Scuba Diving

[jonny.boyd]

Anyone on this forum participate in this sport?

I'm doing my PADI open water certification over here in Cairns (finishing the course with 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef!).

Thinking further on to when I get back to the UK, what is diving like over there? Do any of the org do much diving, fresh or salt water?

[mattSV]

Anyone on this forum participate in this sport?

I'm doing my PADI open water certification over here in Cairns (finishing the course with 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef!).

Thinking further on to when I get back to the UK, what is diving like over there? Do any of the org do much diving, fresh or salt water?

Over here, diving is usually cold, crap vis, and nothing to see :rolleyes:

[Sudoxe]

I did my openwater in Carins about 10years ago. Where are you doing your training? I used Cairns Dive Center, I think CDC and Prodive were the two big ones out there then, but there were many little shops too offering the same thing.

I don't do diving in the UK as it's too cold, but have done a few places across Europe and Asia, it can break up a beach holiday a bit with a few days activity or you can spend sometime on liveaboards which is great fun!

I need to get myself booked up on one for this summer I think!

Dan

[kaivalagi]

You'll need a dry suit really and the vis is poor most of the time, some interesting things to see if you can see them though

I learnt to dive in Fiji and did over 100 dives there (free when helping remote dive shops ;)) and nothing temperate really compares to that experience to be honest. Get as many dives in the south pacific as you can, it's awesome!

[jonny.boyd]

Yeah I went with Pro Dive, really good course and instructors!

Was in the pool and learning all the theory today, then 2nd day in the pool tomorrow before heading out for 2 days on the reef!

Yeah I was thinking that diving in the UK would be like that, ahh well I suppose it's good to get the certification then vital equipment so you can dive in comfort at other warmer places!

I feel that this is going to go on the list along with motorbiking as an expensive hobby / way to have a good time.....

[maviczap]

My sis has dived off the Scilly Isles, although cold, water clarity is much better

I've done some snorkelling in Scottish lochs in the summer, that was pretty good.

Better with a suit & tank I guess

[Spank86]

Had a lesson once in Florida. Great fun but I'm not sure it would be the same in the UK.

[Bluefish]

Last dive i did was a shore dive off Newquay, was only 5mtrs deep but a great dive, and will be doing a few around the Lizard in July hopefully.

[MR SP2]

Anyone on this forum participate in this sport?

I'm doing my PADI open water certification over here in Cairns (finishing the course with 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef!).

Thinking further on to when I get back to the UK, what is diving like over there? Do any of the org do much diving, fresh or salt water?
Some of the best diving in the world and I have dived in Ireland, Hawaii, Malta, Lebanon (HMS Victoria), Cyprus, France, South China Sea (HMS Repulse & HMS Prince of Wales), Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.

UK has some of the best wreck diving in the world, especially off North Cornwall, Channel Islands and Scotland. The scenic diving in the Scilly Isles is superb as is the West Coast of Scotland. One of my all time favourite walls is the Bororay Arch at St. Kilda, >50 metres visibility at 52 metres depth. The wreck of the MV Murree in mid-channel usually has in excess of 10 metres visibility at the maximum depth of 70 metres. The HMHS Rewa usually has around 20 metres vis at 65 metres. HMS Audaceous off Northern Ireland is a stunning dive with regularly 20 - 30 metres vis at 69 metres.

The downside is that the diving is much more challenging, tidal currents can be strong and the water is temporate to cold, the best diving is often deep. The level of training required is considerably higher, PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water just won't cut it.

Mixed Gas Rebreather Instructor.

[Kenzie]

I tried it for the first time while on holiday in Turkey. I didn't get a safety brief or told what to expect. So when he let the air out of the jacket I panicked and wanted out. I was able to go a couple of feet down to get used to breathing then went to the bottom. I wouldn't mind taking another go but that experience freaked me out.

My tourist photo!
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg268/kenzie2k3/DSC07183.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/kenzie2k3/media/DSC07183.jpg.html)

[maviczap]

I tried it for the first time while on holiday in Turkey. I didn't get a safety brief or told what to expect. So when he let the air out of the jacket I panicked and wanted out. I was able to go a couple of feet down to get used to breathing then went to the bottom. I wouldn't mind taking another go but that experience freaked me out.

Go and see the guys at Diveline, in St Johns Road and get a trial dive in their pool.

http://www.diveline.co.uk/

If you explain what happened, they might be able to reassure you, so you don't freak out again.

I did a trial dive there, I would really like to take it up, but I have too many hobbies :mrgreen:

We use them to refill our breathing apparatus cylinders, they're a good bunch of guys

[Bluefish]

Not surprised kenszie, you need proper training to go diving, my mrs panicked and wouldn't go under in the pool, she since did her open water course here in the uk, brrr shiver, and a few dives in Egypt, it's brilliant as long as you know what to do and what to expect.

[yorkie_chris]

Over here, diving is usually cold, crap vis, and nothing to see :rolleyes:

Yeah it can be a bit nippy but drysuit and 12+ C water is warm as toast. Down to 6 degrees is easily manageable. Diving all through the year is easily doable.

Vis... it depends... if you're on a wreck on a sandy bottom in a ripping current, yer it might be a bit grim. But there's loads of places with really nice vis. It's never going to be like the Red sea but not terrible :)

As, historically the foremost maritime nation of the world we've got more wrecks dotted around our coast than almost anywhere else. Or if you like looking at squidgy stuff there's loads of that too, some of it has pretty colours too. Some more of it is very, very tasty. :)

http://www.fynepioneer.co.uk/gallery3/index.php/Underwater-Photos

[jonny.boyd]

Just seen that there's a scuba diving club in my home town! It's a part of BSAC, so may look into joining that! What would people have said is good equipment to start buying when I get back? Already got mask, snorkel, fins. So thinking about getting a BCD and regs to start of the gear. Is this a good place to start?

[yorkie_chris]

Nah they're all much of a muchness if you're going to use club kit. Get a drysuit. Try membrane and neoprene before you start and also latex and neoprene seals.

That way you get used.to bouyancy characteristics of your suit... Does help.

[jonny.boyd]

I'll need to do another course before I can use a dry suit :/ but yeah a dry suit will be pretty essential in the UK waters i'd imagine!

[MR SP2]

;)Not if you join a BSAC club, its all part of the training.

[jonny.boyd]

Oh really, that's good to know :)

[yorkie_chris]

I'll need to do another course before I can use a dry suit :/ but yeah a dry suit will be pretty essential in the UK waters i'd imagine!

I wouldn't bother, just buy one and go dive with a mate who can give you some pointers. It's not rocket surgery

In case you haven't noticed yet PADI centers will try and make you think you need a new cert card to go take a crap and charge you a fortune for it. Don't be taken in with badge collecting.

[jonny.boyd]

Just put up a few photos from my day today at the GBR - got some videos aswell which i'll edit then get up on youtube or something.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=2856819#post2856819

[BigBaddad]

Did my open water in 1996, only dive on holiday.