Scuba Diving

SiHH · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:33

I am thinking about doing a 'try dive' to see if this is something I would like to progress as a hobby/interest.

I understand there is not a single regulatory board for scuba diving in the world but the main two organisations that are available in this country are PADI, and the BSAC.

I would be interested to find out people opinions on both and what are the pros / cons on each of these with regard to training.

Thanks

SidewinderINC · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:42

i did the PADI beginner course, loved it. i know some people who have done both courses and they say the PADI one is much more laid back/straight forward.

VeNT · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:46

I've always heard that the BSAC quals are better, but I did PADI open water and advanced open water down here a few years back.
tbh, I think their all about the same, PADI don't want BSAC to be recognised outside the UK, but I dunno whats going on with that.

philstanbridge · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:51

I would love to do this too, but.. I tried it in the local pool and have major problems with fins and my feet! I get serious cramp almost straight away and find I'm better off without the fins - but this defeats the object under the water as you need the propulsion (even though my feet are natural flippers) is there anyway round this?

SiHH · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:51

Cheers for the comments.

From what I've read the BSAC have more emphasis on "Rescue" which I guess is very important !

SiHH · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:52

philstanbridge said:
I would love to do this too, but.. I tried it in the local pool and have major problems with fins and my feet! I get serious cramp almost straight away and find I'm better off without the fins - but this defeats the object under the water as you need the propulsion (even though my feet are natural flippers) is there anyway round this?

Get a sea scooter

VeNT · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:52

philstanbridge said:
I would love to do this too, but.. I tried it in the local pool and have major problems with fins and my feet! I get serious cramp almost straight away and find I'm better off without the fins - but this defeats the object under the water as you need the propulsion (even though my feet are natural flippers) is there anyway round this?

exercise.
get more activity, diving IS hard on your body (having to use your legs that much can realy tire you out).

SidewinderINC · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:53

philstanbridge said:
I would love to do this too, but.. I tried it in the local pool and have major problems with fins and my feet! I get serious cramp almost straight away and find I'm better off without the fins - but this defeats the object under the water as you need the propulsion (even though my feet are natural flippers) is there anyway round this?

in a single word, no.

we had to remove our flippers whilst wearing the SCUBA kit in our open water dive... you cant do jack without them on!

philstanbridge · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:55

VeNT said:
exercise.
get more activity, diving IS hard on your body (having to use your legs that much can realy tire you out).

I'm pretty fit mate to be honest - although I know it is incredibly hard work, I remember snorkelling in open (choppy) water in Egypt that was something else.. Especially when I took my poxy fins off!

philstanbridge · 25 Sep 2006 at 10:57

siloleth said:
Get a sea scooter

LOL.. Brilliant idea.

The_blue · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:00

Hi, i'm PADI trained but with a BSAC club.

PADI is the faster method of training but 90% of it's new divers i wouldn't trust to be my buddy. Qualified in 3-4 days on holidays. 200 quid? for Open water quali

BSAC is much slower, things are repeated until its 2nd nature, far more pool time and more open water to gain qualification. 150 quid? for 1 years membership and as much training as you can fit in.

Also consider hat PADI are company run, and BSAC is club based. PADI charge for everthing but have gear to hire more often than the non profit BSAC clubs.

It's up to you but the BSAC try dives tend to be just that and not a selling presentation.

The_blue · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:04

philstanbridge said:
I would love to do this too, but.. I tried it in the local pool and have major problems with fins and my feet! I get serious cramp almost straight away and find I'm better off without the fins - but this defeats the object under the water as you need the propulsion (even though my feet are natural flippers) is there anyway round this?

Ask the local dive shop about options, many fins can affect folks and cause cramps. i get it sometimes. I find hire fins were worst.

Ill fitting all i one fins (with the shoe built in) never fit right, they cause you to curl your toes to hold them. (look at newly qualified divers on holidays, plasters on every other toe).

get tome boots and a set of open toed fins, don't buy without trying the fins on with the shoes.

philstanbridge · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:06

The_blue said:
Ask the local dive shop about options, many fins can affect folks and cause cramps. i get it sometimes. I find hire fins were worst.

Ill fitting all i one fins (with the shoe built in) never fit right, they cause you to curl your toes to hold them. (look at newly qualified divers on holidays, plasters on every other toe).

get tome boots and a set of open toed fins, don't buy without trying the fins on with the shoes.

Sounds like good advice, thanks! Do you know anywhere online that sells this stuff so I can at least get an idea of it?

cleanbluesky · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:06

siloleth said:
Cheers for the comments.

From what I've read the BSAC have more emphasis on "Rescue" which I guess is very important !

PADI is often nicknamed "Pay and Dive Instantly" because it is more intense and its syllabus is more aimed around people who want to dive in 'installments' whereas BSAC is more of a gradual process. With BSAC there is a lot more emphasis on basics and you work through an almost complete syllabus including theory education (very, very important as it is not merely a physical sport) - this includes rescue techniques and dive leading, all sorts of equipment etc. etc.

One of the most valuable things that BSAC teach (I think I learnt this before I even got into open water) was the things that you have to do in the event that your own equipment fails. There is a lot of emphasis on that, as well as buoyancy work.

cleanbluesky · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:08

siloleth said:
Get a sea scooter

I've used a sea scooter before, they can be quite fun. I'd like a more powerful one though, something that really made you feel as if you were flying...

heeeed · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:17

I have to agree with several people in that BSAC trained people tend to be better divers and I feel more confident buddying up with them. Having worked in hyperbaric medicine I never had to put a BSAC trained into a chamber, sadly I couldnt say same for PADI, although this may well be the mentality of people attracted to get trained fast setup of PADI.

I myself am PADI trained though, but I tend to be more a fair weather holiday diver, reservoirs and flooded quarries in cold and low vis doesnt do it for me as much. If you just intend to get enough training to do the odd dive on holiday at a reputable dive centre then PADI is very good for that. If you really want to do a lot of diving back home and lead dives and dive rescue etc then I think BSAC is probably a better option than "Put Another Dollar In" training as to get beyond advanced open water gets very expensive.

cleanbluesky · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:23

What form does PADI diving in UK take? I can understand how such things are operated abroad off of dive boats on holiday, but I have also seen at least one PADI club over here. It may have had its own lake, but one that alony went down about 5m.

Paul11 · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:26

If your just doing a try dive, it doesnt really matter...

just have a quick go and see if you like it.

PADI tries to get everyone and their dog to dive, which is fine. The course will cover everything that you would need.

If you get into it more seriously, then you can do the PADI rescue diver coure.

Either way, its great fun ......

peter_hutson · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:41

I only have experience of PADI, but one word of advise I would give is if your not happy with the instructor, walk away. I have trained with several PADI qualified instructors, who have ranged from excellend, to dam right dangerous. For example one chap thought it was funny telling stories of how he damaged his years diving 5 or 6 times a day. Which is not the sort of impression you should give to new entrants to the sport. I have also had an incident when the dive master decided to change our buddies mid dive! Causing complete confusion, I just aborted the dive.

I am only qualified as an open water diver, which is the most basic level available, and even I could tell some of these guys were fools. While I have no experiecne of BSAC, I'm sure they too have there share of idiots!

cleanbluesky · 25 Sep 2006 at 11:49

peter_hutson said:
I am only qualified as an open water diver, which is the most basic level available, and even I could tell some of these guys were fools. While I have no experiecne of BSAC, I'm sure they too have there share of idiots!

None of the instructors in my club would do that. There are guys there with military and police diving experience, guys with 1k plus dives. Not many trimix or cave divers, though.

Now my climbing club, that's a different matter. Funny that, out of the unsafe incidents or accidents it seems accidents are more common in climbing. I know one guy who actually caused an avalance.