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Anyone a scuba diver?

46 replies

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 17:35

I woke up this morning and decided to do something about the spark of interest I feel in learning to suba dive.

I found details of the London School of Diving that has a day where you can go along and try it to see if you like, cost - 25quid and takes an hour and a half.
If you like and book an open water course they refund you the 25quid and if you book the course the same day they take another 25 off.

The PADI open water course is 399quid and is spread over 2 weekends.

Does that seem reasonable to you?

How fab is scuba diving, how much am I gonna love doing it?

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HunKeRMunKeR · 08/05/2006 17:37

DH looked at doing this and had a trial dive at (I think) Highgrove a few years ago - we didn't have the spare cash for him to do it though, so he didn't pursue it. Think he might learn in Cyprus if we ever get back there.

Go for it though - will ask him about it later, if you like?

(Still on for Thursday, btw?)

Enid · 08/05/2006 17:38

its utterly fab

I would recommend learning abroad if at all possible - the red sea is utterly magical

I met dh there and since then we have dived all over the world

sigh

hana · 08/05/2006 17:39

I was a diver in previous life - have gone all over Asia. Have never gone in England though. I love love love it and still have fab dreams about being underwater! will get back into I'm sure.....
go for it!

fairyfly · 08/05/2006 17:40

My boyfriend is an instructor and persuaded me to do it.

At first i found it really difficult to not hold my breath when i went under the sea and panicked quite a lot. If you have a good instructor they will hold your hand and take you down gently. Once under the water and swimming with all the fish it was well worth it.

Pruni · 08/05/2006 17:41

I did my Padi thingie on the Barrier Reef and still have dreams about it.

Do it doit doitdoitdoit...

Esp if you are likely to travel to places you can dive

beckybrastraps · 08/05/2006 17:44

Do it! I trained with BSAC which takes longer, but seemed to me more thorough, and I am a nervous type! I didn't much enjoy the open water dives I had to do in this country (Yorkshire quarry pits!) but LOVE diving where it's warm and clear. Hadn't dived for years when I went on holiday last February, but once I was back in (or under) the water, it was just magical.

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 21:36

He heeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Oh, so.........I might really go for this then.
How exciting. I might just actually stop thinking about it, and talking about it and pick up the phone to them tomorrow. He heeeeeeeeee Don't hold me to that tomorrow thing, it might take a bit longer for me to get round to it.

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Roobie · 08/05/2006 21:40

I did a whole load of diving around Scotland when I was at Uni and for a few years after - loved it, particularly those winter dives when we were breaking the ice to get in the loch!

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 22:17

If anyone is stiull left to talk to about this - what is the worst thing about scuba diving that I might not like?

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mancmum · 08/05/2006 22:19

scuba diving is fab fab fab ... best hobby ever could rave on about it for hours it is exciting and exhilerating and yet calming and peaceful at the same time...

both DH and I can dive he is an instructor and it makes for great holidays...

mancmum · 08/05/2006 22:20

oh the worst thing? Just hte faff of getting the kit on and off -- especially the wetsuit.. but small price to pay for the fun and the stunning mesmerising beauty that is the world under the water...

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 22:22

Am feeling really excited by it. Been on my mind to do for a while now b ut woke up this morning and decided to take some action.

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mancmum · 08/05/2006 22:27

would recommend PADI over BSAC it is quicker but a lot more expensive... something like 4 pool sessions and a couple of open water ones.. and you are qualified.. try to make sure you do your open water ones somewhere nice not a quarry pit in Middleton Stoney like i did visibility of 2 feet and only shopping trolleys to look at think you live in London try to get to Swanage amazing ship wrecks and good viz.. but not muc fish... get qualified and book holiday to red sea/maldives...

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 22:47

Cheers

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fairyfly · 08/05/2006 22:53

Worst bits, trying not to come back up when you first ut your head under, i just wasn't used to being able to breath underwater and couldn't get past it for a few minutes.

Also i'm a floater so getting used to putting weights on was strange. I kept flying back up to the surface. Boyfriend not a floater.

picnikel · 08/05/2006 22:57

Go for it!

Best bits - feeling of tranquility, weighlessness. Being good at something when you're not a "sporty" type. When i can't sleep I visualise diving so I can relax.

Worst - lugging heavy equipment around, sea sickness.

Have never dived in the UK, DH & I leaned while we lived in Australia. Best diving I've ever done was on Gozo.

miss it so much...Have fun!

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 22:58

Just sat giggling at whether I'm a floater or not.

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HunKeRMunKeR · 08/05/2006 22:58

DH says it was Highgrove - they'll do you a trial dive.

When he did it it was about £30 and they gave a thorough intro to scuba diving. You'll see if you like it or not and then decide on which full course you want to do.

Just watch out for the old plasters in the deep end

picnikel · 08/05/2006 23:00

I was a floater when I started - always used to be irresistably drawn arse-first to the surface...

dkdad · 08/05/2006 23:01

Worst bit? Realising how much money this is going to take - equipment, travel, etc.

But well worth it!

Browse www.yorkshire-divers.com/ (don't worry about the Yorkshire reference) by clicking on 'Forum' and you'll find yourself in the diving equivalent of MN.

SueW · 08/05/2006 23:01

DD would love to do it but her condition is an absolute contraindication :( It's strange looking at PADI websites and seeing this little known condition being so openly listed :(

Anyway looks like horse-riding has sparked her interest instead and snorkelling is going to do the marine thing. Perhaps when she's older she'll feel more confident to argue her position on 'corrected' with medical back-up. :)

FWIW, I don't know anyone who's learnt to scuba and regretted it. And once learned it seems to be a good reason to go some fab places on hols.

fairyfly · 08/05/2006 23:02

But when you're a floater you get a hunk of a man dragging you back down and making you feel all safe and secure.

Of course you may get a woman buddy.

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Thomcat · 08/05/2006 23:02

Cheers Hunker, would save the schlapp to Gunnersbury. Will ring Highgrove and also Harrow tomorrow and see if they do it before signing up to London school of.

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fairyfly · 08/05/2006 23:04

My son wants to be a scuba diver when he grows up, he's 7 and you can start at 8, i don't have much time to rob a bank.

Thomcat · 08/05/2006 23:05

PMSL - i know I'm gonna be a arse first person, PMSL all over agian.

Laughter abaited, .. SueW - glad you dd has discovered horseriding. My DD has special needs and I badly want her to fall in love with horses and the riding of. Good luck to her, hope she loves it

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