Scuba Diving thread?

Personally I would get my Open Water certification before I went. You can do a Discover Scuba experience though in a local swimming pool first so you at least get the feeling for what it is like to breathe underwater etc. and to decide if you will like it.

I can recommend an excellent diving club in Stoke where I go if you like? Not sure what the forum rules are on stuff like that so drop me an email (look in my trust) and I will email you back with some info.

Where in the Maldives are you going? I am off to Vilamendhoo in June. I finished my Advanced Open Water a couple of weeks ago and cannot wait to get there now. Really hoping I can get to dive with Manta rays and Whale Sharks while I am there!!
 
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I was kissing this at the weekend. :D:D
"The only fishy lips I've had for a while!" :o

and Tommo, yea Learn over here and then enjoy the scenery over there!
Learning in a pool wont be great but it'll be warm and you can concentrate on your skills better than going OOOOOH FISHY, OOOOH MANTA, OOOH OCTOPUS every five seconds.

Recommendations, Sun Island water bungalow.
Sun Island also has it's own dive centre. ;) ;)
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...eviews-Sun_Island_Resort-South_Ari_Atoll.html
 
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Stoddy said:
Personally I would get my Open Water certification before I went.
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I would also strongly recommend this!!

Just stumbled across this thread :)
I got my cert when I was 14yrs old, have dived all over the world (Oz, Egypt, England, Saudi Arabia, Mexico..etc) and also did about 3yrs of commercial diving (nothing glamorous) but still enjoyable most of the time building stuff or filming underwater :) (dry suit stuff)

One of my favourite things to do, love it!
 
Right then, I got some abuse in the "Easter four days off" thread I made about leaving things until the last minute, (and the cost) so this time I'll have a go at booking things a bit sooner....
and I'll not start another thread when I can use this one. ;)

We have another two day Bank holiday coming up in June so I've pre-empted this by booking the Friday before off work... ;) :D

So.. Where do think is going to be suitable for five days off covering the weekend.
Friday 1st June - and coming home on Tuesday 5th..

I'm thinking Egypt at the moment (never been there)
 
Fuzz said:
Right then, I got some abuse in the "Easter four days off" thread I made about leaving things until the last minute, (and the cost) so this time I'll have a go at booking things a bit sooner....
and I'll not start another thread when I can use this one. ;)

We have another two day Bank holiday coming up in June so I've pre-empted this by booking the Friday before off work... ;) :D

So.. Where do think is going to be suitable for five days off covering the weekend.
Friday 1st June - and coming home on Tuesday 5th..

I'm thinking Egypt at the moment (never been there)
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Lots of places, but was here in Feb http://sharksbay.com/ really professional and nice place, really good guides, excellent food in the restaurant, good boats etc.

we book most of our trips through http://oonasdivers.com/ who no doubt can arrange those days for you, as Sharm is easy to get to with loads of flights.


In Feb we did loads of really good reefs, Thomas Reef, Jackson Reef, Yolanda & Sharks Reef, SS Thistlegorm to name but a few, though the last two were on an overnighter..
 
An ex has just come back from a liveaboard on Freedom 5 ( a week before Easter) So I'll get her take on it as well I think. :D

Cheers Baz, it is looking like that place is a goer :D
 
I'd have to recommend my mate Sidey and his Liveaboard called Black Pearl. if you are going to the Maldives.
They are a young up beat bunch of lads that just makes the whole trip like going away with a bunch of good mates. Food was top class, service was top class, the rooms were top class and the general slickness of the whole operation just made a great few weeks away.
https://www.facebook.com/blackpearlmaldives
http://www.searchmaldives.com.mv/liveboards
 
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Just did my PADI Foundation then Advanced Open Water in Koh Tau, Thailand. what an amazing experience! Wasn't too keen on the night dive but in the end I dealt with it and didn't get eaten. :D

Anyway, I now like diving very much, and am planning in keeping it active at least once a year for the forseeable future. Anyway, couple of questions:

  1. Is it worth investing in a good mask?
  2. What are good destinations that don't break the bank that I could reach without too much hassle from Switzerland (ie: dead centre of Europe) for a weeks diving?
  3. What 30m capable underwater camera would people recommend at under £300?

Cheers. :)
 
Definitely need a comfortable mask that has good vision.
Have a look at the Cressi big eye.

Gozo/Malta
Lanzarote/Canaries

Look at camera cases first, then choose the best available camera to fit it.
Much more versatile than a standalone underwater one.
I bought a sea&sea specialist underwater camera many years ago and it finished its days on chesil beach when I got rolled in the surf on a beach exit and cracked the case. :-o

This reminds me, I've got the Iceland underwater pics back, I shall upload them here :D :D
 
Fuzz said:
Definitely need a comfortable mask that has good vision.
Have a look at the Cressi big eye.

Gozo/Malta
Lanzarote/Canaries

Look at camera cases first, then choose the best available camera to fit it.
Much more versatile than a standalone underwater one.
I bought a sea&sea specialist underwater camera many years ago and it finished its days on chesil beach when I got rolled in the surf on a beach exit and cracked the case. :-o

This reminds me, I've got the Iceland underwater pics back, I shall upload them here :D :D
Click to expand...

Cheers man. I already have a DSLR (but which has no case available) so don't want to spend much at all... hence the budget. I don't need world-class photos... "good" ones that are clear and sharp with a decent resolution will do. :)
 
You can get a Fuji F500-EXR with case for under 300 notes, really good camera.

Personally I always take 2 masks away with me, sometimes 3, I find most masks "pinch" my lip between the reg and mask, and that the nose is too small or hard to squeeze. Love my Oceanic Pioneer, but not cheap..

Good diving from Europe, Red Sea, everytime.


Anyways, 19 days until the Maldives :D :D :D
 
I take two masks when on a tech dive, one with a completely silicone skirt so it folds up nicely and fits in a leg pocket, can't for the life of me remember it's name or anything. though. :D Jet black of course :D

Anyway, hope none of you are on 56k as here are the underwater pics from Iceland

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Most awesome water ever!
 
Afternoon all, Just though you might want to see these, most were taken around the underwater volcanic vents on a tiny island of Strombolicchio near Stromboli, Aeolian islands (north of Sicily)

Yes, life in the med! :D

IMG_2119 by The_blue1, on Flickr


Nudibranches (sea slugs)

IMG_2186 by The_blue1, on Flickr


IMG_2292 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Feather worms.

IMG_2258 by The_blue1, on Flickr


IMG_2297 by The_blue1, on Flickr


IMG_2202 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Urchin, this kind collects junk on it's back to hide it from predators.

IMG_2068 by The_blue1, on Flickr


IMG_2067 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Cup corals/anemones with fish

IMG_2077
by The_blue1, on Flickr

45 meters brings you to the Gorgonian fan corals.

IMG_2133 by The_blue1, on Flickr

45 meters again, Tiny little lightbulb sea squirts.

IMG_2197 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Snakelock anemone, Normally only found on their own....

IMG_2095 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Found here in fields

IMG_2093 by The_blue1, on Flickr

Nice little find at 5 meters

IMG_2319 by The_blue1, on Flickr
 
Very nice! What camera you using? Im now looking for a new one as my camera flooded on my egypt trip and i lost all the photos from it ans my scapa flow trip. Stupid really should have backed up!
 
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