Rookie(s) from Upstate NY

[gypsyjim]

Hello Piikki. Welcome. My kids just did their OW at Hearthstone this June (photo attached), and we returned there again Sat. to check out some gear we picked up from the dive shop Lorien speaks of (and also to go back out to see the airplane. My daughter had not gotten out to see the plane on her earlier dives). The shop in Glens Falls is Rich Morin's and I am impressed by the professionalism they showed. I drove two hours each way for my kid's classes with Mr. Morin, and I am quite satisfied. Lorien has also mentioned a local (Albany region) dive club: something like Albany Aquanauts? that you might want to check out for diving partners, trips and contacts.

 

[jonnythan]

Hi,

And wow, two offers for a dive on the first go! Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Jon(ny??), thanks very much for the invite – you would even let me/us mess up with your stuff? (You would get two women to deal with in one hit, can you manage that?) That’s more than I was expecting, was kinda hoping to maybe touch someone’s stuff or don it on the beach if I behaved real nice.

I just noticed next week is July 4th, so I guess that means Monday will not be good for you. That would have worked for us but the rest of the week is not good for me (sister visiting from other side of the Atlantic, so I don’t want to ‘hook up’ too much). You get enough light going after 6pm at Lake George? (We sure have not done any night/dark dives – planning to do AOW in the end of the summer).

My weekends are pretty much all reserved for diving in Ontario or New Jersey, so Lake George diving is strictly midweek for me

I think I can handle you guys but I only have one bp/wing to lend out

Doesn't get dark til almost 9 these days.. 6 pm is plenty of light for a half hour or so dive.

I get my air/nitrox fills at Capitaland in Clifton Park. A couple of my buddies have had dealings with Morin's and they seem OK too. I buy all my gear online because I service my own stuff and have no need for the advice of someone who is trying to sell me something.

The Albany Aquanauts seem to do a whole lot of diving in Lake George, which doesn't excite me a whole lot. Southern Ontario is a 4 hour drive and has some of the most amazing freshwater diving in the world. New Jersey is 3.5 hours south and has some good ocean diving.

 

[lorien]

lorien, any chance you're up for an evening dive next week? Maybe Wednesday?

Oh how I wish I could but I ahve an appt Wed PM ;(
I am planning, however, on trying to dive Saturday. I know the boat traffic will be horrendous but hoping to give it a go anyway. Anyone interested?

 

[lorien]

Well, Rich is pretty accommodating, he will often let you try whatever he can and will exchange masks, etc if you are not happy with it. I have used all the LDS’s in the area, bought gear from all and taken classes from them all. I have now found my home at Morin’s as he is much more flexible on price, works with me to make sure I get what I want and need, goes the extra mile when teaching to tell you those little things you just won’t figure out on your own for a long time, etc. Nothing against the other LDS’s, I know them all and like them. I just prefer to drive up to Richs. And, when I was pretty new he encouraged me to come and tag along on any and all classes I wanted to tag along on. I learned a lot that way and it got me in the water far more often. He teaches over 100 classes a year so he is always in the water. And, he is almost done installing his Nitrox system too.
The Albany Aquanauts is a nice group of people, yes most of their diving is in Lake George. It is closest for most of them. Their web site is:
http://www.albanyaquanauts.org/
I would love to dive somewhere else in the area besides Lake George so let me know anyone is doing so. I am just not familiar with any other sites in the area. I seem to live in Lake George.

 

[tx.lakerats]

Welcome the the boards!!