SCUBA

I love the water, love scuba diving but I don' eenjoy it in UK.
It's cold, what you see isn't that exciting, have to have all kit etc.

The actual scuba diving is relaxing, but I've never had any fear of water, not everybody will get that serene feeling if they have any fear.

Personally I prefer my kayaking and body boarding as I can do them whenever, on my own, within an hour of making the decision to go etc.

You can' j go scuba diving without planning.
 
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Thinking about it, if you have limited time the ideal thing to do is to learn to scuba in the uk (get your licence) then do a few dives on holiday. Nobody wants to learn anything on holibobs :p

I think you can do most of the exercises in a swimming pool.
 
terley said:
I'd recommend BSAC(British Sub Aqua Club) over Padi(Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

I've done around 30 scuba dives across the world, my late father had finished over 400 and was a scuba instructor. Padi costs a fortune for a "qualification" that is supposed to be recognized world-wide, regardless if you go anywhere and demonstrate you have the ability and knowledge they won't stop you hiring gear and going out for a dive.
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Don't I get PADI qualified here for £295


http://scubado.co.uk/courses


I really just wanted to be able to do it in the warm climates when away in the camper :)
 
You can do a referral course, which is what I did for my open water. You do all the pool lessons and book reading/exam in the UK and then you go abroad to do your 4 actual dives. Much more pleasant!
 
For what you want PADI is fine. BSAC, from what I found, is old men in wooly jumpers wanting to discuss diving rather than doing it. :P

I went up the PADI ladder to Rescue Diver with a few specialities in Deep, Wreck and Nav before moving over to TDI to do Advanced Nitrox and Deco Proceedures.

I did around 300 dives in 7 or 8 years ,all around the UK. There are some outstanding dives around the UK, Seahouses, Oban, St Abbs, Scapa. South Coast.....even some old Sub wrecks off Bridlington.

Do the Open Water course to get you started, gain confidence and get wet.

I haven't dived in 3 years after I got a frozen shoulder for 8 months and couldn't perform my shut down drills and never took it back up. I really should dig my twinset and stage out and get it serviced, but that will cost a small fortune. :(
 
easyrider said:
I really just wanted to be able to do it in the warm climates when away in the camper :)
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On your own? That's just dumb.

I'm halfway through my PADI Advanced, last dive was 16th Oct off the Farne Islands. Two Wetsuits and I was just about warm. Be too cold now. Had to put the course on hold because I got sick. Hopefully finish it next year, then i'll invest in a drysuit.
 
Beer_MonsterUK said:
Nothing like Capernwray or Stoney Cove in the middle of Feb in 4 degree water.

I'd wait until late spring until you do the course.........wherever you do it now, it just won't be fun for the new starter.
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Yep, I've done capernwray in 4c water and it is tough even with good undersuit, plenty of layers and thick gloves /hood

Definitely wait until the water is a bit warmer

Although some people do thrive on those chilly dives :)
 
Jono said:
On your own? That's just dumb.

I'm halfway through my PADI Advanced, last dive was 16th Oct off the Farne Islands. Two Wetsuits and I was just about warm. Be too cold now. Had to put the course on hold because I got sick. Hopefully finish it next year, then i'll invest in a drysuit.
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Wouldn't they do group dives ?
 
Been interested in taking it up myself, really enjoy snorkelling (I know, not really similar).

Only thing that's irked me in the water was swimming over the edge of a reef to the drop, that sure put the willies up me!
 
Anywhere I’ve dived abroad I’ve just tagged along with the dive master / instructor leading the group.

Have had a pipe blow on me underwater which was a bit ‘brown trouser time’ and also (on another occation) got a bit giddy from going too deep - it’s really quite a dangerous thing to do and would be absolutely absurd to do it without a very experienced buddy!

Scariest moment was off Komodo - they said I needed 100 dives but I only had 20 - put on grappling hooks, triple the weight, had to hit the bottom half a mile from where we jumped in or we were told we’d pretty much die and be dragged to the bottom, then saw bubbles going down..... wut! Do not want :( :eek: :s

I’ll stick to my shallow dives I think... did get to swim with Mantas off Komodo though :D
 
Done about 70-80 dives.
None in the UK though, prefer diving abroad in warmer climes.
I'm advanced Open water (Padi) and for what I want it is great.
Haven't dived for about 6 years now, but best memories were diving with feeding mantas in the Maldives.
 
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