile, then I am not enjoying the dive no matter what beautiful creatures are swimming by. In truth it just takes a little bit of time in the pool or at the local dive site to shake off the rust and just feel comfortable being weightless again. I think you might find this invest prior to the dive will be worth it given the investment you have made in arranging the trip.

Just a thought.

 

[Cod]

Thanks for the replies! I appreciate the info and will use it!

 

[3000dives]

Any reputable full service dive operator should have no problem with your certification and the number of dives. Most dive operators will take divers out on a relative easy dive to start and after seeing how they handle themselves in the water will then decide where to take you on the second dive.

Getting in a pool is a great idea. If you call your local dive shop you can probably arrange for pool time to coincide with a class. This should keep your cost down. Or if your schedule permits schedule a dive somewhere. There are plenty of places you can go at a reasonable dive and get a few dives in over a weekend for not much money. Some you can dive all year round.

 

[TSandM]

At the risk of beating the dead horse, I want to add my recommendation that you somehow make the time to do a refresher before you leave. It's been over six months since you got certified, and no matter how great you were as students, things will have become a bit fuzzy. And you are going cruise ship diving, which I assume means you will be renting ALL of your equipment. Things may not fit perfectly, and from what I have read here, things may not WORK perfectly. Being on top of your emergency procedures, including air-sharing, orally inflating the BC, dropping weights, and disconnecting an LP hose are things which are critically important when stuff goes wrong. Spending an evening or two practicing those things would be a REALLY good idea.