Beginning

[marineaquarist2]

What equipment would I need to start diving? How much would it cost? What is the difference between a wet and a dry suit (ive only heard of a wetsuit before seeing this board - a drysuit is for temperate waters right)?

What is required to learn - do you have to know how to swim before diving?

Ive nver seriously thought about it until seeing this part of the boards today, and the one about the dive show.

[spottydog]

I'll try answering your questions (in no particular order):

There are various ways of learning how to dive, the 2 main ones in the UK are PADI & BSAC:
BSAC - This is club based so you join your local club and you will generally be taught over a number of months. Costs and time vary from club to club. This is mainly aimed at UK divers.
PADI - Most Dive shops will have a school that will teach PADI qualifications along with PADI centres abroad (i.e. Egypt). PADI courses are a lot quicker and you usually qualify to dive within a few days (most resort courses are 5 days). PADI is known for holiday divers but you can qualify in the UK and dive in the UK with a PADI qualification
Both have advantages and disadvantages (there are lots of arguements on the diving boards over who is best) but the main thing is to pick a good instructor. Also think about where you will be diving since it is best to qualify in the conditions you will dive in, i.e. it is easier for a UK diver who is used to diving in cold water with little visibility to dive in the red sea with 30+ metres than for a red sea diver to find they can see only 2 metres in the UK.

You must be able to swim to dive. I think Padi require you to be able to swim 200 metres then tread water/float for 15 minutes. BSAC I expect have similar requirements.

Wetsuits are made of neoprene of varying thicknesses and come in one or 2 pieces. These let water in around your neck, ankles and wrists so you get wet. Basically the thicker the neoprene the warmer you will stay underwater. Drysuit can also be made out of neoprene but have watertight seals around your neck and arms (and usually boots attached). As you don't get wet you don't suffer the cooling effects of the water and you can wear clothing underneath to keep you warmer.
In the UK most divers dive in drysuits as at the end of the summer the water still rarely gets up above 17C and inland waters in the winter can be not much above freezing. In warmer climates people tend to wear a wetsuit, or sometimes only a t-shirt depending on the water temperature as you would overheat in a drysuit and run the risk of dehidration through sweating whilst breathing dry air.

To start learning to dive the most you would need is a mask, fins and snorkel and some places will even provide these. After learning should you wish to dive regularly then you can think about buying other items.

The dive show is caertainly an interesting place to visit if you are thinking about diving but it is mainly geared up for existing divers. If you decide to go to the show I would recommend going on the Saturday since Sunday is the busier day with people looking for last minute gear deals.

HTH

[marineaquarist2]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (spottydog @ Feb. 17 2003,16:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'll try answering your questions (in no particular order):

There are various ways of learning how to dive, the 2 main ones in the UK are PADI & BSAC:
BSAC - This is club based so you join your local club and you will generally be taught over a number of months. *Costs and time vary from club to club. *This is mainly aimed at UK divers.
PADI - Most Dive shops will have a school that will teach PADI qualifications along with PADI centres abroad (i.e. Egypt). *PADI courses are a lot quicker and you usually qualify to dive within a few days (most resort courses are 5 days). *PADI is known for holiday divers but you can qualify in the UK and dive in the UK with a PADI qualification
Both have advantages and disadvantages (there are lots of arguements on the diving boards over who is best) but the main thing is to pick a good instructor. *Also think about where you will be diving since it is best to qualify in the conditions you will dive in, i.e. it is easier for a UK diver who is used to diving in cold water with little visibility to dive in the red sea with 30+ metres than for a red sea diver to find they can see only 2 metres in the UK.

You must be able to swim to dive. *I think Padi require you to be able to swim 200 metres then tread water/float for 15 minutes. *BSAC I expect have similar requirements.

Wetsuits are made of neoprene of varying thicknesses and come in one or 2 pieces. *These let water in around your neck, ankles and wrists so you get wet. *Basically the thicker the neoprene the warmer you will stay underwater. *Drysuit can also be made out of neoprene but have watertight seals around your neck and arms (and usually boots attached). *As you don't get wet you don't suffer the cooling effects of the water and you can wear clothing underneath to keep you warmer.
In the UK most divers dive in drysuits as at the end of the summer the water still rarely gets up above 17C and inland waters in the winter can be not much above freezing. *In warmer climates people tend to wear a wetsuit, or sometimes only a t-shirt depending on the water temperature as you would overheat in a drysuit and run the risk of dehidration through sweating whilst breathing dry air.

To start learning to dive the most you would need is a mask, fins and snorkel and some places will even provide these. *After learning should you wish to dive regularly then you can think about buying other items.

The dive show is caertainly an interesting place to visit if you are thinking about diving but it is mainly geared up for existing divers. *If you decide to go to the show I would recommend going on the Saturday since Sunday is the busier day with people looking for last minute gear deals.

HTH[/b][/quote]
Thanks

[marineaquarist2]

Are these top two packages OK for beginners if I got my own equipment? Im concerned that the snorkel mignt not be watertight enough - are these ones ok?

http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/acatalog/PACKAGES2.html

[ahoy]

Those packages are OK for snorkelling - if you want to dive, however, the fins will be no good as they won't fit over boots. I reckon you'd be as well going along to the dive show and getting a good deal on a mask & snorkel & fins there.

marineaquarist2's overview of BSAC, PADI and the differences between UK and tropical diving was very accurate. I have dived under both 'codes' and personally feel that PADI is more suited to diving in the tropics, as you qualify to dive very quickly, without gaining any rescue skills. Basic BSAC training is much more thorough, including a real emphasis on diver rescue skills. It will take you a lot longer to get into the sea if you go the BSAC route, but you will be better equipped to cope in an emergency and I feel that if you train this way in the UK, you will be a more aware diver.

If you want any more info on anything, please email me as I don't want to come across on the board as a BSAC tout!!
S.



Last edited by ahoy at Feb. 18 2003,09:35

[spottydog]

I agree with ahoy on the package plus I would also recommend not buying the mask over the internet unless you have tried on the same model before (or are replacing a mask with an identical one). *
For diving fins I would recommend getting open foot ones and a pair of booties. *These are useful when doing shore dives as you won't risk damaging your feet if you accidentally stand on something when trying to enter/exit the water. *
For a snorkel basically anything goes but the wider the barrel of the snorkel the more water it will hold so that will mean you will have to blow out more water when surfacing after a snorkel dive. *
To find a mask that fits you should press the mask against your face without the strap around your head and breather in slightly through your nose. *The mask should stay on your face now without you needing to hold it. *When trying on the mask also have a look to see how far you can see around it as some masks can limit your vision. *I would also recommend getting a brightly coloured mask or mask strap so you can spot it more easily if it gets knocked off.

as ahoy said if you're going to the dive show it would be a good place to get your mask fins and snorkel as these are normally at good prices at the dive show (approx prices for reasonable quality kit at the show are mask £30 to £40, Fins £50, snorkel £10).

If you want any more info I'll be happy to help (between ahoy and myself you'll at least get 2 views on the training options as I'm a Padi diver who learn't and dives in the UK).



Last edited by spottydog at Feb. 18 2003,09:47

[ahoy]

Cheers Spottydog.
For the record, i'm not trying to criticise PADI, as I beleive that the Rescue Diver level of competence is excellent. My only concern is that PADI state that two Adv O/W divers can dive safely together... But I don't mean to start a BSAC vs PADI debate - i'll probably get barred from the board!!

Now, does anyone know wher I can get some cheap military style jetfins from? Just got a new drysuit and my old fins don;t fit anymore http://www.ultimatereef.com/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

S.

[spottydog]

Sorry ahoy, I definitely wasn't trying to start a PADI/BSAC debate either as I get quite sick of it on the diving boards. As far as I'm concerned it's the quality and personality of the diver that's important not the qualification they have.

As for the Jet Fins I have no idea but it's probably worth checking ebay, divernet and ukdiving as they are all quite active with scuba items for sale (I dive using the silly looking force fins after finding my previous avanti quattros tired my leg muscles to much).

I'll keep my eye out for the fins and let you know if I spot any.

Anne

[ahoy]

Cheers Anne,
S.

[Andy Hipkiss]

I don't want to sound boring, however, how about getting wet first and find out if you are going to enjoy diving?

[tigermad]

I had a quick go at diving in the pool at Bali. The instructor was rubbish, I only had the chance for diving for 2 seconds and the swimming pool was packed!
It hasn't put me off though I want to learn properly. I guess I will have to get a bit fitter first though. I haven't started my new years resolution yet! (to lose weight and get fit).

[philworrall]

Chaps, Chaps, Chaps,

There is absolutely no reason what so ever to get into the PADI and BSAC ( or NAUI or SSI or SAA or ANO) debate.

They all operate the same and I have been involved in the definition and developemt of courses on BSAC and PADI.
Also I have have over 3,000 hours diving in the UK and "tropical waters". Many of these hours have been training others.

It is unfortunate that people "see" what is appropriate to them and define that as the standard. If you dive in the UK then possibly BSAC is more "tuned" to the environment you will be diving in and therefore should suit your diving. THIS IS NO GOOD IN THE TROPICS and neither is training in the tropics and expecting to dive in the UK.

YOU NEED TO BE TRAINED APPROPRIATELY. YOU HAVE TO BE SAFE FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDDY.

The training (and experience) is worlds apart.

For example, what use is a dry suit course when you dive in the skin. What use is a macro photography course developed in the red sea for the green murky waters of Cornwall?
It is all a matter of horses for courses.

One think I can say is that the original PADI courses were develped by the University of California.
That is not to say they are diving experts but that they know how to "educate".

There should be no "this is better than that". If there is, it is insignificant and therefore there is no real argument.

Diving is there to enjoy, do not go to a trainer who is quote " you av to be big and hairy" bit, they are a dying breed,(accepting they know the british waters like the back of their hands). If you want to dive, do it to enjoy it and make sure that you are trained appropriately.

One last subtle point for the men.

If you expect to spend all the time under the ocean on your dream holiday, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN without the other signifiacnt other half agreeing.
If you can get her interested where things are easy and more importantly, enjoyable, go for that option.

For me there is nothing like diving in the tropics.


HTH



http://www.ultimatereef.com/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.ultimatereef.com/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.ultimatereef.com/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.ultimatereef.com/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[kenneth_halley]

Just to add my tuppence worth.

If buying a snorkel- like someone else said- don't buy too wide a bore. Also don't (unless you really are made of money) bother with all the fancy ones that claim to be self purging etc- waste of money and you will only lose it at some point. I've lost count of how many snorkels I have dropped, mislaid, etc ove the years- but have still spent less on them than someone that buys one fancy one!

Don't buy a mask unless you have tried it on. It should fit and seal without the need for the strap to hold it on. Best get a silicon one- I prefer clear but others prefer black.
If you intend diving mostly/entirely abroad- chances are you won't wear a hood, so get a neoprene strap cover- stops the strap tangling in your hair taking it off/onn- especially if you have longer hair.

Fins- buy open foot fins that will fit with bootees or drysuit boots. You will need to get these(bootees at the same time if you want to be sure they fit. Don't buy any of the fancy kit- Quattros etc- get a basic pair with decent pull to tighten straps, and not too long a blade. Learn good technique and the rest of your diving will benefit- you won't get cramp, you won't get knackered- so you use less air. Once you are proficient you will feel the benefit of better fins.
Personally I have always used fairly cheap ones- if you dive in this country in anything less than perfect conditions you will lose a fin/ bust a strap at some point - especially shore diving.

But having said all that- go along to your local dive club/PADI school and ask for a try a dive first ( I am BSAC trained etc, but have no problem with either's methods of training.) You can get crap BSAC training just the same as you can get crap PADI. BSAC suits UK diving especially and focusses a lot more on rescue early on. PADI is more suited to warm water diving and is more widely recognised (though BSAC quals are recognised everywhere in my experience too ).

I would not spend any money on any kit until I was sure I was going to like it!