Sorry complete forgot about this!
Thanks for posting, it reminded me about this thread!
I'm pretty sure I'm going to do my Open Water course with Aquanauts in Plymouth, I popped into the store when I was last down visiting family and got good advice, questions answered and a good chat.
I'm moving next month so it's a bit of an awkward time for me right now but once that's over and I have some time I'll make it happen.
I've also heard good things about the Hellfins dive club which is going to be very close to where I'm moving to so should have someone to dive with on a regular basis.
I wish I could do it right now but it can't hurt to wait a few months.
Aquanauts have a great reputation! Haven't been myself but my uni club was diving with them a few months ago and have said nothing but good things about them. Likewise with hellfins nothing but good things about them and very active so plenty of opportunities to go diving!
I did a mini sort of dive whilst on holiday in Turkey.
All day and night in the water would'nt have been long enough, so i've just been interested in trying it in the UK.
Curious to know how much work and money would have to be spent though.
If you did a mini dive in turkey I guess you don't have any qualification.
The PADI Open Water course will be about £400
It'll also make sense to do a dry suit specialty too, if you do it as part of your open water it seems most places do it for about £60 extra. If you do it at a later date it seems to be about £150.
From my chat with the guy in the diving shop you're probably looking at £2000 of kit to dive in the UK. However if you're a member of a club you can rent/borrow gear.
How I found out you replied is easy. Like you say this section is deep down in the bowels of the forum where I hardly ever visit so I subscribed to it to get notification emails
In the top right under thread tools there's an option to subscribe to a thread.
£400 sounds about right for open water in the uk. I would advise doing drysuit too for the sake of £60 it will be worth learning in one. Though if you join a club theyll teach you how to dive in a drysuit for free most likely. Kit wise you would be looking at something around the following if buying new.
Regulators - I would go for an Apeks DS4 first stage and Apeks ATX40 second stages. Cheap, robust and reliable. I have 4 sets of them, should cost around £230.
BCD - This really is personal preference, i wouldn't spend too much money to begin with as its probably the most likely thing that you will change as you gain experience! £200-400 new, I got my first for £20 2nd hand and still use it for teaching.
Computer - Something like a Suunto Zoop, cheap, easy to use. about £160
Mask - Whatever fits your face properly, whether its a £10 one or £50, a leaky mask is horrible!
Drysuit - A properly fitting one is vital! Neoprene vs membrane is an argument that will go around in circles. I have a made to measure seaskin ultra, costs around £400 and has lasted 5 years so far.
Undersuit - Depends what type of drysuit you go for, Membrane needs thicker and neoprene as a general rule. Fourth element artics are great but pricey £200. Up until 2 months ago i was just layering normal thermals under my drysuit.
Fins - Personal preference again, I would stay away from split fins and go for turtle fins, scubapro jets or hollis f1's but others will say differently so try to give a few types a go.
Hood + Gloves - personal preference. I would start with 5mm and go from there. I like waterproofs and Fourth elements stuff.
Torch - I havent really looked into this in a while, something like Aquatec 5w. Around £60
12 or 15l cylinder - £150ish
Lead - £7/kg
