My wife and I are planning a family vacation to Cozumel in late June. My son and I dive already. My 14 year old daughter is somewhat interested in diving but not sure if she wants to go to the trouble to become certified. Does anyone know if a resort course would be the way to go for her? And would it allow her to go along with her brother and I on a dive or two? We are staying at El Presidente. We thought about diving with Scuba Du. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Resort Courses?
- Thread starter sallas76
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A resort course will not prepare her to dive with you. If the resort course is any good she should be directly attended by a qualified instructor/dive master at all times. It can be a good way to get her feet wet, to see if she likes diving, but it is not dive training by any stretch of the imagination. I say, if she's not sure she wants to do her cert, go ahead, but be very careful with Mexican dive operations, they run the mill from a few good, to many not so good, and some that can get her hurt. My 11 year old son and 16 year old daughter just started their PADI. By late June your daughter should still have time to do her cert., which is the best option of all.
Moodiejeff
Contributor
sallas76:
That's the way I got the Scuba Bug... and that's where I took my resort course. Scuba Du was great (and highly praised as a safe operation).
The Presidente is the ideal place to do the course, they have the beach which is nice to use instead of Iron shore. The DM will take her on a little tour around the sunken barge and then back in. There's plenty of fish life around the barge to get her hooked.
If she does well, she will be able to go out on the boat with you guys the next day (staying at a prescribed depth with her own DM). I don't remember what it all costs.
When we did our resort course they had a videographer on board that day... of course we had to buy the video! We watched it all winter in anticipation of going back in the spring to be certified.
Give Scuba Du a shout...
H2Andy
Contributor
sallas76:
yes, so long as there is a qualified instructor or dm there to supervise her and you
stay above 40 feet depth (PADI; other agencies may vary)
the resort course is not a real class; it's just a quick "intro" that allows a person
to get a taste of diving under direct supervision.
that's how i got started diving, and i tell you, once i did it, i was HOOKED.
it will be a great way to get her into diving. but then, consider all the expenses =)
mike_s
Contributor
why not first do a pool session kinda like a "Discover Scuba" with your Local Dive Shop at home before you depart?
If she likes the pool session, then think about certification course or resort course.
If she likes the pool session, then think about certification course or resort course.
I second mike_s's comment. If she has some idea about what she is doing before she arrives, it's that much easier to enjoy a dive there.
transman
Contributor
My first experiece diveing was in Coz. My fiancee got us a resort course with Papa Hogs. I have been hooked since. We got Open Water Certified as soon as we could after coming home. My first real dive was Columbia Deep, Then Columbia Shallows. Max Depth 45 ft. I saw more stuff on those dives that amazied me. HOOKED FOR LIFE!
sallas76:
One neat thing about doing a "Discover" on Coz is being able to dive for 14 days while you are there without full certification.
As usual I will recommend Troy at Pelagic Ventures..across the street from Papa Hogs....AKA "Canadian Corner".
The Discover Scuba will be in the open water.
Ron
Let her do a try scuba or discover scuba at a local dive shop first. She'll know one way or the other. Then if she likes it get her certified. Resort courses are a waste of money in my book. Just get the real deal and then she can go with you two all she wants.
PugetDiver
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Another option is to have her do the pool sessions (she will know quickly if she likes it) at home with the local dive shop. Then do the check out dives in Cozumel with another PADI operation if she feels comfortable.
Really the cost of an OW diving course is not much over what it would cost for the "Discover Scuba" promotion at the resort. Ask your LDS what the cost of the pool sessions will be and how check out dives work. I am sure they will set it all up for you.
If you do it this way, you will be able to tag along on the check out dives in Cozumel.
Really the cost of an OW diving course is not much over what it would cost for the "Discover Scuba" promotion at the resort. Ask your LDS what the cost of the pool sessions will be and how check out dives work. I am sure they will set it all up for you.
If you do it this way, you will be able to tag along on the check out dives in Cozumel.
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