Week long PADI dive course somewhere hot?

IceBus

IceBus

IceBus

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Joined
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, Washington DC
Hey all,

I'll have spent a year in a land-locked country by this summer, and I'm really ready for a bit of sea-based fun. I've been wanting to do my PADI qualification for ages (since I did an intro dive in the Red Sea) and I think I'm about ready to take a week out and just go do it someplace.

Any recommendations on resorts/dive centres? I don't really care about the accommodation too much as long as it's clean and decent, I care more about the quality of instruction and the diving. I'd be tempted to go back to the Red Sea but wouldn't mind trying Jordan instead of Egypt. But I'm also open to anywhere that people recommend.

Hit me with some recommendations!
 
I did a referral course in the UK, so you do the academic part and the pool dives here. Then completed in Egypt.

More time to dive on holiday that way but it usually works out cheaper just to do the lot on holiday.

Did my referral with http://www.divemasterscuba.co.uk/ but any PADI centre will probably do referral courses.

Did the open water dives with http://www.emperordivers.com/. Thought facilities and instructors were excellent.
 
I learn on Kho Tao in Thailand. Did regular and advanced over course of a week. It was terrific. And cheap too.

Another cheap place with lots of amazing things to see under water would be the Bay Islands in Honduras. That's a little trickier to get to though!
 
Glaucus said:
Is it just me or navigating those sites impossible.

Any idea how much it cost her?
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It is better than was!

A week there in a tent is about £600, Padi OW is €260 without the book.

The tents are nice, though in June to september they are ridiculously hot during the day, and cool at night.
 
Personaly wouldn't learn in Koh Tao as it's extremely commercial. The place I stayed at and did a few dives with were only really concerned about getting people to pay for as many courses as they could, regardless of whether the divers were ready for them or not. The dive sites aren't particularly nice although there's some good drift diving there. The pancakes there are awesome :D

A few years ago I had the opportunity to dive in Dahab and I'd thoroughly recommend Redsearelax:

http://www.red-sea-relax.com/

Chilled out yet very professional, plenty of dive sites so you won't get bored in a week, very chilled out town with lots of great places to eat. Not a huge amount to do there but plenty for one week.

If you're only staying for the week, just stick with the open water course then get as much experience as you can. Get the text book before you go, read it a couple of times and you should find the theory a doddle. If you were staying for 2 weeks then I'd suggest doing the advanced open water once you've got comfortable but you don't really want to spend the whole week staring at text books and worrying about passing tests; it is a holiday after all.

Wherever you decide to go, have a great time! :)
 
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I have just booked the PADI open water course with http://www.ocean-college.com/ they currently have a special offer at £175 for the course, although that is without the manual and certificate in the booking price. Planned for later this month and looking forward to it.
 
Egypt and Koh tao are both as bad as each other ir as good, it is all about making sure you choose a decent school. Master Divers and Buddha view on Koh Tao i would highly recommend. Red sea divers and ocean college in egypt are good. If you want somewhere a bit quieter try Aquaba, unfortunately i havent made it there yet so cant comment on schools. Theres also Malta/Gozo which are supposed to be fantastic
 
Repta said:
Egypt and Koh tao are both as bad as each other ir as good
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IMO Sharm is naff but not the whole of Egypt is as bad as Koh Tao! Can't beat Koh Tao pancakes though....a banana and nutella is definitely worth the price of the flight :D
 
Hamster said:
IMO Sharm is naff but not the whole of Egypt is as bad as Koh Tao! Can't beat Koh Tao pancakes though....a banana and nutella is definitely worth the price of the flight :D
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Only done sharm so cant comment on the rest. Will have more of and idea on egypt after a livaboard in september. The pancakes are amazing, pretty much lived off them for 3 months!
 
Personally I'd suggest finding a local dive club / shop and learn at home first.
THEN take a holiday and enjoy your new found hobby.

The quality of training in the UK I believe is far above and beyond what you get abroad. The fact you get to learn in some not so nice conditions is actually a bonus and helps you take on board difficulties you might not encounter on some of the calm warm water diving you will encounter abroad.

Not only will you make great friends at your local club, you get help and advise on kit requirements, servicing, somewhere to go for parts, kit and later on trips they might organise.

Once you've got your diving certs in the UK signed off, get out and book yourself a live-aboard trip. It'll be wall to wall fishes and everything is done for you.
ENJOY.
 
Fuzz said:
Once you've got your diving certs in the UK signed off, get out and book yourself a live-aboard trip. It'll be wall to wall fishes and everything is done for you.
ENJOY.
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There's nothing better than finishing a great dive in a hot climate on a liveaboard and coming back to a banquet of chilled exotic fruit!! A nice cold beer after a night dive goes down a treat too :)
 
I learnt here while travelling http://www.rubiahdivers.com/. Irrc paid £180 and was the only student there at the time so had one on one tuition with the instructor for the four to five days. The scenery was incredible, and the wildlife amazing. Also managed to squeeze in a wreck dive, and a dive through an underwater hot spring. Amazing experience I will never forget.
 
Fuzz said:
Personally I'd suggest finding a local dive club / shop and learn at home first.
THEN take a holiday and enjoy your new found hobby.

The quality of training in the UK I believe is far above and beyond what you get abroad. The fact you get to learn in some not so nice conditions is actually a bonus and helps you take on board difficulties you might not encounter on some of the calm warm water diving you will encounter abroad.

Not only will you make great friends at your local club, you get help and advise on kit requirements, servicing, somewhere to go for parts, kit and later on trips they might organise.

Once you've got your diving certs in the UK signed off, get out and book yourself a live-aboard trip. It'll be wall to wall fishes and everything is done for you.
ENJOY.
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I'm tempted to do the prerequisites in the UK (pool dives, tests etc) and then do the open water dives abroad. Do you know of any companies that do liveaboards that I could do the final dives with before diving normally?

Not really interested in staying at a dive resort as most are boring as sin if you aren't interested in sunbathing or drinking (Egyptian resorts at least) so was thinking a live aboard would be great.
 
Most places will do you a refferal course.

Depends where you want to go...

I'd recommend Oz personally

"Referral with 3 day liveaboard

3 day liveaboard - 9 dives comprising 4 training dives and 5 recreational dives including a night dive. Course commences every day except Tuesday.

3 Day Open Water Referral Course

AUD $ 725"
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http://www.scubacentre.com.au/padi_openwater.htm
 
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Thanks, although Oz is a bit far at the moment, next year maybe!

I assume Egypt will have some good open water training liveaboards as well?
 
I dont know of any egypt liveaboards that will do your OW dives, pretty much all specify that you need to be qualified with X amount of dives. You best bet would be calling, blueotwo, tony brackhurst, red sea divers and see what they say
 
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