Extra Credit

I will, and if I could I'd like to find a local NAUI program over PADI because from what I've heard odds are it'd be a better course for me because they supposedly teach more information (due to that whole non-profit thingy). But I will go with the shop I'm most comfortable with.
 
Honestly, I don't think it matters - just get in the water, keep an open mind, and remember that learning doesn't stop or start with the agency - in 2010, there's more info to be had online than anywhere else... Hit Google, start learning, and get in the water. The C-card is only a requirement.

Kinda like 9th grade English class (assuming your native tongue is English) - sure, you had to take it, and you had to pass it... But is that where you really learned the English language?

Same applies to diving - do a lot of it, and learn a lot about it from as many sources as possible.

The C-cards are only required learning. They have little to do with diving itself. :)

If you're anything like many of us, you'll end up finding training with ALL of the agencies eventually anyway.

...And even then, REAL learning will come from experience and diving with people who have done it more than you have. :)
 
I have to agree, most of my learning will probably come from actual diving. I'm just trying to find the best class to start with (as I'm sure everyone has done). You make a very good point.
 
Okay, so you're waaaaaay up North... I'd say find the closest dive shop with an indoor pool for training. Sign up and do it - like, this weekend. :)

Whichever agency they're teaching, that's the right one for you. :)

If you change your mind later and decide that you should have trained under a different agency, then you can switch and train with that one instead.

The important thing is to get in the water now and make it happen.
 
As much as I'd love to start this weekend, exams start next week so these next two weekends will be full of studying... darn
 
Clownfreak -- I have learned far more online from SeaJay than I have in any of my classes... Then I was provided an opportunity to dive with him multiple times over a total of 12 days. Those dives reinforced everything that he had been telling me here on RC for several months prior, AND IT ALL MADE PERFECT SENSE ONCE I SAW HIM DIVE.

Since our last dives together, I have completely switched gears in regards to my eqiupment choices and perception of diving logic and education, because he not only offered to show me a better solution, he physically put a BP/W on me and we went diving!

I have spent the past month selling all of my original recreational gear, and replacing it with gear that is more appropriately designed for technical & caving diving. Why..? Because from the first moment I began my OW Cert, I had a goal of becoming a CAVE DIVER, DEEP DIVER and WRECK DIVER. These all seemed like pretty lofty goals to many, and did to me until I met the right people (SeaJay, the EE Guys, CERich, etc.), but as of now it's actually far closer than I could have ever imagined... Sure, I have several more classes that I need to take, which will have me traveling to Georgia & Florida multiple times to take them, but this is what is required to meet the goals which I have placed for myself.

In regards to dreams, diving has never actually been one of mine... My last real "dream" was to stand on top of Devils Tower, and that dream was fulfilled in 2004 after a grueling day of climbing one of the more difficult routes to the summit! That was a dream that I had ever since I first watched "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as a child. I guess the closest thing to a "dream" for me at this point, would have to be waking up in bed w/ Sanrda Bullock and having her inform me that she wants to buy me a rebreather as a gift, because I'm soooo good in the sack! :D

Due to accidents and illnesses I had to give up climbing in 2006, but took up diving last spring (received OW Cert at end of March) and have logged 92 dives since. Since last March, I've made the time to get AOW, NITROX, NIGHT SPECIALTY, EFR/CPR, EQUIPMENT SPECIALTY, DPV SPECIALTY, and am 2 dives from finishing DEEP SPECIALTY. I still want/need CAVERN SPECIALTY and RESCUE DIVER before I head off to Florida for a GUE FUNDIES class. I also want to be comfortable diving in doubles before I take Fundies, and now that my "new singles rig is complete, I'm working on building up a doubles rig as well.

The only negative impact that SeaJay will ever have on your diving, will be with your bank account, though he will most assuredly steer you in the right direction to keep you from wasting money on "fluff" that can better be spent elsewhere. :)

-Tim
 
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I do believe you are right... I did see your beware of Seajay post which just made me laugh. Thats probably the biggest reason I'm here is to pick up knowledge from all of you and walk into class as informed as I can be. :)
And good luck with Sandra :rollface:
 
tgreene said:
I guess the closest thing to a "dream" for me at this point, would have to be waking up in bed w/ Sanrda Bullock and having her inform me that she wants to buy me a rebreather as a gift, because I'm soooo good in the sack!
Click to expand...

Oooo... That is a good dream! :D

Now, set a date for this to happen. :)

The only negative impact that SeaJay will ever have on your diving, will be with your bank account...
Click to expand...

I think you made more on the GA Aquarium stuff than you spent on the BP/W, didn't you? Then you got a new suit... Of course, then you went and spent some money on a new very nice reg set...

I dunno, Tim... Given that you made money on your old BC, I think you're doing pretty doggone well! :) $600 for a brand new, fully DIR singles reg set? That's pretty hot... :)

I'm flattered about the rest of your comments - I didnt mean to do the "mentor" thing... I just wanted to dive with you and enjoy it - and show you some of this cool stuff that someone once showed me... :)
 
SeaJayInSC said:
I think you made more on the GA Aquarium stuff than you spent on the BP/W, didn't you? Then you got a new suit... Of course, then you went and spent some money on a new very nice reg set...

I dunno, Tim... Given that you made money on your old BC, I think you're doing pretty doggone well! :) $600 for a brand new, fully DIR singles reg set? That's pretty hot... :)

I'm flattered about the rest of your comments - I didnt mean to do the "mentor" thing... I just wanted to dive with you and enjoy it - and show you some of this cool stuff that someone once showed me... :)
Click to expand...

Actually I think that after working for you at GA and then selling my Cressi BC and Regs to apply towards the new Halcyon & HOG/Miflex gear, I'm probably right about dead even, so it's all good. Actually, the skills that I learned from you at GA put the + side way over the - side, so it's way better than good!!! :cool:

You do realize that I'm planning to show up on your doorstep with a doubles rig that will need to be assembled and WET TESTED, don't you..? :D

-Tim
 
That's awesome, Tim... You know, there's not many people that can say that scuba their scuba habit hasn't been a financial drain. :)

Wet testing... Sounds great! That new 5 mil you got should be good here locally starting around March or April. Right now, it's wickedly cold outside - too much for ANY wet diving Yikes!
 
SeaJay, You and Kym should head this direction for a long weekend so we can all dive 'BonneTerre Mine' together... It's only 3 hours north of us!

http://www.2dive.com/btm.htm

I've yet to have the pleasure of diving dry, so until I have a spare 2k to spend on a dry suit, I'll have to pretend to remain content... I've dove my Henderson 5mil w/ hooded vest to 47*, and it wasn't too God awefully horrible or anything.

BTW: Bonne Terre is a balmy 58* year round! :D

-Tim
 
58's not too bad... Doable in a 5 mil, so long as you've got a good hood and gloves - and don't stay submerged for more than an hour or two.

I've never dived the mine... That's something I'd like to do. It looks like a very cool dive!
 
You're getting some great advice here. The only thing I can add is to check out DAN - Divers Alert Network and read their publication 'Alert Diver'. Also think about getting DAN or someother diver's insurance to cover a chamber ride, hopefully you will never need it, but it is good to have.
 
Another huge bonus of DAN Insurance is that if anything happens while you're out of the country, you are covered up to and including a chartered flight if necessary... The travel insurance "cancellation" aspect is also pretty huge these days.

-Tim
 
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