Learning to Scuba dive

[JBuk]

Im gonna try it for sure. Im just thinking I'd never want to go beyond about 10m because if the worst happened I reckon you could get back to the surface from 10m on a single breath after dumping your gear. I doubt that could be done from 30m.

Im not that excited about diving in the UK seas to be honest. Feels like it would be cold (I know thermal gear is worn but still) and muddy. Hopefully if I can find a club they will run trips abroad?

Dumping gear and ascending rapidly to the surface is the last resort as it will lead to decompression sickness, even at 10ms depending on how long you’ve been down. At 30m you really wouldn’t want to be rapidly ascending, it would be like opening a bottle of pop that has been shaken, except the bottle is your body and the gas is in your bloodstream.

ideally your buddy will give you their octopus if both of yours fail or you will have a mini back up tank called a pony, club training will teach you how to stay calm and recover safely if you’re in trouble

Personally I feel after diving in the uk in a drysuit I would be confident diving just about anywhere , there’s plenty of nice diving sites in the uk that are not murky , they may be colder than exotic locations but in a drysuit and thermals it’s pretty comfortable unless the water temp is extremely cold, I’ve done 4 deg c a few times and that is pretty bad but I still managed 45 mins per dive , but you can always opt only to dive when the waters are warmer.

The farm islands when the seal pups are around is amazing, it is one of my favourite dives, also some of the areas around Eyemouth and st Abbs are amazing underwater ,just as pretty if not more so than some exotic locations

Most clubs will probably do trips abroad once you’re qualified

 

[Bengaboy]

If you do dive on your own, make sure you go with someone a few times in who is experienced in the area you would like to explore. They can advise where the danger points are in that location.

 

[dowie]

No decent outfit would expect an existing DM or DMI to look after people.....but a DM/DMI would do so anyway out of habit if they are stuck in a junior group. The most i've ever been asked (and just because I had the most dives in a very beginner group) was to bring up the rear. He was a good DM who kept his eye on everyone and did not slack, but if you have someone a little more experienced.....that's the most they would ask. Was no sweat off my back

This is why I'd suggest a club tbh... that sort of thing just sounds naff... "bring up the rear" with regards to a group? They should be diving in pairs/with a buddy and any new divers paired with a much more experienced one. You'd get say two sports divers buddied up but below that, say someone just qualified as an ocean diver then they should be diving with a qualified dive leader or above.

 

[Vanilla]

This is why I'd suggest a club tbh... that sort of thing just sounds naff... "bring up the rear" with regards to a group? They should be diving in pairs/with a buddy and any new divers paired with a much more experienced one. You'd get say two sports divers buddied up but below that, say someone just qualified as an ocean diver then they should be diving with a qualified dive leader or above.

Yeah it was me with a group of people who had only just passed their PADI as it was the only boat with a space (booked at 10pm for a 6am start the next day). The guy just asked me if I minded being at the back so I could quickly act in case of anything. People forget about their buddies often - i've turned around a few times to find my buddy (both randoms and friends) 20m+ away having a look at something. I had a lobster to tap my tank to get people's attention so I can quickly alert the DM. No real work just an extra set of eyes behind.

 

[Baz]

Does anyone here scuba dive? Im thinking of doing a couse but it would be just me on my own. Once Ive done the course, what would i do next?

Generally start looking for holidays, equipment, cameras, etc and spend all your spare money on it!

I learnt abroad years ago, PADI Rescue diver with about 250 dives, always abroad, diving the UK doesn't float my SMB to be fair Egypt is good, but stay away from Sharm if you can, much better places, Far East is also epic, Indonesia is awesome diving (and food)

 

[danlightbulb]

Generally start looking for holidays, equipment, cameras, etc and spend all your spare money on it!

I learnt abroad years ago, PADI Rescue diver with about 250 dives, always abroad, diving the UK doesn't float my SMB to be fair Egypt is good, but stay away from Sharm if you can, much better places, Far East is also epic, Indonesia is awesome diving (and food)

This sounds great i guess the main worry i have is not knowing anyone to go with. I wouldnt want to jet off somewhere on my own but would be happy on an arranged holiday with people in a club who i already know.

 

[Baz]

This sounds great i guess the main worry i have is not knowing anyone to go with. I wouldnt want to jet off somewhere on my own but would be happy on an arranged holiday with people in a club who i already know.

A LOT of people travel on their own on diving holidays, its a great way of meeting new people - Liveaboards nearly always have single travellers. A club as you say is good for that, otherwise Facebook has a few groups with single travellers wanting to travel with others.

 

[jimjamuk]

I expect the company teaching you will have an associated club you can join. Just tag along on their events and dive with those guys until you know what you are doing

 

[dowie]

This sounds great i guess the main worry i have is not knowing anyone to go with. I wouldnt want to jet off somewhere on my own but would be happy on an arranged holiday with people in a club who i already know.

Indeed, thus why you’ve had a few recommendations already that you find a good BSAC club. You can then organise your own trips too, in the UK and abroad, with people you know and trust. Like the live aboard dive boat can be rented by a group from your club rather than randoms who may have just done a PADI qual or two on holidays.

Don’t forget that as awesome as it is it can also be a dangerous hobby, you can minimise these dangers by making sure you’re diving with experienced people you know and trust rather than random idiots you just met on holiday. Note the other poster mentioning further up the thread people going off - honestly **** stuff like that, you only live once, don’t dive with idiots, it isn’t worth it.