Anyone SCUBA dive?

[bkwapisz]

A buddy of mine is giving a trial at the local swimming pool for anyone who might want to learn to SCUBA dive. I was thinking of checking it out. I've always wanted to learn how. I guess if you want to pursue it you can join a class and learn how to do it right.

Boy, with as fat as I am I might need a lot of ballast weight...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

most divers wear weight belts. if you ever go to the Fl Keys, you will want to be certified. so much better than snorkeling.

 

[JB]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

I SCUBAed most of the South Pacific in the mid and late 50s.

A group of us Navy aviators (Transport Squadron VR-21) got a UDT diver from Pearl Harbor to teach us how to not kill ourselves and we hauled our gear all over the Pacific. One of our group was from Charlevoix. He would be in his mid 70s now. His name was Richard Paul (****) Scheid.

It was a way to visit an enchanted world. I could not recommend it highly enough, though I doubt that there is any diving left of the quality we experienced.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

This guy's name is "Murray," and he goes all over to places like the Galapogos, Fiji, etc. I'm more interested in local lake stuff, looking for lures, structure, tools overboard, etc. I'm always worried about being sharkbait, so it'll be freshwater-only for me.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

I got my advanced in Thailand. If you have a cheap way to get some 'proper' training...go for it!

Actually it's a perfect 'fat man' sport. Easy on the joints, freedom of mobility without gravity getting in the way like above the surface. You maybe surprized how some pounds may fall off.

I still vividly remember breathing underwater for the first time....very cool!!

 

[Autotech]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Bkw It truly is worth your time. I Haven't been in about 6 years but its a different world 100' down. Did a Resort class down in Cancun fired me up enough to come back and get certified in a pool here did the deep dives in Destin Fl. Not much to look at there but beer cans and Rocks. Went to Belize and dove every time I went 8 or 9 times talking about wonders of the world. Diving the great Barrier in Austraulia is on my bucket list. Never got around to doing a night dive. Not sure If I want to. I like to see whats all around me.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Bkw It truly is worth your time. I Haven't been in about 6 years but its a different world 100' down. Did a Resort class down in Cancun fired me up enough to come back and get certified in a pool here did the deep dives in Destin Fl. Not much to look at there but beer cans and Rocks. Went to Belize and dove every time I went 8 or 9 times talking about wonders of the world. Diving the great Barrier in Austraulia is on my bucket list. Never got around to doing a night dive. Not sure If I want to. I like to see whats all around me.

Sounds like fun. I've always been a fish in the water-- you know, first one in, last one out. My kid's the same way. I love to snorkel too, that's the ultimate for a fatty, float around all day. Just want to go under a few times and see the bottom up closem maybe scope out some fishing spots up close and be the ultimate cheat.

I did get a chance to snorkel in Haiti once. It was on a Royal Caribbean cruise for my Honeymoon and I talked my wife into it. They had a lot of sunken crap to look at like planes and boats. We enjoyed it immensely until I swam into a school of jellyfish the size of softballs. LOL. Bet you never saw a guy run on top of water before. My wife likes to tell that story...

Well I'm going to spring for the $15 to try it out. Can't lose much in a pool I suppose.

Thanks for the commentary.

Brian.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Been a padi certified diver for 25 years, The difference between diving and snorkel is like watching the world series on tv and actually playing in it. You will seldom need to go deeper than 25 to 30 feet for most reefs, color almost always gone at 100 feet. The freedom it offers is beyond compare, you will see where most colors come from when diving. The fish, coral, jellyfish are colored so vivid you will never want to leave. I got certified in Hawaii by a guy nick name Dolfin, still remember him taking me down 100 feet and taking everything off and going up to the surface without any gear. No mask, no tank, no weightbelt, nothing. It was the final test. It was for open water PADI cert. Never regretted it. I think every one should do it.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

You bet we do! Not as much as we would like, but Mrs M got me into it and I have never regretted it. Shes got a lot of training and was a commercial diver for a spell as well as dive rescue . One of the better B-Day presents I ever got - PADI course and a checkout dive in Mexico ( Bahia Principe) I tried the freshwater around the great lakes , but I get really cold in the water really quick and drysuits are a PITA. So it is warm water for me , which generally results in an excuse for a trip to Central America in order to make the best use of my birthday present...

 

[dlindeblad]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

"You are for Scuba Ruben"?

I have been doing it since 1995. I got my lessons and basic certification in PADI through an Italian EOD guy when I was stationed there. I went on to get my advance with SSI from another EOD guy. I own all my own gear except tanks, because they are a pain to maintain IMO, and I can honestly say that when I went back to Michigan for college my stuff collected dust. I am looking at a new assignment back in Italy, but this time I look forward to getting my 13 yr old son into the water and showing him how fun it is to view ancient history underwater and spearfish.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Did a Resort class down in Cancun

I just got back from Cancun a couple of months ago and while I was there I did one of these dives too!! It was absolutely amazing. I am thinking about getting certified this winter. Not sure if I will have the time or not.

Anyway, if you have the opportunity to learn, DO IT!! I really enjoyed it alot.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Scuba Diving is sorta like flying a plane, if you're gonna do it, get certified and learn what you're doing or you can get hurt. We dive in the springs along the Suwannee River and St. Johns River in Florida, water temp. always 72 degrees, but the best is the warm water reef diving like Cozumel, Belize, etc., and pretty darn safe from a shark/jellyfish standpoint. It's a lot of fun and the beauty of a healthy coral reef is just without equal! Good Luck!

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

$15 to check it out? Not really a question then.

Update when you get home please. I'm sure everyone would enjoy hearing about it!

Have fun.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

$15 to check it out? Not really a question then.

Update when you get home please. I'm sure everyone would enjoy hearing about it!

Have fun.

Yeah, $15 to get wet in a pool with his gear, then if you want lessons/cert it's like $225 with his equipment. Then if I really dig it I can get my own stuff. Final exam is either in the Caribbean or in the local lake that is right behind my house. I'll be in the lake I guess. Will update, class is on Jan 20th.

If this goes like everything else I "try" be prepared for the "Who wants to sell their diving rig" post from me.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Well I tried it out and it was AWESOME. I think I'll take the course and learn what to do outside the confines of a pool. I did notice that a few times here and there I felt a little panicky though, mostly when staying still playing catch. He had some little frisbees and it was a little tough to catch those little things.

That may have to do with the fact that I was coming down with a horrible case of stomach flu. In any event, I'm hooked. Awesome stuff.

Brian.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Super cool, good on ya for giving it a go!

Na, I'd say little moments of semi panic are par for the course first time breathing under water. Carry on!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

I tried it once. I came out of the tank like a scared cat after 40 seconds !!. .
It wasn't for me. :redface:

 

[JB]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

Check out my Red sky at night. . . article in this month's Review

 

[tkrfxr]

Re: Anyone SCUBA dive?

I tried it once. I came out of the tank like a scared cat after 40 seconds !!. .
It wasn't for me. :redface:

So that's when they took your avatar picture!