Scuba Diving

Ike_009

Ike_009

Assassin of Accountants
I've just been curious on this lately now that summers back. How many guys here are qualified Scuba divers? If not who's interested and if yes then current qualification?
 
Not qualified but looking at doing my open water, my uncle has been on my case for months now about starting diving with him.
 
Padi have an online course where you go through the theory at your own pace after which you can book in for pool and open water sessions with the nearest dive centre. Also if your near PTA I can give you details for the store that I did my Divemasters through.

Where was your last dive @orkoza
 
Did a 4 day diving course beginning of this year, open water I think. Was awesome, haven't dived since though. Saw a monster of a kreef and lots of smallish sharks on one of the dives.
 
Dive Master...

I've dived Southern Mozambique, Sodwana, Aliwal, Durban, Mauritius, Greece, Miracles, and too many swimming pools.

Ponta do Oro is the best place to start your diving career because you learn to enjoy the scuba diving lifestyle right from the start.
Not only are the reefs beginner friendly, you also get exposed to a whole community of Scuba Diving NUTS!
The whole atmosphere adds to the experience of learning to dive. Mad skippers, R&Rs, Portuguese chicken, and world class reefs.

When conditions are great at Aliwal... it is one of the best places to dive... but if the conditions are off... it could put you off diving for a long time. If you wanna see some sharks... this is the place to be. I'd recommend getting your advanced qualification before hitting Aliwal. Otherwise it can be a little overwhelming.

Sodwana has some of the most beautiful reefs in the world... but only if you go on the off season. If you go on a busy weekend, you'll experience how very "commercial" diving can be. However... if you are lucky enough to go with a small group, when it isn't too busy... WOW! You do need to find the right sort of dive operator out there to suit your needs and expectations, but Sodwana is still one of the best places to dive on earth!

Durban has some cools dive spots believe it or not... you launch from the DUC, but I recommend you only hit Durbs once you're very comfortable being underwater in all sorts of conditions.

DO NOT QUALIFY AT MIRACLE WATERS OR BASS LAKE.
That isn't diving... it's a cruel and inhuman way of parting with some money and putting your body through thermal stresses.

PS
@OP

I know one of the nicest dive schools in PTA. You do your classroom sessions in Lynwood, and the pool sessions at De Jong swimming pool. The instructor is also a computer nut so we got along like a house on fire. He runs a PC maintenance company as his main business. Once you do the pool sessions, you qualify in Ponta Do Oro! Most respected instructor at Ponta... and... he's a fantastic ambassador for the environment and the protection of the Ocean. Maximum Respect!
Most of his students are youngsters, so if SCUBA with a side order of party party is what you're after... lemme know.
 
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Done open water,dived Justin's Caves in CT 2 weeks ago

Finishing up my nitrox spec and advanced open water in sodwana 3 weeks from now
 
I have to disagree with your choice on the best dive site in the world. For me its Truk Lagoon, pure wreck diving on WW2 ships and planes. Trust me check out this from the San Francisco Maru http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YjXDK8XzrIE&desktop_uri=/watch?v=YjXDK8XzrIE that dive went down to about 52m in the hold with the mines.

As for Aliwal, its really a dice roll, I've had plenty of dives there, some have been brilliant and others kak, no middle ground.
 
Ike_009 said:
I have to disagree with your choice on the best dive site in the world. For me its Truk Lagoon, pure wreck diving on WW2 ships and planes. Trust me check out this from the San Francisco Maru http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YjXDK8XzrIE&desktop_uri=/watch?v=YjXDK8XzrIE that dive went down to about 52m in the hold with the mines.

As for Aliwal, its really a dice roll, I've had plenty of dives there, some have been brilliant and others kak, no middle ground.
Click to expand...

That, my friend... looks incredible!
But I didn't say Ponta and Soddies were the best... I just said that they're the best way to get started in diving. I haven't even scratched the surface on where I'd like to go yet to test it all out.

I agree on Aliwal.
Some of the best dives of my career... My first wreck dive was "The Produce"(unforgettable), and I was in a pod of 100+ dolphins (just fins and snorkel) after a dive in crystal clear water.
Baited shark dive... 80+ black tips. 5 Tigers. Instructor performed shark tonic... WOW!

But I have also been there with vis less than 2 meters... dodgy launches... some skippers and DM's should also be shot in the face.

I've dived a downed P-51 and a Lancaster Bomber in the Aegean off the island of Naxos... That was very cool... But I still must make my way to the Red Sea.

My ultimate holiday... when I can scratch the time off together, would be "Bassas da India".
 
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I only have my open water 1, but keen to get my advanced etc.

The only real dives I've done are in Thailand, but with 29 deg water temp and 30m+ viz I'm not going to complain.

I'll post some of the videos I've put together, they're very amateur still. Sorry for the crappy quality. It was taken with a stock gopro1. I also didn't have it on the correct frame settings, so it came out a bit small. I've bought myself the proper dive housing since then and the difference is very significant, sadly it wasn't out yet when I did my dives. Next time!

Here's the stills albums:

http://imgur.com/a/jBbPA
http://imgur.com/a/ZzPsr#0
http://imgur.com/a/M84OS

Planning on going there again in Dec by myself. absolutely trainquil place if you get away from the multitudes of tourists.
 
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If you do the Red sea, do it on a live-aboard. So much to see over there and this way you can get 4-5 dives in a day. Water temp is also great there.

I still want to do a dive in Greenland though, just say I've dived under the ice in a frozen lake.
 
Ike_009 said:
If you do the Red sea, do it on a live-aboard. So much to see over there and this way you can get 4-5 dives in a day. Water temp is also great there.

I still want to do a dive in Greenland though, just say I've dived under the ice in a frozen lake.
Click to expand...

itching to do Red Sea like you cannot believe!

We dived in a frozen lake in the states... I was excited because I really dig the idea of using all this specialized equipment!
Dry-Suit
Full face mask
2 sets of mixed gas and 2 compressed air cylinders
torches
recovery bags
ALL THE TOYS!

The novelty wore off very quickly and I longed for the 26 degree water of Ponta.

Picture "Miracle Waters" with a weird shaped LID. I was fascinated by the shape the ice forms below the surface. But we were not on a pleasure dive, we had to inspect a boat which they sank on purpose to see if it was diver friendly.
It's a little deep... 38m... but it's a whole adventure in all that underwater space marine kit!

I'm sure the untouched wilderness of Greenland must be crystal blue and viz going off forever... it's just... I prefer more "bikinis" on dives these days.
Hahahahahahahahaha
 
I still want to try it though, even if its just to say I have.
Would be cool to try exploring a new dive wreck, wish I could join in.
 
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