Dragon2115
Guest
First, congratulations on your OW cert and for having the ambition to dive in cold water.
Second, you've made a good choice joining NEADC. You'll have access to lots of experienced local divers that will show you around. Diving in Boston is a whole different world than diving in the Keys. Wait until you hit the thermocline for the first time. Oh yeah, that'll get your attention.
It might be best if you start with a pool session though. If you're buying new gear they'll probably let you use whatever pool they use for classes to try out your stuff. Do it. It's a whole new experience when diving in a 7mm wetsuit, heavy hood, gloves, and boots for the first time. It's much more claustophobic than when diving a shorty in warm water. Give it a shot in the pool to get used to it first before you stress yourself out dealing with cold water and low visibility. The less new things to deal with at one time the better.
If you get started soon there's still a lot of good diving weather left. Pretty much all of September and October. Once you've gotten some dives under your belt with the club you should be ready to start exploring on your own as you suggested in your OP.
If you want to search around for dive buddies check out the New England Losta Divahs forum. http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Good luck, have fun and maybe we'll run into each other some day.
P.S. I agree about PG Dive in Newton, great shop to deal with. My wife and I have been very happy with them.
Second, you've made a good choice joining NEADC. You'll have access to lots of experienced local divers that will show you around. Diving in Boston is a whole different world than diving in the Keys. Wait until you hit the thermocline for the first time. Oh yeah, that'll get your attention.
It might be best if you start with a pool session though. If you're buying new gear they'll probably let you use whatever pool they use for classes to try out your stuff. Do it. It's a whole new experience when diving in a 7mm wetsuit, heavy hood, gloves, and boots for the first time. It's much more claustophobic than when diving a shorty in warm water. Give it a shot in the pool to get used to it first before you stress yourself out dealing with cold water and low visibility. The less new things to deal with at one time the better.
If you get started soon there's still a lot of good diving weather left. Pretty much all of September and October. Once you've gotten some dives under your belt with the club you should be ready to start exploring on your own as you suggested in your OP.
If you want to search around for dive buddies check out the New England Losta Divahs forum. http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Good luck, have fun and maybe we'll run into each other some day.
P.S. I agree about PG Dive in Newton, great shop to deal with. My wife and I have been very happy with them.
