Diving

Sushi Reef · 02-10-2005, 05:51 PM

i wanna learn how to scuba-dive... where would i get such knowledge ?
around seattle of course ..

upcfault · 02-10-2005, 05:58 PM

look in the yellow pages under scuba or diving.

Piero · 02-10-2005, 06:03 PM

ok...part of the reason i got outta teaching...is the industry trend towared speeding up certifications, handing them cards, cashing the checks, and getting more students in the dooor. When i first got certified in the 80's, it was a month-long intensive course, and my instructors were tough...by the time i was entering ProDive courses to finish up my IDC trraining for instructor...they were pumping people out on a weekly basis...undertrained, undereducated....sad. And don't get me started on the "resort" courses....where they plop you into the pool for an hour, then let you jump off the boat onto the reef the same day...GRRRR. One of the biggest problems with reef degredation with respect to rec diving is all the undertrained divers out there who cannot control their bouyancy and bang up the reef.....

so, after tha rant....lol. I'd suggest shopping aournd the shops, see if there's a PADI 5 star training center, and get a feel for the instructors and how serious they are....then choose the shop that exhibits the most integrity with relation to training.

H20cooled · 02-10-2005, 06:54 PM

I've heard very good things about Thunder Reef in Vancouver, I was going to do there cert program but had something come up and was not able to. I work with a person who's old boyfriend is one of the instructor there and she said that he is very good a knowledgable.

Rich

lokelani · 02-10-2005, 07:16 PM

I always wanted to learn how to scuba, but i never took advantage of it while on Oahu

Oh well maybe the big island in June.

Gaidin · 02-10-2005, 07:25 PM

I am rescue certified and i took all my classes from Bill Hoyt who i have heard lots of awesome things about both before and after i took his courses. He runs his classes out of Eugene at Eugene Skin Divers. He used to own his own shop in Corvallis but sold that business...He was in my opinion an awesome teacher and a great guy, if you have the chance to take his courses by all means please do....

-J.R.

Sushi Reef · 02-10-2005, 08:37 PM

thanks piero ... is it exspensive

do they require you to have your own supplies? (in general)

Piero · 02-10-2005, 08:48 PM

there will be the cert course fee, the book/materials fees, and regulator/BC/Tank renatl fees if you don't already have the erquipment. You may find a program that inclused equipment rentals...or try getting a discount on your gear if you take the classes and buy equip if you plan on being an active diver.

honestly...i don't remeber what it runs these days...its been 6 years since i blew any bubbles. but it can vary depending on the package. Some cert coarses tka e trip to the tropics to finish up the open water part of the coarse. Definitely shop around.

Krux · 02-10-2005, 08:59 PM

in portland the price was around 350 which included your cert, classroom work, pool work, open water cert dives (lodging and transportation not included), equipment rental, and all the supplies for the course. all of the places i have seen require you to own your own fins, mask, and snorkel, which will run between 100 and 200 bucks (unless you go really fancy, then you can spend like 500 bucks for the three pieces). if you plan to buy equipment, a basic set is going to run you around a grand (including the above), if you want to get fancy you can pretty easily spend two grand and more, especially if you decide to go dry instead of wet.

i would recommend getting your gear at the time you take the course if you go this route, so you can learn in your own equipment. as a college student on a budget, you might find that it is a better idea to spend the 50 bucks a day to rent the gear, especially if you arent diving several times a month, it would take a long time to hit a grand in rentals. i was logging about 250 dives a year for the first 3 years i was certified, so buying my own gear was essential.

the shops here in portland go to either pudget sound, or to san francisco for training, guessing a seattle based place would just hit pudget sound.

i got my initial training at a padi 5 star down in california, they were very thorough, and i felt quite comfortable with what i was doing before i was turned loose. of course the first thing i did was toss my tables and start diving the navy tables for most of my research work, but padi is fairly conservative and errors on the safe side, which is a good idea for beginners.

Sushi Reef · 02-11-2005, 12:19 AM

TYVM guys

R&R · 02-11-2005, 12:34 AM

There is a place in Tigard called Under Water Works... I think it is around $350 for the entire course.. final dive is in the Hood Canal.... I want to take this course, but everytime I get close to having enough free time, my shoulder starts to act up on me... They are a padi 5 star establishment. Check them out at http://www.under-water-works.com/

drock59 · 02-11-2005, 12:34 AM

go for it! Scuba was the best class i have ever taken. Youll love it, especially living in the seattle area. The soudn has some great diving.