Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

I have decided to go on hols to get a PADI qualification:), now the question is where. The cost is of importance (skint, too many test passes, can't be too good in my job:rolleyes:), would like to go in November which probably mean the other side of the world. "all inclusive" would be good as it makes life much simpler. Other then that warm waters is all i need:D.

So if anyone has any recommends and is willing to share it with me i would be most grateful:thumbsup:

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Have you tried there website?

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Malta is very popular with divers, apparently it's a highly rated location.
I've never dived but I know there are many PADI schools on the island so it might be worth a search on Google.

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Malta is not so hot in November tho:(

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Egypt is probably your best bet - the Red Sea resorts are very geared up towards diving. have a google for Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab or Hurghada & you'll find loads of places

you might want to consider doing the pool & theory part of the Open Water course in the UK before you go - that way you don't have to do two days of your holiday learning phyics in the hotel pool & can go straight to the diving

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

If other side of the world - Cairns or Airlie Beach are popular although wet season starts - still will be nice though. My other recomendation would be Whangarei NZ around the Poor Knights. I would just book a flight and a course/package direct with the dive centre. Normally cheaper.

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

we went to cyprus to do our open water qualification, but it was the middle of summer, not sure how hot it'll be in november:)

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

I did mine in the Caribbean,in November.Great instructors warm clear water,and even sharks.Loved it

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

The med is not that cold in the winter so I wouldn't write off Malta straight away if I were you...especially seeing as you're on a budget.

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Yep, I did my open water in Cairns in December, several years ago. Cairns Dive Center and Prodive are both good outfits. :)

There is a company in london who offer scuba trips, and you can do courses or cert dive if you have a cert. http://www.bigsquid.co.uk/ I've not used them but am considering using them for my refresher.

When I was in Cairns it was cheaper to book through one of the small local tourest booking places rather than prebooking directly on the companies website!

Also, try and do a course that includes a "liveaboard", nothing like getting up at 5am for a dive 8)


Enjoy!
Dan

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

"Liveaboard" a boat, sound fantastic! know anymore?

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

I've heard good stuff of both as well.

Website Here

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

i did mine in egypt at sharm and it was cheaper to do it there including tha hotel than to do it in a quarry in uk nothing much else to do and lots of divers but then you can swap stories also some wreaks to dive

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

I have heard that Thialand island of Ko Tao is the cheapest in the world, not sure if this is true but its certainly cheap. I think the weather is good all year round but not sure when the storm season starts, living costs in thailand are also nice and low, most dive school give free accomodation with most courses.

Only problem is it gets quite busy, some of the bays where everyone goes for there first dive are riddiculous, a bit like that barclays advert a while back where everyone was diving in the same place.

Ko Tao is awesome as well if you like the laid back backpackers style of life, if you dont like backpackers best to stay clear, you might bump into one or two.

HTH

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

shadowangel
pls clear your pm box as it will not accept anymore pms;)

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Quite a few places offer it, have a look when you book your trip. I know Carins Dive Center does, because I did mine with them and spent a night or two on board.

Cant recommend anyone else really, but its quite a common thing. Enjoy! Its great fun!

Dan

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

I'm trying to find a cheap place in Egypt to go diving for a week anyone of where that would be good? I did the math with some places its like £500 for 7 days, which incldes hotel, flights 10 dives kit hire....I don't need all the kit just bcd and regs, I got a 3mm wet suit and dive computer etc.

I'm a Padi rescue diver and my mate is advanced I just need to do refersher before I dive its been more than 6 months....anyone any ideas? Only dived in the US and Mexico.

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Dahab maybe. I've heard its good but never been????

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

try any of this lot:

http://www.emperordivers.com/

http://www.regal-diving.co.uk/home/

http://www.cameldive.com/

http://www.desert-divers.com/

http://www.nesima-resort.com/

I've done liveaboards from Sharm/Hurghada the last couple of years - just got back from one a fortnight ago :-) - but I've also done a week's shore diving from Dahab which was good too - depends what you want really. I'm planning another trip to Dahab for a tech course either later this year or early next :-)

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

post any links to those pretty pls:thumbsup:

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

Thanks guys and girls.
so far i've discovered that live-boards tend to have the need for PADI already, so for the open water course it has to be hotel based.

i will defo go life-board on the next hols.

Can't be asked to do the pool bit here as it will work out more £ in the long run.

i have dived 4 times in the Caribbean, but the regulations there were not so strict so i went down well below 20m and even the PADI open water is 18m max. It is a shock to discover that;).

Once i digest it all and have ALL the info inc prices i let you all know the details:D

Re: Scuba Holiday with PADI qualification
 

ok, i'm going with Crystal Dive, they were well organised when it came to skiing hence the choice again.

http://www.crystaldive.co.uk/anitene...SORTID%2036273

4 star hotel half board, as my son has such appetite i would go bankrupt otherwise:roll:.
PADI open water £150 BOGOF, £520 per person all flights and transfers:thumbsup:
is that a good deal peeps?
Hols after Lifeboard:D