New to diving...but not to salt

[CrazeUK]

Hi Guys.

Coming from a hobby keeping marine fish i am no stranger to salt water..
However i want to take it to the next level..

I have full intention to pay a trip to the red sea in september..as a major part of it i intend to do ALOT of diving.

Which brings me here..

Anyone got any advice on the best way to go?

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi Guys.

Coming from a hobby keeping marine fish i am no stranger to salt water..
However i want to take it to the next level..

I have full intention to pay a trip to the red sea in september..as a major part of it i intend to do ALOT of diving.

Which brings me here..

Anyone got any advice on the best way to go?

Hi have a browse through these reports written by other divers about their visits to the Red Sea and please feel free get back to us if you have any further questions:

http://www.bsac.com/findit.asp?cat=tripreports&section=0001000100150047&view=list&glat=&glng=&gzoom=&keyword=Egypt&submit.x=61&submit.y=21

My favourite if a lot of diving is wanted is the Liveaboard :)

[PeteM]

Hi Guys.

Coming from a hobby keeping marine fish i am no stranger to salt water..
However i want to take it to the next level..

I have full intention to pay a trip to the red sea in september..as a major part of it i intend to do ALOT of diving.

Which brings me here..

Anyone got any advice on the best way to go?

A few quick questions so we can better focus the advice

Are you already trained?
If so to what level?
Do you want to dive just abroad or also in the UK (which has some of the best diving in the world)?
Do you want to learn before you go or whilst on holiday?
If on holiday do you want to do it all out there or would you want to do some before you went?
If before you go, where are you based?

[CrazeUK]

Hi guys thanks for your responses:

Eddie: Thanks for the link will go through some tomorrow.
Pete:
Are you already trained?
- No training what so ever, did do a little snorkling in greece (untrained)

If so to what level?
- (see above)

Do you want to dive just abroad or also in the UK (which has some of the best diving in the world)?
- Once i get training, i will dive in the UK in summer only (dont like the cold)

Do you want to learn before you go or whilst on holiday?
- Ideally yes, definitly for me, and prefrebly for my partner and friends, no point in wasting a holiday in a classroom.

If on holiday do you want to do it all out there or would you want to do some before you went?
- What do you think the best and cheapest method is? Open to advice.

If before you go, where are you based?
- We are all based in Manchester.

Thanks again
C-UK

[ChristianG]

Once i get training, i will dive in the UK in summer only (dont like the cold)
Seems to me that there are three things you need to understand from the very first:

1) Although you may be well acquainted with salt water, open seas salt water is very different to a salt water aquarium
2) SCUBA means taking a life support system into an environment where, without it, you are likely to die, so pay attention to your training, wherever that may be.
3) It's the Instructor who ultimately will make the experience an enjoyable one, or not. Unfortunately you will need to make that choice yourself without knowing much of anything about it.

You have a number of options for training:

1) A commercial organisation such as PADI, NAUI etc. Pros: The longer they have to spend in training you, the less money they make so they tend to do it quickly. Cons: that doesn't necessarily mean that you will be particularly well trained and, in fact, it sometimes means that you should really do two courses in quick succession in order to become reasonably competent.
2) Become a member of a BSAC Club, there are many in the Manchester area (http://www.bsac.com/findit.asp?cat=clubs&section=00010001&view=list&glat=&glng=&gzoom=&keyword=north+west). Then let the amateur Instructors of that Club loose on you. Note that they are only amateurs in that they do it for the love of it, they don't get paid. In a way that is, of course, also a pro. Pros: All training is free and a BSAC Certification Card is not to be sneezed at. Cons: you need to pay BSAC subs and Club subs, whatever they may be. Not all the Clubs are of the same in mindset or anything else, that's why they're clubs so choosing one carefully is desirable. Because the Instructors all have another life, training is not over the next five days and then you are qualified. If you have a deadline for training (such as an impending holiday) you will need to make that 100% clear, and be demanding about it. One of the major strengths of this Club system is the mentoring that goes with it almost automatically - unless you're a particularly bad egg so that no-one wants to know you. Most, if not all, of these clubs have weekly pool time for training and practise purposes. Don't be put off if it's a Uni Club, most of these also readily accept us ordinary mortals.
3) Choose BSAC Direct (there are few such centres) where the Instructors get paid, they want you off their hands pretty quickly and therefore you get trained pretty quickly. Options (1) and (3) don't, BTW, stop you from joining a BSAC Club following, or even during, that training.

[Ron Evans]

If you don't like the cold, another option is to do the classroom bit over here before you go, and save the water bit for the Red Sea. That way, you can stay out of the classroom over there. BSAC and PADI instructors are used to that method.

If you are going to UK dive later, you may prefer to do all your training here, so that you are trained for the conditions in which you will be diving.

Don't forget though - fish get in the way of the wrecks:p

[Roz]

If you don't like the cold....

Can I please refer you to a posting I made about UK diving recently. Heard a good quote along the lines of if you're getting cold, you're badly dressed.

http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=129863#post129863

[middlewatchman]

Seems to me that there are three things you need to understand from the very first:

1) Although you may be well acquainted with salt water, open seas salt water is very different to a salt water aquarium
2) SCUBA means taking a life support system into an environment where, without it, you are likely to die, so pay attention to your training, wherever that may be.
3) It's the Instructor who ultimately will make the experience an enjoyable one, or not. Unfortunately you will need to make that choice yourself without knowing much of anything about it.

You have a number of options for training:

1) A commercial organisation such as PADI, NAUI etc. Pros: The longer they have to spend in training you, the less money they make so they tend to do it quickly. Cons: that doesn't necessarily mean that you will be particularly well trained and, in fact, it sometimes means that you should really do two courses in quick succession in order to become reasonably competent.
2) Become a member of a BSAC Club, there are many in the Manchester area (http://www.bsac.com/findit.asp?cat=clubs&section=00010001&view=list&glat=&glng=&gzoom=&keyword=north+west). Then let the amateur Instructors of that Club loose on you. Note that they are only amateurs in that they do it for the love of it, they don't get paid. In a way that is, of course, also a pro. Pros: All training is free and a BSAC Certification Card is not to be sneezed at. Cons: you need to pay BSAC subs and Club subs, whatever they may be. Not all the Clubs are of the same in mindset or anything else, that's why they're clubs so choosing one carefully is desirable. Because the Instructors all have another life, training is not over the next five days and then you are qualified. If you have a deadline for training (such as an impending holiday) you will need to make that 100% clear, and be demanding about it. One of the major strengths of this Club system is the mentoring that goes with it almost automatically - unless you're a particularly bad egg so that no-one wants to know you. Most, if not all, of these clubs have weekly pool time for training and practise purposes. Don't be put off if it's a Uni Club, most of these also readily accept us ordinary mortals.
3) Choose BSAC Direct (there are few such centres) where the Instructors get paid, they want you off their hands pretty quickly and therefore you get trained pretty quickly. Options (1) and (3) don't, BTW, stop you from joining a BSAC Club following, or even during, that training.


Is there somewhere that sez KISS (keep it simple) :eek:

Buen welcome! as they say in Espanya :)

M

[ChristianG]

Is there somewhere that sez KISS (keep it simple)
Dive training is simple? I don't know about you but I truly hope that it isn't.

[middlewatchman]

Dive training is simple? I don't know about you but I truly hope that it isn't.

Explanations oh voluble one ;) i am not a current member of the BSAC and I understand that niether are U :rolleyes: :D

M

[northern_diver]

Diver training can be simple, depends entirely on the trainee...with the instuctor somewhat to 'blame' too....though most instructors are actually capable in some form of instructing:rolleyes:

You know fine well what middlewatchman was referring to with the 'KISS'.

Sometimes i wish membership status was listed on the profiles or on the header thing with peoples avatar etc...as lets face it, everything been said here is to do associated with BSAC...as people cant always make the difference between the agencies, before the damage is done...so could be handy...could be another way to fracture the forum though:confused:

Sure now we can get back to been helpful for the OP;) :)

John

[PeteM]

Sometimes i wish membership status was listed on the profiles

It is, under the additional information section. Not 100% reliable but not far short

[Nick Snip]

I'd recommend training in the UK. Get that out the way, then book up the Live-aboard to Egypt.

[northern_diver]

It is, under the additional information section. Not 100% reliable but not far short

I meant more like on display on like the 'on-line etc' lightbulb...but yes, sometimes thats there:)

John

[danielgentle]

I'm a new diver here!! but not the salt.. hahahaha.... but i love being here!!