Warm hello from the Philippine Islands...MABUHAY!

[weremermaid]

Hi deep_6,
Scuba lessons or wanna try a different dive resort, just contact Boy Siojo , he's with:
http://www.balai-resort.com/index.htm

Boy's the guy who trained me in scuba, he's very patient and helpful. Its very cheap to learn and dive here compared to other countries, besides, summer's here!

Just mention I referred you. You need to rush into buying up all your equipment right away. You can even rent a a mask, fins and snorkle until they teach you how to identify for the right equipment that'll fit your needs.

Boy also runs recertifications if you haven't been diving for more than a year, have problems with bouyancy or if you are physically handicapped. I'm PADI cerified but had a little macho-style NAUI "drag-off-all your equipment-except-the-reg-in-your-mouth-and-put-it back-on" training. Scary to first timers but absolutely useful if such a thing might happen to you.

The wetsuit maker of ScubaWorld Pasig branch also makes excellent custom wetsuits if you get tired of the black on black look. Had my "sirena" wetsuit made there.

Happy diving!

Cherrie

Dandy Don, that's because diving in the Philippines is A VERY EXPENSIVE SPORT!

That's $300usd for OW cert. That still excludes the fee for the dive resort and boat for the open water dives during the course.
Let's say you'll bee spending around $1000usd for equipment.

It really took me some time to save up. And now I'm shopping around for the best school or training that money can buy.

 

[mobymark]

Welcome to the board from Gozo, Malta! Happy Safe Diving!

 

[deep_6]

Thanks weremermaid, I'll consider that LDS of yours. Right now I'm in a state of confusion with the plethora of dive cert agencies in Manila. NAUI? PADI? IANTD? Then there's Martin Lorenzo of GUE (but that's progression beyond OW of course).

As for gear, I don't think I'll be buying here...you know what I'm talking about...the prices are sky high! I'm thinking of getting gear online like Dive Rite Express or maybe do the shopping in Hong Kong. But then again plane fare and hotel accomodations are added cost.

Right now I'm leaning towards getting an IANTD cert from PHILIPPINE TECHNICAL DIVERS. Why? Because I'm getting into diving not for purely rec purposes. I'm very bored with my career (I'm a database specialist) and am looking to walk on the wild side like be a techinical diver, dive instructor, dive master, or commercial diver.

Thanks for your welcome and hope to bump into you someday.

Thanks for the welcome as well mobymark!

 

[Scubaroo]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! Hehe, technical diving is NOT the way to make money - more like spend a lot of it!

Have you considered buying online from Australia (cough, cough)...

 

[deep_6]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! Hehe, technical diving is NOT the way to make money - more like spend a lot of it!

Have you considered buying online from Australia (cough, cough)...

LOL!!! You're right Scubaroo! I was just doing a mental rundown of things to buy and how much to budget! Yup, I think I'll spend more than I can initially earn.

And about buying online from Australia, hey I've got no problems with that as long as prices are competitive and what I buy are covered by international warranties. Why not push the website to me public or private.

Thanks!

 

[deep_6]

Hey Scubaroo, no need to push that website....it was pretty stupid of me to ask and not look first. I'm now browsing Scubaroo Diving Supply. Interesting that you have Oxycheq. I hear it a lot but couldn't find it on the web. Thanks!