Virgin Diver in Thailand!

[emerald4ever]

Hi everyone, (man...there is a forum for everything!)...ok here is the issue.
I am going to southern islands in Thailand for 1 week in middle of Feb2006. I have never been there nor ever have done scuba diving before (basically virgin!). It was suggested to go to Koh Tao/Koh Samui as good location. I want to definitely get my OW and maybe the advance as well. Here are my options,
Option 1:
Theory in Canada (2 days, $200(special right now))
Referral dives in Thailand (2 days, $200)
Advance level in Thailand (2 days, $250)
Total cost: $650 – Vacation time spent: 4 days

Option 2:
Complete OW in Thailand (4 days, $300)
Advance level in Thailand (2 days, $250)
Total cost: $550 – Vacation time spent: 6 days

Which option should I take?? Is it more fun to take it all there than theory in Canada (what else am I going to do in islands during the days!)? Someone said you lose quality if you do it there, is that true? How many hours do I have to study outside of classroom?? (I hope I don’t have to go to Library in my vacation!)

Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Damselfish]

Your goal should not be to do this as quickly or cheaply as possible. Worry more about getting quality instruction and learning it well! Diving is really quite safe, but you are still in an alien environment with many ways to injure or kill yourself. Some people pick it all up quickly and are ok with weekend course type situations, others need to take it much slower, and you probably won't know which you are until you get in the water. But slower never hurts for anyone, there is a lot to learn and practice.

Opinions vary on how many dives you should have between OW and AOW (which by the way does not really make you "advanced.") But I would definitely NOT recommend trying to cram it in on the same trip like that. Get your OW, then do some fun diving and get practice. Save AOW for another time.

Doing the whole thing locally would be more challenging and prepare you for diving at home if you have any intention to do that. If you do this in warm water you will not be ready to dive at home. But if you're going to go the warm water route, I'd suggest doing your classroom and pool work at home and the OW referral dives at the beginning of vacation. As for what you do the rest of your trip during the days - dive!

 

[spectrum]

Your goal should not be to do this as quickly or cheaply as possible. Worry more about getting quality instruction and learning it well! Diving is really quite safe, but you are still in an alien environment with many ways to injure or kill yourself. Some people pick it all up quickly and are ok with weekend course type situations, others need to take it much slower, and you probably won't know which you are until you get in the water. But slower never hurts for anyone, there is a lot to learn and practice.

Opinions vary on how many dives you should have between OW and AOW (which by the way does not really make you "advanced.") But I would definitely NOT recommend trying to cram it in on the same trip like that. Get your OW, then do some fun diving and get practice. Save AOW for another time.

Doing the whole thing locally would be more challenging and prepare you for diving at home if you have any intention to do that. If you do this in warm water you will not be ready to dive at home. But if you're going to go the warm water route, I'd suggest doing your classroom and pool work at home and the OW referral dives at the beginning of vacation. As for what you do the rest of your trip during the days - dive!

What she said!

IMO There's no way you can adequately assimilate what you will be learning in those time frames, especially jumping straight to AOW. A student who it comes to easilly can execute the motions but the learning will fall far short. It's your life and your future buddies were talking about, slow down.

Pete.

 

[dirthead]

I would get OW certified in Canada. Then just go diving while you are in Thailand for the fun of it. Trying to cram the certification dives into a short vacation like that will limit your learning and limit the fun.

 

[Damselfish]

Just as another point, my OW class was 6 nights over 3 weeks for class and pool work with lots of reading between classes. Plus 2 days for the OW dives. I personally wouldn't have wanted to do it any faster.

 

[jiveturkey]

You probably shouldn't be going to Koh Tao or Koh Samui in February. The east coast of Thailand will be in their monsoon season at that time. That means, rain and sometimes high winds, which means poor conditions.

The west side is in their high season. It's sunny and hot. And better yet, the west coast diving is far superior to the east coast. Your best bet is to hit either Phi Phi, Phuket, Krabi or the Similans.

 

[Blackwood]

I wouldn't want to waste any of my vacation time with SCUBA classes.

Do some research (regarding Agency, LDS, instructor, etc.) and complete your OW training in Canada before your vacation.

 

[Mark_K'ville]

(what else am I going to do in islands during the days!)?

You have obviously never been there eh? Plenty to do other than take scuba classes. Have fun, I am envious

 

[mark99]

You probably shouldn't be going to Koh Tao or Koh Samui in February. The east coast of Thailand will be in their monsoon season at that time. That means, rain and sometimes high winds, which means poor conditions.

The west side is in their high season. It's sunny and hot. And better yet, the west coast diving is far superior to the east coast. Your best bet is to hit either Phi Phi, Phuket, Krabi or the Similans.

What he said, on where to go. I did my OW Cert earlier this year in Phuket, on a 1 week "vacation"- I purchased the book and seriously studied here before going. Your academics will not "suffer" because you do it in Thailand, most of the courses are taught by experienced English speaking European divers who moved to Thailand for the "good life." I think the option of taking the academics/pool in Canada and the OW dives in Thailand is a good idea too. I don't think there's any problem doing the AOW there too, you will get 5-6 additional dives with an instructor, you'll come home with 10 dives of experience, that will be enough to get you minimally comfortable diving on your own (without an instructor at your side). There's lots of discussion here about not doing AOW right away, but you have to realize that it is not really an advanced class, it teaches you things you should learn to be a competent beginning diver. So you won't be an "advanced diver" when you have AOW and 10 dives. You can always take the specialty classes, and the Rescue diver class later if you want to advance your education.

 

[cfenton]

A rare occurance; but I completely agree with what just about everyone said especially Damselfish.

I wouldn't be in a big hurry to go from OW to AOW, especially in one trip. Nothing can replace time in the water so I would get your OW in Canada and spend your trip diving!

I have no idea whether the training will be better in Canada or Tailand. That will depend on the instructors.

I did my OW on a vacation in Costa Rica a few years ago and came back and got my AOW here in Canada. In my case my Canadian instructor was FAR better than the one I had in Playa del Coco. I was in Costa Rica for 2 months, had it been two weeks I would have far preferred to spend it diving that studing.

Good luck.