Am I a wimp? I can take it...pool temperature on a PADDI course

[Mark Haydon]

Just started Diving - Paddi OPen water in Egypt (january). The pool was unheated in the hilton hurgahda, was 16C and, of course, we sat around in it for a couple of days doing skills - the sea was 21C! I had 5mm suit on (I think) no hood, boots - I am almost gave up... (thankfully didn't as red sea was great)is this temperture usual when doing skills? Ok... i'm ready, I asked for it.
Mark

[alison boler]

LOL!!!! Well, I suppose there have to be some downsides to learning to dive in such a great place! Most pools in Egypt and indeed in Israeli Red Sea resorts I have visited are unheated - most of the year, you REALLY wouldn't want them to be. However, in the winter, I agree, they can be absolutely freezing. I can well remember spending a most enjoyably sadistic afternoon lying beside the pool at the Fayrouz Hilton in Sharm and watching people's faces as they jumped in (as I had done earlier) - talk about shock and awe!! The warmth of the sun and relatively high air temp just doesn't prepare you for it.
I learned to dive out there myself and it was just the same then - we were absolutely hypothermic after an hour or so knelt on the bottom of the pool - the sea was a blessed relief.
More recently I was involved in an instructor event at the Camel Hotel in Sharm and we wore DRY SUITS in the pool because it was so cold. One poor soul was running a BSAC Snorkelling Instructor course and they all had to wear them too!

You're not a wimp - don't worry - and as you say it is all worth it now. Hope you continue to really enjoy your diving in warmer waters - heck, even the UK is (sometimes, alright not often unless you frequent the waters around Sellafield!)warmer than 16C

Allie

[Steven van Leeuwarden]

Hi Mark,

I have done quite some teaching in Egypt, and you're right, from November - March it can get very cold, especially in those unheated pools, where the wind blows over to chill it even further. I was normally teaching and diving in a dry suit!

You'll enjoy the diving, and after the Egypt experience, you may even be ready for the nice temperature of the British waters in summer!

Have fun.

[Mark Haydon]

Thanks for your responses, it sounded cold to both of you also. My self esteem and I are on speaking terms again. Yes Alison it was a great place to learn and has me completely hooked on diving...saving money for the next trip...
Cheers
Mark