I got certified 2 years ago in N. Ca and had a good time, but it was not a walk in the park. I have severe Motion Sickness and stuggled at the surface, but had patient instructors and dm's that allowed me to successfully complete the couse with the least issues. I also have some health issues that make me a very cautious diver. I have a very knowledgable DAN recommended primary care physician who I visit regularly and share all important info.
Because of all that and my dislike of cold, I have only been diving once since my certification - to the sadness of my dh.
He planned a surprise trip to Hawaii to celebrate our anniversary and said after we get there if I wanted, we might try a dive there. So.... I surprised him!
I contacted one of the local dive shops and arranged a private AOW for the two of us. I told them I wanted to focus on Bouancy and Nav skills and making me more comfortable in the water with a person I could ask lots of questions of. They provided a patient and knowlegable instructor to provide our training.
All that said, I am happy to report that we both completed our AWO and did 9 dives during our trip - to the delight of dh. I did my first deep dive to 90ft, my first boat dive, my first dive with sharks, my first drift dive, and my first dive without ankle weights.
Do I think I am an Adv. diver? Nope, not yet, but now I have more confidense to go with non-instructors and explore more underwater scene.
I also had a new camera for this trip. A Canon S400 Digital Elph. It was nice for land use and compact for the boat dives. They aren't magazine material, but they are fun and my first underwater photos ever.
http://www.burnsfamily.net/pictorial/2003/fishies/fishies.html
Thanks for sharing in my excitement.
-julie
Because of all that and my dislike of cold, I have only been diving once since my certification - to the sadness of my dh.
He planned a surprise trip to Hawaii to celebrate our anniversary and said after we get there if I wanted, we might try a dive there. So.... I surprised him!
I contacted one of the local dive shops and arranged a private AOW for the two of us. I told them I wanted to focus on Bouancy and Nav skills and making me more comfortable in the water with a person I could ask lots of questions of. They provided a patient and knowlegable instructor to provide our training.
All that said, I am happy to report that we both completed our AWO and did 9 dives during our trip - to the delight of dh. I did my first deep dive to 90ft, my first boat dive, my first dive with sharks, my first drift dive, and my first dive without ankle weights.
Do I think I am an Adv. diver? Nope, not yet, but now I have more confidense to go with non-instructors and explore more underwater scene.I also had a new camera for this trip. A Canon S400 Digital Elph. It was nice for land use and compact for the boat dives. They aren't magazine material, but they are fun and my first underwater photos ever.
http://www.burnsfamily.net/pictorial/2003/fishies/fishies.html
Thanks for sharing in my excitement.
-julie
