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Okay I know we've got plenty of people that have been certified on this site ...and some people that know how to scuba dive....

So I'm going to force myself to use any money I get as my tax rebate this year to take diving lessons (rather than the mortgage, car loan or even a D-SLR) and stuff....my question is what do I look for in a school, and everything else .

I've done a few google searches, had a co-worker give me the name of one in the area ....but I'm not sure how to pick one.

I live in the DC/baltimore metro area...would prefer to not have to drive into (and more importantly out of ) DC...but if anyone has suggestions or knows names places ect I'd be most appreciative.

^_^

[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

Make sure the instructor knows how to swim.

I would look for a "school" that offers PADI certification...there are others such as SSI, but IMO, PADI is a much better course, and is more recognised....... PADI is everywhere there is good diving.

As for what dive shop to go through....Id give your BBB a call and research each shop that sounds promising. Chances are all going to be the same (other than personality of course) because they are all certified through the same places (PADI, SSI, etc).

Another thing to look at is cost....dont throw out one place because their cost is higher. Look at where they are going to do your open water certification also. Some places will be a lot higher, but most of the time it's cause they are doing your open water in places like Cozumel (dive cert. and mini vacation!).

Another thing.....dont let them talk you into getting your Open water and your Advanced in the same trip...Thats way too much info to process and retain, especially when you are doing your open water cert....Plus, even though they tell you that with a basic open water cert you can only go to 30 feet....well, lets just say that is the recommended depth Once you get more comfy and have a lot of dive hours in its not much different going deeper.

If you have any other questions, just post or send me a PM.

*Edit.....just checked my dive log to see how many hours of down time I have...Im about 20 minutes short of 215 hours

[hr width='40%']Ever since the day you went away
And left me lonely and cold
My life just hasn't been the same
Oh baby no

Last edited by DarkRealm Overlord at 28-Mar-2005 19:28

[link=PADI link]http://search.aimhome.netscape.com/aim/boomframe.jsp?query=P.A.D.I.&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3Dfb2165d663b0820b%26clickedItemRank%3D2%26userQuery%3DP.A.D.I.%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.padi.com%252Fenglish%252Fcommon%252Fcourses%252Frec%252Fbegin%252Fopenwater.asp%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DAIMHome%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.padi.com%2Fenglish%2Fcommon%2Fcourses%2Frec%2Fbegin%2Fopenwater.asp" style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link] for you to look at.





[hr width='40%']Ever since the day you went away
And left me lonely and cold
My life just hasn't been the same
Oh baby no

T'anks for the link DRO

Here are a few I'd found
[link=http://www.columbiascuba.com/]http://www.columbiascuba.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]
[link=http://www.seacolony.net/open_water.htm]http://www.seacolony.net/open_water.htm" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]
[link=http://www.annapolisscuba.com/]http://www.annapolisscuba.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

Of them it looks like columbia will fit my sched best. Looking thru the site it says Students must provide mask, snorkel, fins and boots, weightbelt, swimsuit and towel and "Each student will need to purchase an Open Water Student Package, which contains the text book, student log book, student folder, and dive table. The quarry we use in Virginia for the final four certification dives charges an entry fee of $11.00 per day per person. We will start certification dives beginning April 5th opening weekend at Millbrook Quarry."

Does that sound normal Also alot of the dive trips seem really expensive...any other way to get hours or whatever without spending that much money on their trips

I wanna go play with the shishies already !!! !!!

^_^
[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

Of them it looks like columbia will fit my sched best. Looking thru the site it says Students must provide mask, snorkel, fins and boots, weightbelt, swimsuit and towel and "Each student will need to purchase an Open Water Student Package, which contains the text book, student log book, student folder, and dive table. The quarry we use in Virginia for the final four certification dives charges an entry fee of $11.00 per day per person. We will start certification dives beginning April 5th opening weekend at Millbrook Quarry." Does that sound normal

That doesnt sound too bad. It depends on the dive shop that is doing the certification on what you will actually need to buy before the class. With the instructor I went through with, they supplied everything for us to use. We just had to purchase the Student Package.

Also alot of the dive trips seem really expensive...any other way to get hours or whatever without spending that much money on their trips

You dont have to go on dive trips to get more hours. You can dive in almost any lake that you want as long as you have your dive flag displayed. There are some dive trips that are actually pretty cheap. There is a group of us that goes to Cozumel every other year and it only ends up costing around $1500 per diver, and that includes, room, food, drinks, 4 boat dives, and unlimited shore dives. You just have to shop around a bit to find good trips with good prices.



[hr width='40%']Ever since the day you went away
And left me lonely and cold
My life just hasn't been the same
Oh baby no

Last edited by DarkRealm Overlord at 29-Mar-2005 18:31

$1500 isn't too bad when I think of it *represses knowlege that that's what a basic D-SLR body costs*

Did some more research and found a few lakes and such within a few hours drive....none in maryland however ....

Next question, although I'm sure this would be answered in class...what brands ect are good for equiptment. I'm assuming I cant' use the bright orange snorkle set I bought from KB Toys when I was in middle school .
*gets excited* next class starts april 3rd ...then again I still don't have a swimsuit .

^_^
[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

Brands.......they are just like camera's. Everyone has their prefered brand. I like TUSA, but they are kinda pricey. 90% of my stuff is TUSA, with the exception of my dive computer and back up regulator.

I have ordered quite a bit of stuff from this company [link=http://www.diversdirect.com/]http://www.diversdirect.com/" style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link]. Probably your best bet would be to have a look at what brand your dive shop carries, then get an idea on what the online prices are going to be. A lot of dive shops will cut you deals if they know you are going to be getting certified through them because they are hoping that you will purchase all of your equipment through them.

Only advice I can give is to go to the dive shop(s) and try stuff out/on to see what feels most comfy on you. There are many different styles of fins, masks, and snorkels...you can even get masks with corrective lenses in them, or color correcting lenses for deeper dives. It all depends on how much you want to spend on it, just like any other hobby.



[hr width='40%']Ever since the day you went away
And left me lonely and cold
My life just hasn't been the same
Oh baby no

Oh, and $1500 isnt too bad considering it includes airfare, room and board, dives, and is for a week. Cozumel has some pretty awesome places to dive.








[hr width='40%']Ever since the day you went away
And left me lonely and cold
My life just hasn't been the same
Oh baby no

! yes it is....you do know I'll be begging to go along now

try stuff out/on to see what feels most comfy on you.

*makes her way to the kids section* .

Thanks for the links I'll have a look thru....

^_^

[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

I would look for a "school" that offers PADI certification...there are others such as SSI, but IMO, PADI is a much better course, and is more recognised....... PADI is everywhere there is good diving.

I must respectfully disagree - go with the school where you like the instructor best, think they are the most professional, like their attitudes to diving and philosophy. How comfortable do you feel with the instructors, assistants and the operation in general?

-------------------------------------------------
I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

argggggggggggggggg It's all just so confusing! :#(
Tiny, most of the places I've found around here are PADI, although I have half a mind to take a trip to canada to get certified .

Fitting class into my work schedule is rather difficult too. So far it's looking like a sunda course after I get off the overnight (lets just hope I can manage the drive home ) but since I can't even find a swimsuit ] *kicks fashion industry* it looks like I won't be able to take any lessons !

Guess I'll just be boring and put the tax return to my house .

^_^
[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

I suggested PADI because of one simple thing....they are recognised all over the world. My sister in law is SSI certified....when we last went to Mexico, guess what? She couldnt dive because nobody would fill her tanks because they only recognised PADI. I have never been on a dive trip where PADI was not recognised....and I have a very healthy amount of dive hours logged.

Babel...who says it has to be a regular swimsuit? Guys swim shorts and a sports bra with a t-shirt over it would be acceptable.....you would want to wear a t-shirt anyway so the BC wouldnt rub and be uncomfy.

Well damage (~$700) is done.

Class starts 8.30 am tomorrow.

Homework is the first two chapters.

I am compleatly and utterly insane! !


I'm going to 4 hour dive class after working the overnight :%)!

^_^
[hr width='40%']"Put your soul in the water,
And join me for a swim tonight"

ha im a diver as ive told you, its really cool. Tip: make sure YOU can swim lol