View Full Version : So many questions, so little time.
Hello,
My name is Mick, and I have a decision to make, and feel that I could do with some experienced divers to help me out (That's you lot ;) )
I am going to get married in Mauritius in February (the 14th for all you romantics out there) and would love to go diving out there, but I don't know what to do.
Do I learn over here first so I know what I a doing when I get out there, or just go and see how I like it and carry on once I come back?
If I go out a dive virgin, what restrictions would there be, regarding depth, freedom to swim etc, with the resort dive trips. Adversely, if I learn over here and get something like the PADI OW certificate, what extra freedom would that give me out there?
I have a choice of training venues where I live, there are 2 places to do the PADI OW course, or I can go somewhere else to the BSAC club. Which would be the best to go to, related to prices etc?
I know there are fee's to join the club, and BSAC membership, but the course says that there are 6 open water dives, I take it there are charges for these too?
I have gone as far as buying my own mask, snorkel and fins so I can snorkel whenever I want in Mauritius, but I have read on here about people using weights?
I am sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I need to get all these questions out before I forget them :D
Many thanks for any help/advice you could offer.
Adrian Kelland
23-08-2006, 23:13
Hello,
My name is Mick, and I have a decision to make, and feel that I could do with some experienced divers to help me out (That's you lot ;) )
I am going to get married in Mauritius in February (the 14th for all you romantics out there) and would love to go diving out there, but I don't know what to do. Do what newly weds do? :D
Do I learn over here first so I know what I a doing when I get out there, or just go and see how I like it and carry on once I come back?
If I go out a dive virgin, what restrictions would there be, regarding depth, freedom to swim etc, with the resort dive trips. Adversely, if I learn over here and get something like the PADI OW certificate, what extra freedom would that give me out there? If you learn over here, at least you will probably know if you want to do it. If you book to learn over there, you may have wasted your money, but thats not an easy one. Also does SWMBO to be want to learn too? If not, will she be happy not to see you for a while?
I have a choice of training venues where I live, there are 2 places to do the PADI OW course, or I can go somewhere else to the BSAC club. Which would be the best to go to, related to prices etc?
I know there are fee's to join the club, and BSAC membership, but the course says that there are 6 open water dives, I take it there are charges for these too?[/quote]
That will depend on the branch. Some cover all costs in their subs up front, others have a more basic subs, with members paying for what they do along the way. You will have to contact the club concerned to make certain. Also make clear to them that you want to be ready by Christmas. That leave a month for slippage. Instructors not available or you cant make a night. Club based training tends to be spread out, some are more concentrated. PADI may be the latter.
I have gone as far as buying my own mask, snorkel and fins so I can snorkel whenever I want in Mauritius, but I have read on here about people using weights?
I am sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I need to get all these questions out before I forget them :D
Many thanks for any help/advice you could offer.
It's the right place, best of luck,
Adrian
Dave (Simmo)
23-08-2006, 23:18
Hi Mick
& welcome to the forum
to answer your questions firstly PADI vs BSAC - i've trained with both agencies and the bottom line is it's not the agency is the instructor that makes the difference. in your case you have a time pressure, a BSAC club will normally be cheaper IF there is a course running which will fit your time shedule contact your local clubs this link will take you too the BSAC training and whats involved http://www.bsac.org/learn/branch1.htm
The next link will take you to the west midlands area of BSAC you can contact the clubs see if you can go for a try dive in a pool some people just hate it when they try diving - try to take your fiance along your honemoon will run much more smoothly if you are both going diving [based on my experiences married to a non-diver]
http://www.bsac.org/branches/wmidlands.htm
if you go down the PADI route your going to have to pay for an instructors time which is why the cost is higher [we in BSAC give our time for free - it's a club thing, the hope is we'll gain a buddy and you never know in 3 years time you'll might be giving your time for free to someone else]
if you go down the PADI route don't spend your honeymoon studying either get qualified here if you go out there as a PADI OW diver or a BSAC Ocean diver [equivalent qualifications] you'll have to go for a check out dive but then you'll be in with the fishes
the second best option is a referal - do all the book work here just the in water stuff over there
but if you can get in the water here anywhere just to make sure you like it.
don't worry about weights for snorkeling unless your wearing a wet suit and i'd guess not there you wont need one in any case do you really want to pay an airline to carry 2kilo of lead to the other side of the world
Dave
Do I learn over here first so I know what I a doing when I get out there, or just go and see how I like it and carry on once I come back?First thing to know about scuba is that it's a bit like marriage.
Any fool can jump in and have a go...but it takes a while before you really know what it's all about and then you still have to work at it :eek:
If I go out a dive virgin, what restrictions would there be, regarding depth, freedom to swim etc, with the resort dive trips.Your own mainly :confused: It may be hard to understand at the moment but scuba is an experience based sport. The environment is far too dynamic to be covered completely in a training course. A scuba qualifiacation does not mean you are safe to dive to the limits it imposes. It means you are safe to start accquiring the experience needed to progress towards those limits. Qualifications provides an envelope of operation in which you can get the all important experience. You start at the less challenging end and take small steps forward. By the time the qualification limit becomes restrictive you have enough experience to take on the next course. You can try taking big steps, you might get away with it, but scuba diving is not very forgiving of mistakes, on account you can't breathe water.
The more black and white answer is that initial open water training takes place around a depth of 10m. Once qualified you get to go to about 20m within no decompression limits. It diversifies from there depending on the training agency and the specific courses you might take. How restrictive it is will depend on what you are wishing to look at underwater and the depth it lies at. Most of the fish life is within the first 10 to 15m.
Adversely, if I learn over here and get something like the PADI OW certificate, what extra freedom would that give me out there?I would suggest that you look at the choice another way...Do you want to spend half your honeymoon in a classroom, revising, with the pressure of exams? It might be a good idea to at least get the theory and confined water lessons completed in the UK.
I have a choice of training venues where I live, there are 2 places to do the PADI OW course, or I can go somewhere else to the BSAC club. Which would be the best to go to, related to prices etc?Well if you will ask the question on a BSAC forum don't be surprised that the answer is BSAC of course :D
I guess it does depend on what you wish to do after the holiday. If you have a genuine interest in diving as a pass time, rather than just an experience, BSAC will teach you in greater detail, but it will take longer. At this stage you might want to think about poping along to the clubs and schools and taking a try-dive. You can get a feel for your potential instructors and a taste of scuba, for very little cost.
I know there are fee's to join the club, and BSAC membership, but the course says that there are 6 open water dives, I take it there are charges for these too?BSAC is a club (unless it is a BSAC school). You pay a membership subscription and may then benefit from the facilities offered by the club. Exactly what a club offers will depend on the other members in it and their interests. Some of those members may have qualified as instructors and be willing to teach on a voluntary basis. They may ask you to pay expenses, they may not. It all depends on the club.
Your subs buy you membership of the club. The subs cost is the cost of operating the club divided by the number of members. Membership subs guarantee only opportunities - such as the opportunity to quaify as a BSAC diver. It's up to the members themselves to both take those opportunities and to provide them. Should you dive as a passtime this is a very cost effective way to go about things. If all you want is an experience, it's likely an expensive way to do it.
As to the costs of diving, the kit is fairly expensive whether you hire it or buy it. Once you have the kit it is perfectly possible to go diving for the cost of an airfill (around £2.50). Organised diving costs around £10 to £50 a day depending on whether there is a boat involved.
I have gone as far as buying my own mask, snorkel and fins so I can snorkel whenever I want in Mauritius, but I have read on here about people using weights?Snorkeling in the UK means wearing a wetsuit or dry suit to protect from the cold. These suits are very buoyant so weights are used to sink them. In tropical waters you don't generally need thermal protection more than a T-Shirt and so you don't generally need additional weight.
I am sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I need to get all these questions out before I forget them :DLesson #1, divers don't apologise for asking questions. It's safer than learning the hard way :D
Welcome aboard Mick. I hope you enjoy it half as much as I do.
With regard to most of your questions, What they said!
Two points to add though.
One option that MattS touched on that is worth considering (particularly if you have no interest in British diving, although why that would be the case I have no idea) is a PADI referal. With this you do all the theory and pool work in the UK but do the open water stuff on holiday. That way you don't spend half your honeymoon in lessons
Which would be the best to go to, related to prices etc?
Price is a very, very bad way to make a decision on who to get to teach you to dive. Diving is generally safe but can be hazardous, therefore you need to learn properly. You need to make sure you learn well in an environment and style that suits you. The instructor is the most important part of this but the school or club they teach in is also important. When you look at very cheap prices, think to yourself "How can they do the course so cheap?"
garethwoodruff
24-08-2006, 10:10
I think looking at those timescales, I would book a PADI Open Water course in the UK and get it done in September / October (or a BSAC Ocean Diver course run through a school, not a club)
To get your pool and theory work done in a BSAC Branch then means doing the Open Water lessons in Jan / Feb, too cold in my opinion.
Get a PADI OW course under your belt. Get it done in September / October .Get them to agree to allow you to go back into their pool to proactice basic skills for free with some gear just before your due to go away.
Have a great honeymoon.
Join a BSAC Branch when you get back off honeymoon and have a go at diving in the UK (or even after you have done the course in September / October).
Just a few ideas,
Cheers,
Gareth.;)
Stormchaser
24-08-2006, 17:46
Myself and my girlfriend were in a similar situation. We booked a holiday to the Dominican Republic for my GF's 30th birthday. Two months before departing and whilst trawling the internet for things to do whilst over there, I stumbled across Scuba Diving.
My GF who was petrified of the Ocean was sceptical about diving so we initially booked on a try dive at a recommended PADI centre in London (At this stage I had never even heard of the BSAC) and then we continued to do our Open Water Referral course.
This involved a weekend of videos, knowledge reviews and pool skills. We completed this a week before our travel and whilst on holiday completed the 4 Open Water dives. My GF, who wouldn't even put a foot in the water, now couldn't get enough diving so we did another 7 dives whilst over there.
Since then we have completed a Dry Suit Course and our Advanced Open Water and done another ten or so dives in Chepstow and Wraysbury.
It was at this stage (and mainly through my GF's new addiction to diving) we decided the best route for us was to join a BSAC club. Basically we are hooked, and joining a club seems the best way to gain some good experience in the UK waters. I like the way that the BSAC has an emphasis on safety and progression is controlled. We are at the stage where we just want to consolidate and enjoy diving, so the BSAC seems the way forward.
We cannot complain, all our instructors have been excellent and once you 'go down' for the first time you'll be hooked!!! :)
My advice is do an Open Water Referral, complete the Open Water Dives on holiday, have a great time and then when you are addicted to the underwater realm, come back and join a BSAC club!
Easy awnser. Do a refferal.
Look around for your closest UK PADI school and do the pool and theory here
in the UK. You will get a refferal card which signs you off for these elements.
You take this along to a school in Mauritius and finish off the Open Water
elements in 2 days, leaving the rest of the time for more diving or whatever
else you do on honeymoon.
On your return you can go along to any BSAC club and use your PADI cert
to crossover, starting on BSAC Sport diver. Armed with all that in-water
practice you should now find the transition to UK diving a lot easier.
You can of course do it all here in the UK, but if that's what you want to do,
be quick. Water temps at the moment are good and you certainly want to
avoid doing stuff in UK winter. Ok if you are already a diver, but very
offputting for a beginner.
T.
Martyn Ward
26-08-2006, 21:38
First thing to know about scuba is that it's a bit like marriage.
Any fool can jump in and have a go...but it takes a while before you really know what it's all about and then you still have to work at it :eek:
And don't forget: they'll both leave you with an empty wallet :D :D :D
Martyn.
just to throw another cat into the fire, there are a couple of other options to consider...
i am a PADI and BSAC instructor and yes the PADI route will see you qualified as an open water diver in 5 days, yes there is the referal route, for which you complete the theory and confined water sessions before you go, then complete the 4 required open water dives over 2 days once on holiday.
most people here have said go padi then cross over to bsac... well how about going padi and staying padi OR go bsac and stay bsac.
typically PADI is not club based. the padi school i teach for runs like a club though, we have our own hard dive boat and our own on line forum where people can arrange their own diving. all the things you could get with bsac.
you do not "join" padi until becomming a pro, but sometimes you do need to work harder to get some diving because of that.
BSAC is all about the club, so you join the club with yearly subs, but you also have to join bsac with yearly subs dirrect to them too.
however... with a club its all there, a ready supply of buddies, some clubs have their own boat, they may even have dive kit available until you get to investing in your own.
some of the main differences though are that any training you may want to do will be dependant on having an instructor and pool time available through BSAC and can take longer. with PADI, as long as any course pre requisites are met you pay for the instructors time. which yes it can turn out more expensive but it may then possible to comlete a comparable course in a fraction of the time.
there is nothing wrong with either agency, and i'm not for a second suggesting that there is, it all depends on what you think may suit and serve you best. one thing is for sure though, PADI is without doubt, better recognised around the world. so if there's any thought that you may only be a "warm water" diver PADI may serve you better, or if you think you may dive in this country as well then maybe give the BSAC a try, at least then you can decide which suits you better.
:D
most people here have said go padi then cross over to bsac... well how about going padi and staying padi OR go bsac and stay bsac.
You could go PADI and stay PADI, but seeing as those PADI divers amongst
us are now here on the BSAC site, it would suggest that PADI didnt cut it
(for us) in the UK.
Go BSAC, stay BSAC? Again fine if you go to a pro-BSAC school, but many
clubs will resent someone turning up with the sole intention of learning with
a holiday deadline.
That's why doing either PADI OW or BSAC OD at a pro-school is a good idea,
followed by a joining a club to get the support lacking in the PADI system.
No reason to stick with one agency if you can get better training by mixing.
T.
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