Please help a beginner SCUBA diver?

Question

Hi! I did my PADI Open Water about fours years ago and haven't dived since. I really want to get back in to it as a serious hobby, what's my best course of action? A refresher dive and then more dives at Open Water level or push on to Advanced level as quickly as possible?

I'd like to climb up the ranks as far as I can but I know sensible experience is the way to go. Out of interest, how much could I expect to pay, roughly, to get up a rank or two above Advanced? I did my Open Water in Dahab so I know it'll be a lot more expensive back home in the UK!

Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm with the others - a refresher course is a good idea.

And, yes, get in with a club or dive shop that will get you diving regularly.  Personally, I wouldn't get in too big a hurry to advance.  Practice the skills as often as you can.  I can tell the once-a-year vacation divers when we're on a boat - they fumble around with their equipment and are looking for everything.  Get your own equipment and learn to put it together reliably.  Attach stuff in sensible places and learn where everything is.

With PADI, you've got two general 'prongs' of advancement: personal excellence, or professional/trainer.

Me, I'm going the personal excellence route and working on Master Diver.  You can look up the requirements, so no need to copy them here.  

Like "martdfrogman" (27 years! wow!) I don't like the cold either and the cold water diving I've done has gone poorly.  I'm not in a hurry to apply for Master - I want be proficient and dive well even when it's stressful.

Answer 2

Try surfing www.sea explorer.com. They can tell you the price from the web site. Sea Explorer is operated by a Swiss national and their dive site is in Dauin, ****** Oriental,sea near a port. Dauin is two towns South of Dumaguete.Dumaguete can be reached by Ocean Jet, 4 hours from Cebu City via Tagbilaran, Bohol. I'm not sure but, the price may be $600.00 for six days training with  lodging in a Hotel in Dauin.

Answer 3

Join a sub aqua club,  such as BSAC, and do a few refresher dives.  They accept people with PADI qualifications and you may be able to convert to the better BSAC qualifications.

Answer 4

Hi Rover,

Firstly a refresher is a must. PADI offer a scuba tune up course with just this reason in mind. Secondly as Dancing Queen has stated - Join a local club, be it BSAC or PADI, that way you will gain experience and be with like minded people. But as for BSAC being a better quality of training.. well lets not start that debate. PADI by the way, had a lot to do with the latest BSAC training literature..

I would recommend that you gain as much experience as you can at your present level, as competence comes with experience. Plus you may find that our "more challenging" waters may not be to your liking and you will have wasted money on a hobby that 'ain't for you.

Both types of training offer something, but remember that the training is only as good as the trainee. As for cost you should contact your local dive shop who will probably run a PADI club, or look on the net for you nearest club (BSAC or PADI).

Good luck, stay safe.