slighty OT: Scuba diving in jamaca
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Pufferpunk
New member
A crash coursr for a sport you could easily die doing is never a good idea!
yoggi58
New member
If you are thinking about making it a hoby and doing it more times, you should get certified. I have done the "crash course" three times at the resorts. Twice in negril and once in cozumel. Since i will never do it by my self nor will be buying the equiptment, i found the resort course to be good. Negril is very good for your first dive because it usually is not a very deep dive and the water had great visibility. Also, you have a guide with you at all times and both times that i did it were great with no problems. The training was actually only two hours in the deep pool. This is definatly not the best training, but i look at it more as going on a ride. Just know what to expect for the 30 min. dive and you will be fine. You will get an idea of how it will feel in the pool and know if you want to try it in the ocean or not. If you are an outgoing person that get exited to try different sports, you will be fine. In the other hand, if you are a worrier and easily panic or get nervous, stay away. The key is to stay concentrated on the task at hand and never panic. Also, diving is increadeble and a great experience, but i have found that most reefs are shallow and snorkleing is the best way to observe corals and fish. The best is to see creatures that are in your aquarium in their real environment. Good luck. BTW which resort are you going to?
Racenrich
New member
yoggie...great advice...!!
Puffer...quit scaring people!!
for us mid westerners that don't the money, let alone the time to get to the ocean for underwater adventures...a resort class will determine whether you will be serious or not. Diving as a hobby is not cheap...you think reef keeping is expensive..
go for it, it what id say!
As for Jamaica...well its not the best place for diving..but still worth the trip.
HTH.
Be safe.
3 rules to diving:
BREATH-BREATH-BREATH
Puffer...quit scaring people!!
for us mid westerners that don't the money, let alone the time to get to the ocean for underwater adventures...a resort class will determine whether you will be serious or not. Diving as a hobby is not cheap...you think reef keeping is expensive..
go for it, it what id say!
As for Jamaica...well its not the best place for diving..but still worth the trip.
HTH.
Be safe.
3 rules to diving:
BREATH-BREATH-BREATH
Resort courses are "safe" in that they babysit you during the dive and keep your profile highly controlled. Even full certification does not totally qualify you as a "diver", only many dives and developing comfort in the water will do that. Certified does not necessarily mean qualified.
But diving in Jamaica is about as bad as it gets.
But diving in Jamaica is about as bad as it gets.
Diving
Diving
Ditto to Snovich,
I've been on dive boats surrounded by "certified" divers with thousands invested in equipment. They laugh at my $15 black rubber fins, but I would never let them dive in my bath tub. Having a card with your picture on it does not make you a good diver. The diver makes it a safe and enjoyable experience.
They will probably take you to a 30ft max depth. If you think about it, that's only 10yds. Most people can easily swim 15-20 yds underwater. Enjoy the experience and then decide if you want to pursue it further.
Diving
Ditto to Snovich,
I've been on dive boats surrounded by "certified" divers with thousands invested in equipment. They laugh at my $15 black rubber fins, but I would never let them dive in my bath tub. Having a card with your picture on it does not make you a good diver. The diver makes it a safe and enjoyable experience.
They will probably take you to a 30ft max depth. If you think about it, that's only 10yds. Most people can easily swim 15-20 yds underwater. Enjoy the experience and then decide if you want to pursue it further.
Agreed with above. If you are just trying in out, and "getting your feet wet", going for the resort course would be ok. Taking that course though in no way qualifies you to be a diver, even if they claim it does. If you like it, come back here and take a full PADI or equivalent course.
dv0920
New member
I never did the resort course, I did the due dillegence course here in LI, which was taught by a real salty guy and I learned alot. Diving here in the NE prepares you for most anything, so I suggest doing the course and diving with a qualified instructor and getting certified.
I learned in diving that breathing is most important, sometimes you think if your mask is filled with water that's the worst thing, but its far from it, the worst thing is no air or a free flowing regulator, no fun.
I say take the time get certified you will feel a heck of lot better getting into the water, plus by that point you may have bought your own equipment, and statistically, like 99% of the equipment at resorts is not in great shape, many accidents and injuries have happened using dive resort equipment. I'm not saying all dive resorts are bad, I'm sure if they guys here know Negril's dive resorts they can tell you one way or the other, but for me I dive on my own equipment only. I don't like relying on someone else's equipment.
cheers
D
I learned in diving that breathing is most important, sometimes you think if your mask is filled with water that's the worst thing, but its far from it, the worst thing is no air or a free flowing regulator, no fun.
I say take the time get certified you will feel a heck of lot better getting into the water, plus by that point you may have bought your own equipment, and statistically, like 99% of the equipment at resorts is not in great shape, many accidents and injuries have happened using dive resort equipment. I'm not saying all dive resorts are bad, I'm sure if they guys here know Negril's dive resorts they can tell you one way or the other, but for me I dive on my own equipment only. I don't like relying on someone else's equipment.
cheers
D
ppurcell
New member
I've been a certified diver for about 15 years and logged maybe 150 dives in that time.
One very important benefit of taking the full Open Water certification course is that you get numerous opportunities to ensure that you are comfortable with the equipment and the water before you find yourself 30 feet underwater wiith unfamiliar equipment and minimal supervision.
While I have heard that most resort dives are very well controlled, I have also heard of some where the divers are not closely supervised. Personally, I would not be comfortable with the idea of going to a foreign country and renting equipment that frankly is supposed to allow you to breath (and consequently, stay alive) underwater.
I see two issues with this approach.
First is that if you have a bad experience, while it may cause you no physical harm. It may turn you off to diving altogether. This would be a shame, because diving is an awesome hobby to participate in.
Second and more important, having a successful dive might install a false sense of confidence encouraging you to attempt dives that are beyond your level of training and comfort level that very well could lead to very bad things happening to you. I think more 'certified' divers tend to lose their common sense and good judgement. I have an interesting book on people who have died in caves that anyone considering going into an overhead environment without training ought to read.
Resort diving could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the operator. If everything goes well and you don't turn out to be clausterphobic or have asthma or some other issue that makes diving problematic. Then you will very well may want to get certified.
One very important benefit of taking the full Open Water certification course is that you get numerous opportunities to ensure that you are comfortable with the equipment and the water before you find yourself 30 feet underwater wiith unfamiliar equipment and minimal supervision.
While I have heard that most resort dives are very well controlled, I have also heard of some where the divers are not closely supervised. Personally, I would not be comfortable with the idea of going to a foreign country and renting equipment that frankly is supposed to allow you to breath (and consequently, stay alive) underwater.
I see two issues with this approach.
First is that if you have a bad experience, while it may cause you no physical harm. It may turn you off to diving altogether. This would be a shame, because diving is an awesome hobby to participate in.
Second and more important, having a successful dive might install a false sense of confidence encouraging you to attempt dives that are beyond your level of training and comfort level that very well could lead to very bad things happening to you. I think more 'certified' divers tend to lose their common sense and good judgement. I have an interesting book on people who have died in caves that anyone considering going into an overhead environment without training ought to read.
Resort diving could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the operator. If everything goes well and you don't turn out to be clausterphobic or have asthma or some other issue that makes diving problematic. Then you will very well may want to get certified.
Last edited:
ppurcell
New member
Re: slighty OT: Scuba diving in jamaca
After re-reading the original post, I realized that my reply was to other posts which did not answer the original questions.
So, to answer the question... If you have the time and money to take the PADI open water class, then it would be good idea. After looking at PADI's web site they now have a program called Discover Scuba Diving (http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/dsddetail.aspx), which looks similar to a resort course only I suspect it's a bit more educational.
I got everything except my open water check out dives done over the course of 3 days when I did my initial Open Water certification. It appears that you can even do the classroom work on-line: https://www.padi.com/padi/elearning/
I'm afaid I haven't been to Negril so, I can't offer any input about that.
After re-reading the original post, I realized that my reply was to other posts which did not answer the original questions.
So, to answer the question... If you have the time and money to take the PADI open water class, then it would be good idea. After looking at PADI's web site they now have a program called Discover Scuba Diving (http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/dsddetail.aspx), which looks similar to a resort course only I suspect it's a bit more educational.
I got everything except my open water check out dives done over the course of 3 days when I did my initial Open Water certification. It appears that you can even do the classroom work on-line: https://www.padi.com/padi/elearning/
I'm afaid I haven't been to Negril so, I can't offer any input about that.
Pufferpunk
New member
Check out some of these threads I found when searching "Negril", on this scuba forum.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6898968
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6898968
