First time diving + certification

[Dazed1]

I've done a few snorkeling trips in Hawaii and Mexico over the last 2 years. We have a tripped planned to Kauai at the end of August and I want to go diving.

Since I've never dived, or attempted it, i'm a bit lets say, scared. I'm relatively fit (mid 30's beer fat ).

Would an attempt at getting certified in California help? (Heated pool + open dive in Monterey bay). Suggestions of shops? I've heard of one in downtown SF and 2 in the Peninsula.

Any suggestions for Kauai ? Safe to go diving with random group? (my wife doesnt know swimming, so no diving for her).

Would absolutely be going snorkeling by the shores (suggestions? )

 

[Breadman03]

I'm planning on arranging a date with my wife. About the only thing I know about SCUBA is that PADI is "the" certification authority. There may be others.

I searched the PADI site for schools near me. Hopefully you have some options near you.

 

[Lorea]

My suggestion is to do all your paper test coursework in the bay area, and save your actual dive tests for when you are in Kauai (ie, study at home vs on vacation, and avoid testing in the cold California waters! Due to the thicker wetsuit requirements, if you were to do your certification dives in colder waters, you will need more weights, which makes your experience all the more difficult. This would give you the best of both worlds.)

BTW, a certification dive is just as fun as a "regular"dive after you get certified, except you will need to do some simple tests in the beginning...the rest of the time is fun and you'll be looking at reef and fish (& hopefully turtles!) the rest of the time!

Good luck.

 

[Kanglee00]

I'm also very interested in getting certified in southern CA, is $400 reasonable for a beginner open water course and certification?

 

[ace_92101]

I agree with Lorea. Kauai is the one island I haven't dove, so I can't offer any suggestions. One of the keys to enjoying diving (and staying safe) is learning to relax. With 1000's of open water dives, I can attest to how fun and relaxing diving is.

 

[Dazed1]

My suggestion is to do all your paper test coursework in the bay area, and save your actual dive tests for when you are in Kauai (ie, study at home vs on vacation, and avoid testing in the cold California waters! Due to the thicker wetsuit requirements, if you were to do your certification dives in colder waters, you will need more weights, which makes your experience all the more difficult. This would give you the best of both worlds.)

BTW, a certification dive is just as fun as a "regular"dive after you get certified, except you will need to do some simple tests in the beginning...the rest of the time is fun and you'll be looking at reef and fish (& hopefully turtles!) the rest of the time!

Good luck.

I thought about that. I spoke to a colleague who's done dives in a lot of places. And the suggestion is, if you get certified here ( bay area) you'll pretty much get the experience to dive in a lot of places. I also don't want to take away vacation time. Plus this will allow me to convince the wife to let me go diving. Instead of saying that I want to get my cert done in Hawaii

 

[billsreef]

I'm planning on arranging a date with my wife. About the only thing I know about SCUBA is that PADI is "the" certification authority. There may be others.

I searched the PADI site for schools near me. Hopefully you have some options near you.

PADI is far from "the" certification authority, there is also NAUI (I have certs from both PADI and NAUI), SSI, TDI, as well some others in other countries. The real key isn't so much which agency, but how good and thorough the instructor is. Worth talking to both the shops in your area and divers in the area to get a feel for what shop and/or instructor you will do well with.

As for certification before the trip, I always recommend getting fully certified at home before the trip. If you do your check out dives local, you just might find you enjoy local diving, so you'll do far more than just vacation diving Also the colleague that suggested getting fully certified in cold water will leave prepared for diving is most locations is spot on. If your comfy in 50 something degree water, warm water vacation diving is a real pleasure

 

[Dazed1]

Also the colleague that suggested getting fully certified in cold water will leave prepared for diving is most locations is spot on. If your comfy in 50 something degree water, warm water vacation diving is a real pleasure

thats my worry

I'm Indian (dot, not feather), so am used to hot weather. And its been quite a few years since I moved from the North East. Hopefully a thick wet suit will keep me warm, yes?

 

[billsreef]

The wetsuit in my avatar pic is a full 7mm with a 7mm hooded vest. Kept me comfy in water down to the upper 40's. Though after 2 years living and diving in south Florida my thermal tolerances might not be as good for cold water as they used to be

 

[Irish Mortal]

I recently got my OW certification in Southern California, in preparation for a trip to the Carribean. We were diving in 52 degree water off of the Channel Islands and I was toasty in my 7mm wetsuit with a 5mm hood.

For years (decades) I put off getting Open Water certified because I didn't want to dive in the cold local waters. What a mistake that was! I missed out on years of diving. As soon as I came up from my very first checkout dive I told my buddy that I should have done this years ago.

My recommendation would also be to get certified at home, prior to your trip. You live near some of the premier west coast diving. You will totally enjoy local diving. The reefs and sea life are different, but abundant. And the kelp forests are pretty cool too. Plus, once you get to Kauai you won't take up valuable vacation time getting certified. You can get right to diving.

Another recommendation, if you can afford the time, would be to find a course that is spread out over several weeks, instead of the two weekend blitz. The more times you suit up, gear up and get in the pool, the more chance you have to develop good habits.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[Dazed1]

Awesome. Thanks for all the encouragement!

The places I'm looking at are 4 evenings in a heated pool (6pm to 10pm) and 4 open dives, over 2 days in monterey.

 

[rssjsb]

My suggestion is to do all your paper test coursework in the bay area, and save your actual dive tests for when you are in Kauai (ie, study at home vs on vacation, and avoid testing in the cold California waters! Due to the thicker wetsuit requirements, if you were to do your certification dives in colder waters, you will need more weights, which makes your experience all the more difficult. This would give you the best of both worlds.)

BTW, a certification dive is just as fun as a "regular"dive after you get certified, except you will need to do some simple tests in the beginning...the rest of the time is fun and you'll be looking at reef and fish (& hopefully turtles!) the rest of the time!

Good luck.

++1. Monterrey is kind of a drag. The extra layers and hood were annoying, but the low visibility was more of an issue for me. I would wait and do that part of it in Hawaii. Whatever you decide, though, you'll love it - it really adds an extra layer of appreciation for all things marine.

 

[Lordhelmet]

Why in world would you want to waste your time in Hawaii getting your check out dives done. Monterey is world class diving and right now we are having some amazing visibility. As a diver with many certs from both PADI and NAUI and doing my first warm water dives in Hawaii a few weeks ago I recommend getting to know your local waters and enjoy the beauty we have here and when you get to Kauai you will be a much better diver for it.

BTW here are some local pictures of our amazing Nor Cal waters that were taken by some local divers this weekend.

 

[rssjsb]

That's pretty amazing. I shouldn't dis Monterrey - I know it's amazing when it's good.

 

[Dazed1]

I've signed up with Bambooreef. Their certification is SSI and not PADI.

4 classroom (mid July) and open water last weekend of July. Excited, and scared at the same time

 

[ace_92101]

Why in world would you want to waste your time in Hawaii getting your check out dives done. Monterey is world class diving and right now we are having some amazing visibility. As a diver with many certs from both PADI and NAUI and doing my first warm water dives in Hawaii a few weeks ago I recommend getting to know your local waters and enjoy the beauty we have here and when you get to Kauai you will be a much better diver for it.

BTW here are some local pictures of our amazing Nor Cal waters that were taken by some local divers this weekend.

We all have different view points. Monterey is world class, but it's cold and more challenging. I personally love cold water diving, but it's not for everyone.

 

[Lordhelmet]

I agree it isn't for everyone. Some people will always be warm water/vacation divers and that is ok. But if you are looking to dive for more reasons then "I'm in Hawaii so I might as well". Then I say get your cert somewhere that will make you a better diver.
For what it's worth, I have a 10 year old dead set on diving, she will not be getting her cert here in Monterey and will have to wait till we go someplace warm before she gets underwater.

 

[HiImSean]

I was in Kauai a few years ago and did some snorkeling on the north shore, Kee Beach (just take the main highway until it ends) and at Tunnels Beach. At Tunnels I did see a group of scuba divers coming in and out of the water, not sure if it was locals or a tour group. Lots of huma triggers as well as sea turtles at Kee Beach.

 

[Datfish]

Just don't get certified in Oregon like I did. The cold is rather intense.

 

[ace_92101]

Just don't get certified in Oregon like I did. The cold is rather intense.

Monterey Bay's water temperature is pretty similar!