Hi Guys - Are any of you Divers?
01 September 2011, 04:47 PM
#31
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I'm padi advanced, and i would recommend that you go at least that far as then you can go to 30m instead of just 18m if memory serves me right, as the extra training is worth it and you will also be able to do night dives which are a whole different world and totally amazing once you get over the initial fear, which took me about five mins, too many jaws/obysse type movies
I did my training in the uk using a dry suite as i could not cope with the cold here, which is not normal for a novice, but after a session at stoney cove when i aborted the dive in a semi dry because i just could not breath for shivering, i had a pool session with the dry suite and off we went and it was soooo much better.
If i'm planning on diving these days i just take my own regs, compass,computer, thin gloves, fins,mask,snorkel,knife,bcd and scissors and a few other bits and bobs as the quality of these items abroard can be a little dubious, and then if i feel like taking a boat out i only need weights and a cylinder or 2 to go exploring.
Another £1300 blown on a hobby before we even get going. LOL
get yourself to the go cart track at the top of the hill, and i can also recommend the dirt bike quad bike and horse back desert safari's
http://www.emperordivers.com
These guys are the business out in Sharm, if you do go there ask for Pete Walsh
These guys are the business out in Sharm, if you do go there ask for Pete Walsh
I did my first 2 open water dives yesterday, we only went down to 7.5 meters which i assure you was quite bloody deep enough for me first time out. Was amazing fun, I just cant wait for the anxiety to subside and it just become pure fun. The fish swimming so close was a surprise!
01 September 2011, 04:48 PM
#32
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A short and very boring video. I asked the instructors Buddy if he would testout my Go Pro HD Camera underwater. makes anice change from it being strapped to come car. it does show clarity and some fish rather well, oh, and me learning a little about beuancy prior to my "Fin Tip pivot test on the 6 metre platform."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5G_h7eoz0E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5G_h7eoz0E
Last edited by Evolution Stu; 01 September 2011 at 04:52 PM.
01 September 2011, 04:51 PM
#33
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We have some of the best wrecks and marine life in the world. Who wouldn't want to dive on a U boat or a WWII merchant ship? They attract the sea life too so are generally full of life and covered in anenomes and dead man's fingers. We also have dolphins, basking sharks and seals and where else can you end pretty much any day's diving with a bag full of freshly caught scallops or crabs?
The viz can be poor but it can also be excellent.
If you wear the appropriate exposure protection i.e. a correctly fitting drysuit you will be warm and comfortable.
UK diving has its challenges, such as poor viz during a plankton bloom and strong currents outside of slack water, but this all makes for a more rewarding dive and better diver skills at the end of it.
It ain't cheap though.
Just ignoring the cost of kit, as you can use most of that on your trips abroad, you have travel and accomodation costs plus the space on the dive boat. Unless you are just shore diving.
Then you have the british weather which can mean that you left home with a good forecast but arrived with the diving blown out.
You get a refund on the boat charge but the rest is just tough luck.
It helps here to have a back up plan so that the trip wasn't a total right off.
When it all comes together though it can be as good as anywhere in the world, such as the week I spent diving Scapa Flow in the Orkneys a couple of months ago.
The viz can be poor but it can also be excellent.
If you wear the appropriate exposure protection i.e. a correctly fitting drysuit you will be warm and comfortable.
UK diving has its challenges, such as poor viz during a plankton bloom and strong currents outside of slack water, but this all makes for a more rewarding dive and better diver skills at the end of it.
It ain't cheap though.
Just ignoring the cost of kit, as you can use most of that on your trips abroad, you have travel and accomodation costs plus the space on the dive boat. Unless you are just shore diving.
Then you have the british weather which can mean that you left home with a good forecast but arrived with the diving blown out.
You get a refund on the boat charge but the rest is just tough luck.
It helps here to have a back up plan so that the trip wasn't a total right off.
When it all comes together though it can be as good as anywhere in the world, such as the week I spent diving Scapa Flow in the Orkneys a couple of months ago.
01 September 2011, 05:43 PM
#34
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One of my clubs instructors has done just that and he said there are positives and negatives to both BSAC and PADI. You could always start with one and see how you get on. If you feel happy with how you are being taught and the instructors then stick with it. Both clubs do a cross over course as far as i know so if you want to change over to the other side you shouldn't have much bother. in my opinion there's no point wasting money on both if your happy with what your learning already
02 September 2011, 09:34 AM
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I'm an SSI rescue and recovery diver with TDI nitrox quals - that's enough for me to enjoy diving safely.
in my experience, BSAC divers new to the red sea take a few dives to get used to the slightly different diving style
i've never dived the uk and am not about to start though - i'd concede BSAC training is probably best for UK, cold water.
in my experience, BSAC divers new to the red sea take a few dives to get used to the slightly different diving style
i've never dived the uk and am not about to start though - i'd concede BSAC training is probably best for UK, cold water.
02 September 2011, 10:45 AM
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PADI advanced here also. i even managed to get the wife to the same level but 3 years ago she wouldnt swim out of her depth anywhere.
Now we have done numerous dives to around 30mtrs in the carribean and maldives. Altho did all UK training, i actually passed mine at wraysbury (should be called the swamp) vis was about 1 mtr.
altho we stoney was used for the wifes and both advanced. Also did dry suit for the UK training part.
Havent done any for the last year tho as now have littlun but hoping to get back into it soon.
i even managed to get the wife to the same level but 3 years ago she wouldnt swim out of her depth anywhere. Now we have done numerous dives to around 30mtrs in the carribean and maldives. Altho did all UK training, i actually passed mine at wraysbury (should be called the swamp) vis was about 1 mtr.
altho we stoney was used for the wifes and both advanced. Also did dry suit for the UK training part. Havent done any for the last year tho as now have littlun but hoping to get back into it soon.
02 September 2011, 04:33 PM
#37
Capenwray quarry is a good place to learn how to dive but a terrible place to dive if you are an expierinced diver. There is 3 platforms at different levels to perform the skills on and a jetty where you can jump off so limited walking with heavy gear. The quarry itself is about 22m deep if you hold your computer on the bottom of the deepest part
If your going to do it just go striaght for a drysuit and some thermals as even in the summer the water will be freezing in a semi dry suit.
If your going to do it just go striaght for a drysuit and some thermals as even in the summer the water will be freezing in a semi dry suit.
05 September 2011, 09:32 AM
#38
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One of my clubs instructors has done just that and he said there are positives and negatives to both BSAC and PADI. You could always start with one and see how you get on. If you feel happy with how you are being taught and the instructors then stick with it. Both clubs do a cross over course as far as i know so if you want to change over to the other side you shouldn't have much bother. in my opinion there's no point wasting money on both if your happy with what your learning already
Capenwray quarry is a good place to learn how to dive but a terrible place to dive if you are an expierinced diver. There is 3 platforms at different levels to perform the skills on and a jetty where you can jump off so limited walking with heavy gear. The quarry itself is about 22m deep if you hold your computer on the bottom of the deepest part
If your going to do it just go striaght for a drysuit and some thermals as even in the summer the water will be freezing in a semi dry suit.
If your going to do it just go striaght for a drysuit and some thermals as even in the summer the water will be freezing in a semi dry suit.
05 September 2011, 09:27 PM
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I learnt to dive at Capenwray as well, I learnt in a dry suit, wouldn't dive in this country without one, I was diving in February and March in a dry suit, bloody freezing.
Capenwray is a good set up and pretty good fun, the quarry gets silly busy at weekends though, I always used to go mid week
Capenwray is a good set up and pretty good fun, the quarry gets silly busy at weekends though, I always used to go mid week
05 September 2011, 11:24 PM
#40
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**Update**
I Qualified and got my PADI number yesterday.
My first unsupervised dive with a buddy is on wednesday then its off to Egypt at weekend. Now the learning really starts.
I Qualified and got my PADI number yesterday.
My first unsupervised dive with a buddy is on wednesday then its off to Egypt at weekend. Now the learning really starts.
Last edited by Evolution Stu; 06 September 2011 at 08:11 AM.
06 September 2011, 08:09 AM
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Hi, I am going to Sharm. I plan to stay around the house reefs every day for the first week and improve my skills and confidence. I may go for a boat dive towards the end of the 2nd week but I am in absolutely no rush to get out of my comfort zone just yet, time will tell.
06 September 2011, 08:38 AM
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shore diving is a pain, especially with all the urchins about.
I would suggest going on the day boats early on and ask to go on the local sites. try and do 'advanced' qualifying dives too if you can, like a drift dive, etc. the local spots are usually free of current and quite shallow.
practice your buoyancy and see how you can fine control with just your breathing - I can rise and fall 2m just on breathing. easier with a dive computer - suunto d4 is good.
you'll have to use an smb too. one trick I learned is to fully breathe out as you inflate the smb (with your alternate 2nd stage of course) - if you're even slightly positively buoyant, you'll be on the surface with your inflated smb
I would suggest going on the day boats early on and ask to go on the local sites. try and do 'advanced' qualifying dives too if you can, like a drift dive, etc. the local spots are usually free of current and quite shallow.
practice your buoyancy and see how you can fine control with just your breathing - I can rise and fall 2m just on breathing. easier with a dive computer - suunto d4 is good.
you'll have to use an smb too. one trick I learned is to fully breathe out as you inflate the smb (with your alternate 2nd stage of course) - if you're even slightly positively buoyant, you'll be on the surface with your inflated smb
06 September 2011, 09:27 AM
#46
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As a contact lens wearer, I will be most happy to never take the mask off underwater again if possible.
Thats what I plan to spend most of tomorrow afternoon / evening doing. I had just started to get the hang of it during open water 4 when we called a halt to it. It feels good to start using my luings and not my BCD. I have Suunto Vyper Air.
I have never used an SMB so will be looking for guidance from an instructor over there with that one.
you'll have to use an smb too. one trick I learned is to fully breathe out as you inflate the smb (with your alternate 2nd stage of course) - if you're even slightly positively buoyant, you'll be on the surface with your inflated smb
06 September 2011, 10:11 AM
#47
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with that in mind, we use one with 6m of nylon line with a small lead weight on on end - when the smb is on the surface you can just mill about at 5m waiting for the boat to come find you. as soon as anyone sees you're putting up an smb you''ll have 5 divers on you like flies on poo - everyone hates putting them up
oh yes, the zodiac drivers just drive anywhere around the dive site, so either be at least 2m down or super hawk like vigilant coming to the surface.
you will visit some sites with 10 boats moored, at least 1 zodiac per boat and up and 20 divers each, in or out of the water.
Last edited by ChefDude; 06 September 2011 at 10:13 AM.
06 September 2011, 10:17 AM
#48
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Here are some red sea galleries from my g/f
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/the...iveaboard_2008
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/redsea2009
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/redsea2010
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/the...iveaboard_2008
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/redsea2009
http://www.pbase.com/suzy_walker/redsea2010
06 September 2011, 02:46 PM
#49
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Wow, not only are you seasoned divers, your also excellent photographers! Some of the nicest pictures I have seen, very nice, thanks for sharing!
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