Scuba

[8824]

Who are scuba fans around here?

I am thinking about taking a resort course at Sandals next week.

While I consider myself an expert swimmer (serious) I have never done more than snorkel and free dive.


Any suggestions, anything I should consider before?

[Chales]

Get ear wax removed from your ears...

[howabouttheiris]

I took the course at a Sandals.

There is only 1 simple thing that catches some folks.

You need to be able to breath with the regulator and no mask. (ie not holding your nose) This checks that if you loose your mask you will not freakout and die.

You can easily prep for this by using a snorkel without a mask.

[skeets44]

You'll be fine. I am a certified diver now and it wasn't really hard to do. If you don't go very deep, 60 feet plus, you can't get into to much trouble. Just stay with your instructor while in the water and pay attention in class. Have fun.

[Erik]

I am building a dive boat right now specifically tailored for the Scuba. Definitely do the resort course and get out there, because to get formally certified you'll need a few months and it isn't very difficult, especially when there will be someone babysitting you like that. I'm NAUI certified.

It is absolutely one of my favorite things in the world. I actually rate Scuba slightly above snowboarding as my second favorite sport/activity.

[howabouttheiris]

oh and I recommend watching Jaws, like 20 times before you go.

nothing keeps the adrenaline / heart rate up like the need for a shoulder check every 10 seconds.

plus you can't hear the DAAA - DAAAA, DAAA - DAAAA,... under water, so you need to know all the other signs...

[Wakebrad]

Scuba's fun. Relax and take it easy. Make sure you can pop your ears and aren't congested. You don't want to blow an ear drum or worse.

The most applicable drill I did in training was one where we all took off our masks and dropped them in the bottom of the pool and we went one at a time to find them. This taught you how to navigate without being able to see and taught you not to freak out. Then it was helpful to learn how to put on a mask and clear all the water without coming to the surface.

Where are you going?

[Wakebrad]

I got PADI certified when I was 12 but I wouldn't rate scuba near wakeboarding or snowboarding. I think it's more of a spectator sport where you watch things happen (cool things for sure) but there's no challenge presented like there is in most sports.

I chased a manta ray and a huge sea turtle once. It's amazing how things that look like they move so slow haul through the water.

[8824]

howabouttheiris, They had some shark thing on discovery or one of those stations last night. Maco, great white, tiger and bulls. Also something about the most dangerous beaches......

What resort did you do it at?

Do they give us a spear gun?


Erik Jernberg, So, after I take this resort course, what are the basic steps for certifications?

And dont give me some bs link to padi! I am too busy to read all that crap this week!





Thanks everyone!

[8824]

Wakebrad, Sandals Jaimaica, ochos, dunns river, i am not sure. LOL


I wear contacts, dropping the mask and getting it sounds like crap with contacts in.


Suggestions?

[Erik]

Wakebrad, yes that particular mask trick is one of the more valuable ones that is taught in formal classes. Also muck, just take everything s l o w. There is no hurry, ever. And no reason for you to be the first off the boat or first on. Don't be a meat head and not let the instructor help you along. That's how you'll learn the little stuff like how to properly connect the regulator and get air flowing, how to suit up with the BC & tank. Just remember to take everything molasses slow. I can't begin to describe how important that pacing is.

[howabouttheiris]

I did it at Sandals Cuba.
I am sure it is the same everywhere.

1. Swim 5 lengths of the pool
2. Under water mask on, mask off, mask on, clear mask
3. Hand signals for emergencies
4. Hand signals for ammount of air left, etc
5. How to connect regulator, release air from suit (or floatbelt if warm), etc
6. 10 minute freeswim with tank

The only inconvenience is that you need to be sober for the trips.

I did 5-6 of the reef dives (the free ones from the resort) On these you are only in like 20' of water, so there is very little that can go wrong.

I did 2 dives at Bay of Pigs, looking at sunken navy boats, feeding the morae (sp?) eel that was is in one of the turrets.

I did a 2 tank freedive with an instructor deep enough that I needed to decompress... 100'ish i guess. This was neat,as since I was not certified I really should not have been allowed to do it.

[tball]

my advice would be to get into a formal course and get certified before you go; that way you can focus on diving while you're there. More: learn the dive tables but rent or buy a dive computer on your trip to maximize your diving time. Once you're comfortable with your basic gear rent or buy a scuba camera and take a bunch of pictures. Boat dive > shore dive. Be a total nerd during your pre-dive brief with your buddy...get familiar with his rig and make sure he's familiar with yours...do a "flight plan" for your dive (a lot of people blow this off...don't). People are idiots; dive like everyone around you is trying to kill you. Stay away from crowds. Keep your fins off the bottom. Hover at the 10' safety stop so you can watch the Wally's kick each other while they try to hang on to the anchor line.

I could go on for hours...I'm getting fired up to go dive NOW!! A 6' bull shark swam past our group on my very first open water dive; that image is burned into my head as the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sight I've ever seen. I've been hooked ever since. SCUBA rocks...you're going to love it. I've got some SCUBA pics at the house that I can post later.

[vette74]

I am a certified diver and my wife attempted to get certified at sandals resort in Jamaica (her ears wouldn't clear) The Sandals resorts are VERY safe for scuba diving they are very protective of you not getting hurt. We did a 40' dive and they made us take a safety stop for 5 minutes before going to the surface also we had to wear a wetsuit or a t-shirt to dive they didn't want us to get too cold
The real fun is in spear fishing I have a 42" AB Miller triple band spear gun it is like hunting fish. Good times. Good times.

[Wakebrad]

muckmeister, so you're going next week but you don't know where?

If you wear contacts, just don't open your eyes until you clear all of the water out of the mask. You clear your mask by pressing the top of it against your forehead and blowing air out of your nose.

[tball]

oops. going next week? probably not enough time to get certified beforehand.

[8824]

Wakebrad, It is work related again. I am not sure. LOL and i filled out the butler request form and put ochos rio/dunns river just to make sure I got it right.

I just know what time I have to be ready for the car service!

So I ordered some stuff for snorkeling, then my friend was telling me last night I need to take the resort course.

OCEANIC ULTRADRY SNORKEL this looks kewl
http://www.diversdiscount.com/resources/frameset.asp?src=/shop/product.asp?category=39&categoryname=Snorkels


GENESIS PANVIEW 4 WINDOW MASK (M-L FACES)
http://www.diversdiscount.com/resources/frameset.asp?src=/shop/product.asp?category=39&categoryname=Snorkels
does this mask with the purge work the same way?


And some fins.

They do not have a boat like the whitehouse, so I am not sure I should bring my skate. Unless you know a hook for me.

[Commodore]

See Erik's posts ....X2 Short enough for ya?

The first dive I ever did was a resort dive in Maui. Then I went and got certified later. Definitely a kick ass choice. Classes vary. Depends on the level and the course provider, PADI, NAUI, etc.

I love it. There is nothing more thrilling than coming across a reef or cove when you are out cruising. Drop anchor and go exploring. It's very liberating. I have found true peace sitting in the middle of a big coral cove, with no sound, no people, just you the water, and the fish. It's beautiful.

[Dpierce37]

Like Wakebrad, been PADI certified since I was 15. One of my most favorite hobbies. Did some diving off of Playa Del Carmen coast, avg. about 90 feet....swam with Green Sea Turtles, Got face to face with a "pack" of Barracudas, and swam though the middle of about 100 tarpon! Awesome experience!

[tball]

muckmeister, you'll get your dive buddy when you get to the boat. If you don't, give me a call. I'll dive with you.

[8824]

Dpierce37, I want to hear about the other fish you had!

[Wakebrad]

That snorkel looks pretty cool but I find this a bit suspicious:

Some snorkels claim to be dry - but the Oceanic Ultradry is the only snorkel with a 100% money back guarantee - if you ever get a drop of water inside, send it back for a full refund

Dry Snorkel Technology eliminates water entry without sacrificing performance
Oversized purge valve for easy clearing
Snorkel retainer included
Smooth bore silicone flex tube


So if you can never get a drop of water in your snorkel why do you need an oversized purge value for easy clearing???

I like the regular snorkels anyway where you shoot up a spout of water like a whale.


When you get fins, get boots and fins that go with the boots. Makes it a lot easier on your feet.

[8824]

Oversized purge valve for easy clearing

Well, I am pretty stoked. Which Sandals did you ride at in Jamaica again?


Those force fins look pretty crazy. I wonder how well they work.

http://www.diversdiscount.com/resources/frameset.asp?src=/shop/product.asp?category=39&categoryname=Snorkels





Thanks again everyone!

[8824]

tball, my dive buddy better have TWO LARGE flotation devices!

[tball]

I guess that rules out Tom Skerritt. Good luck getting a hot dive buddy...that's probably happened two or three times in recorded history.

[8824]

tball, I am going to pull a Spinal Tap.

I will get a huge cucumber and wrap it in aluminum foil, stick it in my board shorts, and BLAMO! they will be lining up for the Muck!

[Commodore]

tball, you need to get down to the keys then. MILFs wanting to dive everywhere. After college I almost went down there to work for a few months. Ended up in Vail instead.

[JHerb42]

I went to a Sandals last year and was planning on taking the class, but when the drinks are free all night, it is awful hard to get up the next day and take a class when you could just lay on the beach or sit at the pool bar. We kept saying "We can do it tomorrow." Well the trip was over and we never ended up doing it. Either way, you should have a blast!

[Wakebrad]

muckmeister, I rode in Negril

[8824]

Wakebrad, Still can't believe that last year the boat broke 2 hrs before I walked to the doc and was down my entire stay.

[Commodore]

Wakebrad, tell him to fill the tanks next time!!

[8824]

hmm, i might like this activity.

[Wakebrad]

muckmeister, putting on a wetsuit? I don't get it.

[8824]

Wakebrad, family site! she is taking it off actually.

[Commodore]

What wetsuit?