Scuba Time! Attn: Scuba Divers, need help

[BigMike]

Hey guys

Looking for some knowledge on getting a scuba diving license/certificate

How long does it take usually? How many classes must I attend? Any requirements that I should know about, besides knowing how to swim like do they require any medical examinations or something like that?

I already know some basics about Nitrogen bubbles in the blood, decompression sickness, tank mixtures, never dive alone, know the weather, always check your equipment and whatnot so I think I will do ok in the classes. Do they cover stuff like dehydration or heat exhaustion? Hypothermia? If so then I want to be prepared

The reason I am asking is because my girlfriend and I want to get certified, but we will only have one week to spend near the ocean. It would be great to take some classes and do some dives while we are there

BigMike

[BigMike]

Oh yeah, how much might it cost?

[BLACKDOG]

Mike, I think you're going to be looking at around $100 for the basic cert.  I'm not sure if you'd be able to do it in a week though. You may want to contact dive schools and companies in the area, to see if they do expedited courses, or underwater tours where the participant only needs event certification  

[BigMike]

[BLACKDOG]

I'll ask my sister, she got certified not long ago, she may know

[*FFC*]

Sounds like a blast! That's one thing I wouldn't mind doin some day... Mike, you gotta tell us allll bout it

[Rocksurfer]

Mike most local schools (Fresno) will have a pool to train you in locally so you don't have to go to the ocean to get your start. Once they get you going on the basics they then will trot you down to the PO, put you on a boat and drop you in the ocean so you get the feel for being out there.

[gotrocks]

www.naui.com

here check this out, I only need to take my final dive and I'm done.  i took it through my college in the pool  It was a very comprehensive and good.  NAUI is the most reconized diving cert in the world.  Another one is http://www.ssiusa.com/   this is the second most recognized school cert.  Between those 2 links you should be able to find a school near you.

[MiniSimp]

http://www.scubamonterey.com/info.html

[rlwjaw]

You are in Fresno right? These folks can answer all of your questions.
Once you are certified lets get together and dive I plan to dive Buck Island this summer, maby we can do it together at MCR5. One suggestion look into diving dry right off the bat. Wetsuits are ok but dry suits are much more comfortable and open up more opportunities. If you have any questions please feel free to call me or e-mail. I have been diving since 1962, almost as long as I have been wheeling. One thing about wheeling combined with diving you can get to places that others cant.
Is your girl friend going to dive with you?

Aqua Sports Distributing of Central CA S-2293
1616 East Shields Avenue 
Fresno, California 93704 
UNITED STATES
Phone: (559) 224-0744 
Fax: (559) 224-5228 
Email Us 


Name Bob's Dive Shop Inc.
Category Platinum Facility
Address 4374 N. Blackstone Ave.

City Fresno
State CA
Country USA
Postal Code 93726
Email Click here to email this dealer.
Web Site http://www.bobsdiveshop.com
Phone 559-225-3483
Fax fax 559-225-4377

[wa4x4]

I got a Jr. Cert when I was 13, it has since expired, and I do not plan on getting a new one anytime soon. It was a pretty easy class, we did all our dives in the ocean off Maui and the hardest part was taking off your mask underwater. It took less than a week for us doing 2 dives a day plus exam. It was something like 300 bucks in Hawaii to get certified.

[Shoyrtt]

I got certified while I was at Vandenberg in 1990. Back then there were two certifying entities NAUI and PADI. The classes were held at a local pool for about 6 weeks. In the middle of the course we did a dive at Morro Bay (cold and dirty) and at the end of the course we went to the Channel Islands (again cold with so so visibility ).  Shortly thereafter, we went on a dive trip to Tahiti. Once I dove in warm/clear water, I never wanted to touch the CA Pacific again. 

If you want to dive on a first trip, many of the resort dive destinations (Cozumel, Cancun, Belize etc. (i.e.: warm water locations)) have dive shops that will take you on an introductory dive after a quick lesson. I think they run about $100.

My wife and I got certified separately before we got hitched (she is NAUI, I'm PADI). Our honeymoon was a week long dive trip to the Caymans. Sting Ray City was fun:

[Rocksurfer]

Go figure, someone asks about something not even related to 4x4's and look how many people are already certified. 

[BLACKDOG]

These are all great options, but Mike, you need to check around the touristy places, because I really don't see you guys getting certified to go out on your own in 1 week!  usually you want to get certified ahead of time, then plan the vacation, which may be an option for you, but I dunno if your g/f can get certified in japan??  Something to think about

[Shoyrtt]

Go figure, someone asks about something not even related to 4x4's and look how many people are already certified. 

The funny thing is, the passion I once had to go diving is now gone.  We were in Cabo a couple of weeks ago and had the chance to go diving. I passed.  I was trying to figure out a way to rent a rock crawler and explore the desert.

[wa4x4]

I went though PADI FYI, and still have my diving book, if you want to save some $$ by buying mine.

[mudguts]

Pm me if your interested. I'll hook you up with my cousin in Monterey. Your dad knows him as RangerRuss.

[freds40]

Hey Mike, my whole family dives and until about 2 yrs ago, my dad was a certified instructor for NAUI and SSI as well as speacialty instruction. I got Certified in '99 but it's been a while since I've been down. My shop was Blue Water Ocean Sports but they are now defunked. Sux, they were the best in town. I have heard good things about Aqua Sports on Blackstone and Shields but haven't been in there. For training, the costs can vary between shops as well as which organization they teach under. Generally a cert will run around a hundo. Some shops have a package that includes some fins, booties, mask, and snorkel and that can be $250 on up including cert. If you want to buy gear, it will set you back a bit. My class took 6 weeks IIRC. We did book work, some skills lessons in a pool, and then a shore dive and a boat dive in Catalina. Fun stuff, need my daughter to be older so I can take her and get back in the water.

[4THEWKN]

Mike if you want a quick dive experience here's what you do. Book a non-certified dive at Scuba Love on Catalina Island. My first dive ( non certified dive) was there. I have dived there 3 times. Real nice for a non certified dive. There is a nice wreck dive there to. Think it was down around a 100' but I can remember.

[Shoyrtt]

Mike if you want a quick dive experience here's what you do. Book a non-certified dive at Scuba Love on Catalina Island. My first dive ( non certified dive) was there. I have dived there 3 times. Real nice for a non certified dive. There is a nice wreck dive there to. Think it was down around a 100' but I can remember.

A first dive shouldn't be anywhere close to 100ft. Why? 1. You won't get much bottom time; 2. It's cold in Catalina; 3. Visability at 100ft can be poor; 4. you probably need to make at lest two decompression stops on the way up (boring ); 5. It's REALLY COLD in Catalina.

A first ocean dive IMO should be no deeper than 40 ft. There is a lot more vegetation and life to see in shallow water = fun. 

[freds40]

Catalina's warm compared to the rest of California. It was 68 there when I got my cert in January a few years back. Monterey is usually 52-55. Also, Casino Point is an awesome dive as they go for California. Great marine life.

[BigMike]

I don't know what the problem is, I was thinking of diving off the coast of Demarcation Bay.

[rlwjaw]

Dry suit for sure.

[rlwjaw]

Mike did you ever get your open water certification? If you did do you want to make a dive on Buck Island? Maby even at Rubicon.

[BigMike]

Dang, I wish I could go scuba diving at Rubicon!

But no, we gave up on the idea, but the good news is that she will be coming back to California (for good) this winter, so sometime next spring/summer we will get certified

I am planning on hanging out at Buck for a couple of days before the Round Up. I want to get to the Round Up by Wed. possibly, so I can take my time and do some fishing or so.

[Installer_Joe]

I don't know what the problem is, I was thinking of diving off the coast of Demarcation Bay.

Isn't that up in Alaska?

[rlwjaw]

Any one else up for a dive  on MCR ?

[BigMike]

Bring some extra gear and I'll pay you to teach me the basics

[rlwjaw]

i am not a certified dive instructor but I did teach befor you needed to be certified. I dont have enough gear for 2 and most shops won't rent to non certified individuals. Diving for the most part is voluntarily self regulated (like off roading should be). We plan to be there early . Maby we can catch some fish and crawdads for dinner.
Thanks for asking but I am going to have to decline on teaching for money. We can go over some basics if you want to pick up some quality snorkel gear and a wet suit. I might even have a dry suit for the trip for myself.
richard Wentworth

[BigMike]

Good news, I already own a full 3/4mm wetsuit and booties (for surfing) and a complete snorkel, goggle, and fins (for snorkeling of course!)

I was planning on brining the snorkeling gear, but I never thought about the wetsuit

Isn't that up in Alaska?

Yes, that's where I like to dive.