Where do you take your Ocean Diver Trainees for their first dive - OO1?

[David G]

Hi,
Interested to hear where trainees are taken for all their Open Water lessons OO1 to OO5.
There was a thread about not getting into the sea for seasonal/weather reasons but I am interested in knowing about all the best places to go.

Where do you actually take your trainees ?

(To be honest I am looking at South of Birmingham).

[nick kay]

Hmm, "inland", that leaves you with (in no particular order):
1. Stoney
2. Gildenberg
3. Dosthill
4. NDC @ Chepstow

[David Walker]

Where do you actually take your trainees ?

Stoney! 30mins up the road, and has everything you need for trainees (ie a flat 6m shelf next to the entry points, an easy ramp entry, a shop for buying their first logbook, and not a terribly silty bottom compared to many others)

David

[matts]

Where do you actually take your trainees ?
Horsea Lake
Vobster Quay
Selsey Lifeboat Station (sea)
Lee on Solent (sea)
Chesil Cove (sea)
Portland Harbour (sea)
Dosthill - for a change
Stoney - as a very last resort

[John Cale]

Hi,
Interested to hear where trainees are taken for all their Open Water lessons OO1 to OO5.
There was a thread about not getting into the sea for seasonal/weather reasons but I am interested in knowing about all the best places to go.

Where do you actually take your trainees ?

(To be honest I am looking at South of Birmingham).

I know It's not south of Brum but the Farne Islands. If you know them there's loads of safe sheltered spots to get right through to 005 and beyond. It also has the advantage that the instructor gets a pleasant dive aswell.

Up here we'd only use inland sites if we were desperate to get a lot of people through a lot of drills in a short time. Other than that it's get 'em in the sea.


John

[Paul Oliver]

Leybourne Lakes. Convenient for us and has lots of platforms at 6m, 1 at 4m and several other objects that you can use if you want.

Tends to get very crowded now but suits us.

Hopefully when the developments at Folkstone Harbour are completed that will be a viable option.

[Lindsey Doyle]

Hi, my preference for their enjoyment & comfort is Stoney's shelf, but Wraysbury is ok if vis not too bad & is nearer to me, or Swanage Pier if I want to go that far! (Normally if we've got something else on nearby)
From after 1 or 2 day's diving we get them in the sea, Swanage Pier, Chesil, Portland, Selsey lifeboat or mulberries etc. All the ODs qualified in our branch so far had been in the sea before qualifying, it just happens that way. But i fnd it easier to get more drills done inland, so they normally dive at least 2 inland sites too. Do 8-10 dives on average to complete 5 lessons.
HTH.

[Nick McV]

Babbacombe beach in Torquay. Good slip to walk down at high tide, good shelter from most weather (except Easterlies!). Good for a swim-round/look see to get them settled. Limited car parking, so pack as many per car as possible. Generally a 4m tidal range, so plan your time! The slipway is good for diver rescue/de-kit drills. Very steep road access!

Meadfoot beach is also good, but a bit more weather dependent. Sandy/Rocky.

Breakwater beach in Brixham is another popular site. Pebbly beach. Launching facilities available.

Several local dive shops, plus Torbay BSAC will be happy to help.

Plenty of B&B accommodation if you want to do an overnight.
Contact <a href="mailto:TorbayBSAC@aol.com">TorbayBSAC@aol.com</a> if you want more info

[ann holden]

Hi,
Interested to hear where trainees are taken for all their Open Water lessons OO1 to OO5.
There was a thread about not getting into the sea for seasonal/weather reasons but I am interested in knowing about all the best places to go.

Where do you actually take your trainees ?

(To be honest I am looking at South of Birmingham).

Gibraltar is South of Birmingham 2.5 hrs by plane
Ideal sea conditions with lots of interest.
Can all be done in a long weekend with the backing of a BSAC Premier School
<a href="http://www.divegib.com" >http://www.divegib.com</a>

Ann

[Rob Edlin]

Porthkerris in Cornwall if you're willing to travel (about 45-60 mins from Truro). very sheltered cove, good and varied facilities, shore drops to 18m gently, loads of marine life and usually availability of RIB spaces at last minute notice if you/your students feel confident enough. The dive centre staff will help you choose an appropriate site and give you all the info you need. I would however, plan to do some diving there with a buddy to get yourself familiar with the area before hand. We're based in Newark, Nottinghamshire and take students down there very frequently - it's worth the drive (more info available at www.porthkerris.com)