Hello from a fresh out the box newbie as green as the grass itself!!!!

[Gok]

Hi all...
I have been looking at the forum pages as I recently did A PADI try dive at a local pool, and I am completely hooked and desperately want desperately want to jump in so to speak.

The thing is this, there seems to be a bit of a clash about PADI or BSAC i am not sure which to do. In fact i had only heard of BSAC yesterday forgive my ignorance) and to be honest i just wanna dive meet people, and have a blast and if i get good enough perhaps pass on anything I know. What i really want to know is? if i join a BSAC club are the are any gained qualification recognised internationally, ie can i grab a buddy rent some kit show a cirtificate and just have fun anywhere i want?

Finally is there a definitive answer to how long BSAC training will take to get to a point where i can go out and dive on overseas with friends?

Thanks and sorry if I rambled but i am a little over excited and want to get started

Gok

[Mike Halligan]

Hi all...
I have been looking at the forum pages as I recently did A PADI try dive at a local pool, and I am completely hooked and desperately want desperately want to jump in so to speak.
Well done, I'm not surprised, we all started that way.

The thing is this, there seems to be a bit of a clash about PADI or BSAC i am not sure which to do. In fact i had only heard of BSAC yesterday forgive my ignorance) and to be honest i just wanna dive meet people, and have a blast and if i get good enough perhaps pass on anything I know.
Then the club route may well be the one for you, if there's a club near you and you feel comfortable there. If you add your location to your profile, UserCP I think, then someone nearby will probably make recommendation for you. Every club in every sport has its own characteristics, some fit like a glove, others we simply can't get on with - so be careful in your selection.

What i really want to know is? if i join a BSAC club are the are any gained qualification recognised internationally, ie can i grab a buddy rent some kit show a cirtificate and just have fun anywhere i want?
Yes, the BSAC's qualifications are recognised worldwide and once qualified you can do exactly as you suggest, I do!

Finally is there a definitive answer to how long BSAC training will take to get to a point where i can go out and dive on overseas with friends?
No, there isn't. If you approach a BSAC Centre (a dive school) then there are planned programmes which are realistic and quick. With a club, you rely on the availability of loan kit, instructor time, organisation of classes, etc. and it really is "How long is a piece of string?" in some cases.

Thanks and sorry if I rambled but i am a little over excited and want to get started

Gok
Not at all, it's winter and we're suffering enthusiasm deficiency :D

[Gok]

Thanks for the information, and appologise for my earlier post, upon reading it it was very unclear. However, you may have set me straight. So I'll go club hunting in the morning

gok

[Howard Payne]

Hi Gok

At Eastbourne BSAC we aim to have people through their Ocean Diver and Sport Diver training in around 12 weeks per course, depending on your schedule, weather etc. We like to teach in small groups, and then beyond training, we have a boat moored at Sovereign Harbour Marina that goes out 3-4 times a weekend (again conditions permitting) - so you'll get plenty of chance to consolidate your skills, usually mixing it up with some of the more experienced divers in the club who'll mentor you to build your confidence :)

You're welcome to pop along to one of our Tuesday evening club nights at Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club to meet the members and perhaps talk to some of the guys who've recently been through entry level training.

Sounds like we're pretty close to you - feel free to PM me for more details

All the best /H

[Edward]

Thanks for the information, and appologise for my earlier post, upon reading it it was very unclear. However, you may have set me straight. So I'll go club hunting in the morning

gok
Hi Gok,

Have a good rummage round bsac.com especially the Learn to Dive section.

Welcome to the world of diving.

Edward

[Maria CM]

Welcome:)

Have lots of fun, and looking forward to hearing how you get on.

best wishes,

Maria

[Roz]

...The thing is this, there seems to be a bit of a clash about PADI or BSAC i am not sure which to do. Gok

Hi Gok

Diving is like banking. In the High Street there's Lloyds TSB, HSBC, NatWest, Barclays etc who all offer the same thing - Banking. Each company does things slightly differently even though they are offering banking services and the same can be said for diving. There are many training agencies who all can teach you to dive. The UK we have ANDI, BSAC, GUE, IANTD, PADI, PSAI, SCOTSAC, SDI, SSA, SSI, TDI and WASAC.

There isn't a clash between PADI and BSAC. They both offer the same things, it's just delivered it in a slightly different manner. If you are time poor, I'd look at the PADI route. If you are time rich, I'd go down the BSAC route.

The guys on here have given you some really good advice. One thing they didn't highlight is that it's not down to the training agency, but the instructor. Getting a good instructor is key so you'll want to avoid Howard Payne then :D Actually, being serious, Howard is one of many who post on here who are hybrids, ie they are multi agency trained, so you end up getting the best solution.

Joining a club is great because you will be mentored. You'll also be able to beg, borrow, steal, hire kit. It's well worth diving in Club Kit for awhile before you toddle off to buy your own set. That being said, once you've done a try dive with your local club, and you've decided you really want to learn to dive, I'd visit your local dive centre and buy a diving mask. Don't worry about getting anything else at this stage, even though your fingers will be itching.

[nik_the_brief]

Hi Gok,

Welcome aboard. Whereabouts in Kent are you?

If you're anywhere near canterbury you could do far worse than dropping by to our pool session on Thursday evenings - anytime from 8.30 onwards really to say hi and have a natter.

Here's a website link... http://www.canterburydivers.org.uk/

:D

[Gok]

Thank you all for such quick and helpful responses, I was originally thinking of trying to get an entry level qualification by the time I go to hurghada in may. Which, since booking, i have been told has some great dives. However, I'm starting to think perhaps there is no need to rush! I intent to buy a mask and fins prior to holiday so will just snorkel and enjoye learning to when I get home if needs be. A friend at work is bsac trained and had alot of good things to say about his club, and I figure I want to have fun, and dive with people that dive reguarly and for fun.

I live in greenhithe near bluewater. So will have a look around canterbury isn't too.

Thanks again for the info and the welcome party

[Gok]

Ps. Apologis for poor spelling, grammer ect. PC is on the fritz so i am having to use my phones Internet capabilities for all this.

[Mike Halligan]

I think he's hooked, chaps. Over to you in Kent. ;)

Only kidding, Gok, have fun in Hurghada, I shall (only 10 sleeps now) :D :D

[PeteM]

I think he's hooked, chaps.

Yep his days of having any money or spare time are gone for good

[Gok]

Luckily I'm always broke and time is something I'm constantly battling so i've already hit the ground running / water, swimming as it were

[Gok]

HHHHMMMMM, finding a club is not going as well as i thought it would.

[Janos]

HHHHMMMMM, finding a club is not going as well as i thought it would.

There are many clubs. Some are right for you, some are not. It would be boring if we were all the same. So keep perservering.

Janos

PS - We're based in Waterloo, which I suspect is a bit far for you, but I mention it in case you work in town.

[Howard Payne]

Do you drive Gok?

[Adrian Kelland]

I live in greenhithe near bluewater. So will have a look around canterbury isn't too.

Gok,

My old branch, North West Kent, is in the Gravesend area, but keep their RIB in Newhaven.

Diving Officer is Stew Proud, I'll pass on his contact details if you want, although they can be found online elsewhere.

Adrian

[Gok]

Hi all,

Thanks again, really appreciate the constant updates and info...

And in answer to the driving queston ... yes I ride a motorcycle but have an estate car for for moving gear and my dog mainly

Thanks again,

Gok

[Howard Payne]

Repeat offer Gok - if you drive - you're less than an hour away from us - pop down and have a look at Eastbourne BSAC? We meet socially on a Tuesdays at 8pm where out boat is moored at Sovereriegn Harbour Marina, Eastbourne.

We have a flourishing and growing bunch of younger and novice divers at the moment, including 3 people who are just starting Ocean Diver training (you could join this group and start your training right away if you wanted).

We dive year round, up to 4-5 times a week in the season and have superb facilities and a good social scene. You'd be very welcome :)

[davebarber]

Thurrock 608 are near you see facebook group Thurrock Aqualung Club , or
www.thurrockaqualungclub.co.uk

[Gok]

Thanks very much Howard and everyone else... I really appreciate it and I will try to pop down to eastbourne.

P.S I found my local club tonight, went down and the fella spent 45 mins trying to sell me a PADI course and informing me that BSAC is slow and expensive

Thanks again

Gok

[Howard Payne]

Thanks very much Howard and everyone else... I really appreciate it and I will try to pop down to eastbourne.

P.S I found my local club tonight, went down and the fella spent 45 mins trying to sell me a PADI course and informing me that BSAC is slow and expensive

Thanks again

Gok

PMSL! :D

[vidiotdave]

Hi Gok,

I could offer some thoughts, from someone recently in your position..

I had not done a try dive, so you are a step ahead..
I wanted to learn to dive as some friends have done, so I booked myself a holiday (by myself) to learn.
I recently qualified in December Padi open water in Sharm, Egypt- I did a fast track course, so only the practical and tests to do when out on holiday - so no time wasted reading books on holiday.
It's definitly nice learning in warm water an it was great to complete the qualification in 3 days.
Don't worry about going by yourself.. you will meet many other divers! and become more addicted!
After the openwater I then went straight on to the advanced PADI course, to learn more, as I felt very limited knowledge from the open water course.
In fact I had also never heard of BSAC till the course. - maybe some marketing is necessary?

Having now become addicted.. and not wanting to be a "holiday" diver, diving twice a year, I have joined the local BSAC, and the advice is fantastic.
I am in the middle of completing a crossover to "sportsdiver".. having done 4 lectures and 4 pool sessions.. (few more to go).
It was great to get into a pool, and I am finding that the more I practice the more it becomes natural. I would say that the information is more detailed and I feel more "safety aware"... not to mention more info about DSMB's, NItrox etc...
Soon the next step is the cold water! I am not sure I would want to learn that way...

Don't get drawn in to the agency debate.. in the end.. we all want to dive! BSAC, PADI, whoever...

I would say, if you have time, - go the BSAC way.. as your going to join a club anyway! if not, you can go a PADI course, and crossover..
If you have the money, and short of time, you could do a PADI in the UK..

A few people (& instructors at the club) have also gone this way.

I think its worth saying a massive thankyou to all the instructors in BSAC out there who devote their time to teaching the newbies!

Addicted..

[Gok]

Thanks as usual to every one for the advice and i appreciate the constant drive to just get diving...

Ad it happens I have found a two BSAC clubs one had a fantastic set of instructor who appear to have achieved some of the highest instructor training, but sadly the rates were a little above what I budgeted for in one hit... Then i found a club in Shooters Hill, and I will admit the instructors are not as .... technical but they are a really good bunch who love diving and are really welcoming. So much so that they let me do a try dive for £5 then the day after invited me to sit in on the block set lectures for Ocean diver, then asked me back the following saturday for another lecture and on Tuesday one of the instructors invited me to her home for a filth lecture, the committee have invited me to go back on Friday night for a 6th lecture. I haven't even joined the club or paid in to it and they have all bent over backwards to welcome me and get me up to scratch with the academic side of the training program. I am just two lectures from taking the exam and the committee have recorded all the lectures so that they can sign of my QRB when i join and get the ocean diver student pack.

They even managed to find me a drysuit from and old member which i can have for £50

I am amazed and over the moon and all for a fiver!! well, I'm going to join the club on Friday the best bit is the membership can be paid monthly so i can but the bulk on kit when I am ready to buy it...

Roll on the dive show on the 28th March I say


I am officially hooked,


A very EXCITED Gok
:) :) :) :)