Some questions - Renting and Buddies

[Kitty_Kat]

I wouldn't completely discount the idea of doing your classroom and pool work before you go! Even in most landlocked states it is possible to find a dive shop that could finish those portions with you if you can spare a couple hours at night or on the weekend. (I'm finding more and more that many OW students have this impression that getting certified takes FOREVER - not true!) It is also possible to do your classroom portions online in many places which is a nice option (especially if you don't have a dive shop super close) and then meet up with the instructor at the pool.

If I am traveling for longer periods of time (1 week+) to somewhere I would like to dive or if I am going specifically for diving, then I will bring my own gear (except tanks/weights). If I am only going to be somewhere for a couple of days or am not quite sure how many dives I will be able to squeeze in (business trip), then I just take what I consider to be the essentials: mask, computer(s), regulator, and maybe camera. If most of your travel (and diving) is going to be business related you might find that it's not really necessary to own all of your own gear... Would you actually be able to pack all of it along with you on every trip? Are you going to have time to let the big stuff dry before having to pack up?

 

[LarryHinDC]

I agree with the rent-most-of-it camp. I would suggest you get and travel with your basic snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, and booties) -- you can always use them locally even if you don't dive at home. You really want to be comfortable with these, especially when you are starting out and a good-fitting mask is a necessity. I would also go with a computer as part of the first purchase. Next would be the regulator, followed by the BCD. If you will be diving most of the time in water that is about the same temperature, go for the exposure protection, but if your travels take you to lots of different conditions, rent locally. Wetsuits take a lot of room in your bag. And unless you are going to do lots of local diving, you'll never need to buy weights or tanks.

 

[dfx]

I agree with the rent-most-of-it camp. I would suggest you get and travel with your basic snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, and booties) -- you can always use them locally even if you don't dive at home. You really want to be comfortable with these, especially when you are starting out and a good-fitting mask is a necessity. I would also go with a computer as part of the first purchase. Next would be the regulator, followed by the BCD. If you will be diving most of the time in water that is about the same temperature, go for the exposure protection, but if your travels take you to lots of different conditions, rent locally. Wetsuits take a lot of room in your bag. And unless you are going to do lots of local diving, you'll never need to buy weights or tanks.

I'll add that a wetsuit might/could/should be part of an early purchase, especially if you're a "hard to fit" kinda person like I am. It's something very personal and always a hassle to try and find something that fits off a rental rack.

 

[altaskier]

I've tried neither renting buddies nor renting friends...

 

[oly5050user]

hi all! I have been interested in getting dive (ow) certified for a long time, but it has just never been a priority. I started considering it again because i will be in the virgin islands in may and it started me thinking. I don't have the free time to get certified before i go, but there are lots of great snorkeling opportunities. I am just doing some research now to see if i want to get certified when i get back.

you may not need as much time as you think..check out the local dive shops in your area and see what they can offer you on your time frame. If someone walked in today and asked about a class to be certified and they had plans on leaving as early as 3 or 4 days from now i can have them ready to do their 4 ow dives while on the virgin islands.

my biggest questions are on equipment and dive buddies. I have a couple of dive sites local, but most of my dives would be in florida/caribbean. What would i be looking at for equipment i would want to buy and travel with and what would i want to rent locally? My other question is about a dive buddy. I travel a lot on business to tropical locales, but i am alone. What would my dive opportunities be?

ask at the dive shop you are taking the class if they can make this deal with you, i offer it to all that take an ow course with me: Purchase a gear package from us at msrp and your ow class -academics and pool- is free..package consist of regulator /bcd/computer..dive opportunities are there whereever you go. No buddy? The dive operator will arrange for someone to dive with you as there are often other single divers on a charter.
thanks all. I have enjoyed reading through the forums.

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[Brimstone]

Thanks for all the great advice.