SCUBA divers! Some questions

[Tarmac]

Don't think the instructors would let me go into the caves.  

Besides, caves scare the hell out of me.  I'm a bit claustrophobic when it comes to limited air supplies and tight spaces.

[Lazerus]

Originally posted by Tarmac
Also, I'm thinking about heading to Ginnie Springs, FL for my certification dives, followed by a week of open-water diving in West Palm Beach FL.  Any opinions on that?

You can certify in Charleston, SC. I happen to live there and will get you so plastered that you just might go out with the tide:D

[mrblack]

Originally posted by Tarmac
Don't think the instructors would let me go into the caves.  

Besides, caves scare the hell out of me.  I'm a bit claustrophobic when it comes to limited air supplies and tight spaces.

Thats a healthy way to look at it.
Also take It easy on the booze before and after diving.

As It hinders nitrogen absorbsion...
You will learn in class why this Is important(has to do with the bends).

[Ping]

Originally posted by mrblack
LOL you dive on wrecks and caves with out the propper training and you will DIE.

Trust me seen It too many times.
It takes years to get the propper certs to be a wreck diver.

DIP! Diving on wrecks is NOT dangerous. Wreck penetration is.
On my PADI course we ended it by diving on one near Cardinal.

[_Schadenfreude_]

Originally posted by Tarmac
I remember a scuba thread a while ago, so I figured I'd ask some questions here.  

I was swimming some laps at the pool yesterday, and ran into the MSU Scuba Club giving free introductory lessons.  I had a great time swimming around for about an hour.

So now I'm thinking about getting certified.  The scuba club offers PADI certification at what I understand to be a great deal.  The instructor (an officer in the club) says he does it for fun, and the club doesn't turn a profit on it.  There would only be 6 people in the class.  Two instructors, as I understand it.  

Here's the deal:

$195: instructor fees for class+pool, gear rental for pool, course pack, dive table, log book, pool fees, one year MSU SCUBA club membership.  And a club t-shirt.  

$15: rental mask, fins, snorkel, booties.  I could also buy this stuff, although I'd most likely rent for a while.  

$ 85: Four open Water Certification dives.  

Total: $295

Good deal?  Any hints or tips?  

Also, I'm thinking about heading to Ginnie Springs, FL for my certification dives, followed by a week of open-water diving in West Palm Beach FL.  Any opinions on that?

I'm a qualified Naui and Padi divemaster, done about 600 dives, it's a great hobby especially if you get the chance to travel.

You HAVE to buy the following:

1. Own wetsuit - if you need a dry suit don't get into the water
2. Own mask and snorkel
3. Own fins & booties
4. Own weight belt.

You should buy

5. BCD ( Buoancy Control Device) Sea Quest is best
6. Dive Bag - one with wheels and dry and wet sections

You will end up buying
7. Dive computer
8. Steel 12.2 liter tank
9. Bloody great "I am a DIVER" watch

Also odds and ends like torches, compass, knife, carabinier's, spare O rings.

Don't buy anything with yellow on it ( called yumyum yellow by shark aficinado's) Go for full black or everyone will think you're a newb and laugh.

Don't hold your breath while on scuba, the scary lecture (lecture no.2 or no.3) is serious - pay attention - try not to die.


Prices quoted are pretty good btw...see you in the big blue...am going to Truk to dive the wrecks this year.

[kappa]

I grew up in pensacola, fl... Got certified for $125 many years ago.. That was a good deal.. Even for the area..  Certification cost is not the worry.. Its only a one time expense.. If you want to be certified (especially where you live) I'd just pay it and get it over with..

a few facts..

Open water certification does not expire.. Even if you dont dive for years at a time.. (i still have my original sea card)

PADI is the best cert. course.. Most recognized....

Wreck diving is not dangerous.. Shooting a spear gun at your friend for 'effect' is dangerous.. 8)

Learn the basics and never panic.. (have backup stuff so you dont have to.. ie. spare air, second regulator.. always dive with a knife and a buddy..)

If you plan to dive a lot... Its always better to buy your own equipment.. Even if its just one piece at a time.. Renting is throwing money away..

Your mask is one of the most important parts of the getup.. If you have an uncomfortable mask or one you are constantly having to 'clear', your dive will be ruined.. Not surprisingly, it doesnt take that much to make you uncomfortable while diving, but like all things, its a state of mind...  

Diving outta P-cola in the gulf is practically nothing but wreck dives as there is not much living coral in the gulf.. About 30 miles south of p-cola pass is an area called the trisaler(sp) grounds.. This area contains what is known as Live Rock... A type of coral I suppose.. Mostly flat rock on the bottom.. Not like coral pictures most would imagine.. But pretty much the only non-wreck diving in the area.. Wreck dives in the area consist of sunkin ww2 liberty ships, oil tankers, freighters, a ww1 battleship (just outta P-cola pass), airplanes, a butt load of ww2 tanks(those are crazy to see underwater, can get lobster from under their tracks..hehe), tugboats ('go navy' is the name of this site.. excellent dive), and airplanes.. and pretty much anything else you can imagine... All these wrecks have all sorts of life covering them.. All sorts...

Diving is a great hobby.. Perfectly safe if you approach it from a position of respect.. Once you get 15-20 dives under your belt it will be like riding a bike..

I've also dove in pretty much every corner of the Carribean.. By far better experiences than diving in the Gulf.. I've been 110ft underwater and able to look up to see waves bouncing off our boats bow.. Thats pretty freakin clear water.. I've been on shark dives in the bahamas (thats a humbling experience, if they wanted you... there'd be nothing you could do but get eatin. hehe) Drift dives outta Ft. lauderdale and Casamel(sp) island.. I've seen the contenintal shelf and looked over (down) the edge into the abyss.. Diving is truely a great experience..

By all means you should get certified.. But remember to respect other divers and respect your diving environment.... 8)

O and practice your breathing.. Its no fun to get all suited up for a 60ft dive and your buddy run outta air in 12 mins.. lol We used to compete to see who could get the most bottom time.. Or better said, who could come up with the most air... Bottom time is always against you.. You should practice to make the air your friend.. 8)

[Frogm4n]

trust me tarmac. Cold water dives SUCK. SUCK SUCK SCUCK SUCK SUCK. Ive been diveing for about 12 years now. Paid 100 dollars to get certified.( dont dive unless you take a class), but then again that was in florida where there is plenty of competition from others.

[Ping]

Cold water dives are all I've done
Its not bad if you have a good wet suit, or preferably dry suit (which I have never used yet). On the really cold water days Prime your wet suit with warm water from a thermos ( no don't pee in your suit) and its quite nice.

[Frogm4n]

Cold water dives are not bad if you do not know any better.

[seabat]

Tarmac,

You might want to check out the scuba board.

http://www.scubaboard.com

Its an open forum where you can get varied information about what you want to know about scuba.

As you are in Michigan, you might want to think about how much diving you want to do and what type.

Warm water versus cold diving has just as many fans as AH and WB and the opinions run the same range.  

I dove in Hawaii for 9 years and in Puget Sound for the past 3.   I like the Sound just as much as Hawaii.  Of course I am diving in a Dry Suit here.   Its nice to just have to towel off your hair while the wet divers are sprinting to their cars, turing the heater up to afterburner, and trying to warm up.

As others mentioned, getting the right personal gear is the most important thing you can do.    I would consider the mask, snorkel, and fins as the basic personal gear, with the other gear being available thru rent until you have more knowledge as to what type of diving you want to do and what brands of products fit your criteria for price, functions, etc.   I would guess $75-120 for a good mask, and $130 to $200 for a good pair of fins.

IMO safety rest entirely with you.  Its up to the individual to make the determination of whether  he can handle the expected conditions of the dive thru their knowledge, training, and abilities.

As Kappa mentioned, the cert is good for life, no renewal.

You do need a cert.   You most likely be asked for your card when you rent gear or ask for tank fills, and you cant dive without gear and air.

As far as price of the course you mentioned, it seems reasonable.  Call around to some of the dive shops in your area (or even other areas) and do a price comparision.   PADI is the largest certifying agency as far as I know but there are others out there that are just as recognized.  

Just for future consideration,  I have about $700 in warm water gear and about $1600 in cold water.  (an overlap of about $300 in dual use gear).

You wont go wrong choosing to dive safe.  Best wishes.

[capt. apathy]

Cold water dives are not bad if you do not know any better.

absolutely right. I've been certified for about 27 years.  up until a few years ago, all my diving was in puget sound or on the Oregon coast.

after diving in HI I can't even imagine going back to the cold water.

Go for full black or everyone will think you're a newb and laugh.

most people around here won't go for a full-black suit.  you look a lot like a sea-lion to a hungry blue or a orca.

BTW- bare minimum, own your own mask, snorkle, and boots.  wearing those that have been worn by a couple hundred other people is just damn discusting.

[2Slow]

I can't speak about the pricing.  I was PADI Open Water certified in 1977.  A year after cert, wallet was stolen.  Two years ago Wife and I took a cruise to Grand Cayman.  I wanted to dive warm blue water.

Took a few phone calls.  PADI reissued my dive card.  I bought a refresher course on CD rom.  I reviewed it, cruised, and dove.  What a hoot!  Not bad for not having dived since 1977.  Some things you just don't forget.  Equipment was a little different but the dive Masters were a great help.  We dove on a wreck, but it was in a underwater park.  There was no entrances to it, so there was not a temptation to get into trouble.

The two don'ts of diving I remember from my instructor still apply:  Don't panic.  Don't hold your breath.

You do want the PADI cert.  Most Dive shops are affiliated with the different Scuba groups and won't sell or rent to non-certified divers.

[Gunthr]

Hi Tarmac ... I was certified in Michigan with the YMCA.  My final open water dive was in the Detroit River. We entered the river up close to Lake Saint Clare and went downriver with the fast current a mile or two at 30 - 40 foot. Buddies were tied together with 6 foot lines on the wrist.

That was really trippy... and cold. Saw junk cars, old antique liquor bottles, pilings and other stuff - fish too. It was springtime, and the water was really cold.

Michigan lakes are cool for a while, but kind of empty. You can pick a nice clean shallow lake like Whitmore Lake and try going under the ice with a dry suit. Fun. For a while anyway. All the wrecks I know of in Michigan are deep and have ripping currents. Worthwhile, but they rip so much you have to get inside a wheelhouse or on the lee side to get a rest.

 I'm spoiled with the amount of life you see in the Caribbean now.

[kappa]

ya... *** a solid black suit.. I dont wanna look sealish or invisible under water.. hehe

[Frogm4n]

dive belize.