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Post by PotteringThrough on May 29, 2008 12:10:05 GMT
Great fun ain't it!
I did a try dive the other day and really enjoyed it, I'm very tempted to start doing it and becoming fully qualified!
Anyone else do it? Anywhere local you'd reccomend?
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Post by pintofsmiths on May 29, 2008 13:20:08 GMT
Go for it, it will open up a whole new world for you. I have been diving for quite a while now and really enjoy it.
The more qualified you get the deeper you can dive.
Where did you do your trial dive? I'm a member of a dive club that runs dive courses.
Going to Malta for a week in September to dive on some of the wrecks of warships and airplanes that have been sunk off the coast. Can't wait.
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 13:28:27 GMT
About 6 years ago i was on holiday in Sri Lanka on one of them all inclusives. I was actually quite bored sitting by the pool when some bloke came along with tanks and asked me if i wanted to try it. It's one of those things you always want to do in your life, anyway tried it and loved it so took the Open Water Course. I was hooked me and ex were both into so it suited us to book holidays where there was 'good' diving. 6 years on and i'm still loving it but now i'm an Instructor ??? It has changed my life for the better the only bad thing is missing my beloved Stoke City but living by beautful beaches and crystal clear waters kind of gets you over it Once you get into it it's an endless circle of doing something new and pushing the boundaries. I'm quite high up the ladder now in terms of Instructor (Master Instructor) but there are still plenty of things for me to do like Tec Diving which is what i'm getting into next. It's a new ball game is Technical when it come to diving but there are no limits. I've just applied for a job with a Tec Company its really interesting, they have recently found an American Submarine in the Gulf of Thailand which was lost during WW2. With the US Navy and US Museum they are uncovering the history of what happened it is also being documented for the discovery channel. Problem is its beyond the limits of recreational diving at 115 metres depth, and with going so deep you'll only a short period of bottom time usually about 15 minutes, then it takes 6 to 7 hours to get back up to the surface doing deco stops all the way. If your into physics Technical Diving is a must! Last time i was back home in Stoke i heard an advertisment on Signal Radio for DSD (Discover Scuba Diving) for £10 which is basically done in the pool but it's not a ticket to dive. I've dived in the UK but 4 degrees (winter) is not my cup of tea, wheere i am now its currently 32 down at 40 metres ;D I teach practically everything from Open Water to Divemaster to Wreck Penetration to Night to Deep Diving and so on.. It can be hard work but i don't class it has a job its a lifestyle If you require any advise just ask i am always popping on this baord most days
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Post by Zippy Moon Dust on May 29, 2008 13:38:49 GMT
It's fantastic.
I had a go at it at Fuerteventura and The Maldives. Only 6 metres but it's brilliant.
DO IT!
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 13:42:30 GMT
Go for it, it will open up a whole new world for you. I have been diving for quite a while now and really enjoy it. The more qualified you get the deeper you can dive. Where did you do your trial dive? I'm a member of a dive club that runs dive courses. Going to Malta for a week in September to dive on some of the wrecks of warships and airplanes that have been sunk off the coast. Can't wait. Would that be the B52 down at 42 metres ? I dived it a few years back, although now the condition of it is quite poor. One of the best Wrecks i have ever dived was the SS Thistlegorm in the Red Sea, quite moving actually as it was a Britsh Merchant Navy Ship sunk by the Germans. On it there were Bedford trucks and BSA Motorcycles in racks, inside it was full of amunition all destined for the Som. If you into Wreck Diving the Thistlegorm is a must dive especially if your in the Red Sea. I have made over 100 dives on this Wreck alone, which is known locally has the 'Hardeep' www.thaiwreckdiver.com/hardeep_wreck.htm because it is deep and a hard dive do to the currents.. This was used has a Japanese supply trip during the war until the British sank it using 1000lb bombs, but many missed and they still lay around the channel.
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 13:53:59 GMT
Whilst your tucked up in bed tomorrow morning i will be diving HTMS Khraam Wreck , this is a great dive and was sunk by the Thai Navy about 6 years to be used as an artifical reef. www.thaiwreckdiver.com/htms_khraam.htm I have mapped many of these Wrecks
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Post by ben88 on May 29, 2008 13:57:33 GMT
i did it when i went on holiday to tenirife last year, brilliant brilliant brilliant, one of the wierdest but best feelings in the world being able to breath under water, i suffer from panic attacks and was very worried i was going to get down their and start going off on one, but it was so relaxing, topping it off was when i turned round to see a turtle come righ tup to my face and start playing around, even let me have a picture with him.
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Post by Dallas Cowboy on May 29, 2008 14:26:20 GMT
An interesting read, Pattaya Potter. I have often wondered what the ex-pats in Thailand and other parts of South East Asia do for a living. It seems you have made a great success out of your pastime.
Dallas.
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Post by ben88 on May 29, 2008 14:35:44 GMT
you lucky bugger pattaya
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 14:39:46 GMT
An interesting read, Pattaya Potter. I have often wondered what the ex-pats in Thailand and other parts of South East Asia do for a living. It seems you have made a great success out of your pastime. Dallas. Thank you dallascowboy have some karma ;D Unfortunatley being out in Thailand you tend to get labelled. In reality it's quite the opposite. We put a lot into the local community in terms of enviromental education and awareness. Through the Project Aware Foundation we run Reef Clean-up Operations each month and get the locals involved. Were currently having problems with illegal chemical dumping in the Gulf which is killing thousands of marine life. All this is done voluntary, i teach diving to educate people about awareness. The only way people can sea the damage being caused is by seeing it for themselves..
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 15:00:47 GMT
I wouldn't say luck i would say a lot of hard work in getting there but also fun along the way. I felt my life was getting stale so i sold my house which paid for my education in diving and buggered the misses off ;D It's an expensive hobby especially if your going all the way.. If any of you are interested in becoming Instructors it is very possible. The cheapest way of doing is out here in Thailand, going to OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor) takes 7 months. I did many courses in different locations before i found this place here in Thailand www.learn-in-asia.com/ it is a CDC (Career Development Centre) have a read its very interesting. I spent in excess of 20k on equipment, courses and holidays before i found this place. For those who are serious about it or just fancy a challenge (we get a lot of gap year students) Mermaids CDC is in the top 3 Instructors schools in the world probably number 1 but the cost is a fraction towards anywhere else because this is Asia. I am currently a member of staff but my time is up now i will be moving on very soon. I have worked here without pay because it is part of my learning in higher education. If anyone is interested after reading let me know and i'll tell you the full costs. Afterwards the world is your oyster so to speak, anyway who goes through Mermaids has a good start in a diving career when its on your CV.
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Post by PotteringThrough on May 29, 2008 15:17:09 GMT
My friend is an instructor (not sure how far up the ladder he is) down in Penzance so he took us to the local swimming pool and we were there for about an hour. Really really enjoyed it though, was a bit nervous about breathing but it was really easy!
I'm thinking about doing a week course so I can get to the stage where I'm able to dive in open water without any worries but not sure about cost and what have you!
Pattaya, sounds like you love it as well and I can't blame you at all - It must be fascinating to go and see some of the things that you get to see!
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Post by pintofsmiths on May 29, 2008 15:27:37 GMT
The Open water course is 5 confined water dives (swimming pool) learning various techniques etc, 5 knowledge review sessions (classroom, but not as daunting as it sounds) and 4 open water dives, usually at an inland dive site such as a quarry. On the open water dives you put into practice what you have learnt in the pool. There is also a small exam at the end of the course, again nothing to daunting. The cost is about £240 that includes the use of the equipment, training manuals, insurance etc. Unless you do an intensive course it would be 6 weeks.
Go for it, good luck.
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Post by pattayapotter on May 29, 2008 15:33:50 GMT
Pattaya, sounds like you love it as well and I can't blame you at all - It must be fascinating to go and see some of the things that you get to see! No matter how many dives i do i never get bored. I love teaching beginners because there is nothing what gives me more joy than seeing their faces when breathing underwater for the first time There is some great diving in the UK but my suggestion would be to do your first course whilst on holiday because its cold and also dry suit, which is an extra course in itself. You can do the educational side before you go its easy and it will save you a day in the classroom and money. PADI do elearning online it's free of charge but it means no classroom whilst away on holiday. You can find it through this link www.padi.com oh you'd have to buy an Open Water Manual which is about £20 but this is something you would have to buy anyway
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Post by PotteringThrough on May 30, 2008 10:56:32 GMT
Thanks Guys, some great tips there!
I'll have a look on the PADI site today!
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Post by BoothenBooBoo on May 30, 2008 12:57:29 GMT
Premier Potter sent you a PM matey.
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Post by spanishstokey on Jun 4, 2008 7:51:12 GMT
Pattaya Potter.....all this PADI diving in warm clear seas is for girlies (only kidding), try Portsmouth harbour with nil vis scooting along on your back doing a finger tip search with a half meter clearance between the slowly sinking ship on the tide and the muddy bottom dragging on your tank.
There are a couple of options to look at for the amatuer diver. Pattaya has mentioned one (PADI), but also check out BSAC, I have always seen this bunch as a more social route for diving as opposed to PADI. If you are in Stoke or the surrounding area look at North Staffs Divers (BSAC12, google it). I dived with these guys for a few years and found them most acomodating, they enjoy their wreck dives.
Pattaya, enjoy your diving, you're in the right part of the World. As my old chief used to say
"No sea too rough, no muff too tough"
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Post by DamonHillsEyebrow on Jun 4, 2008 13:18:10 GMT
Pottering through Hoffman: you have PM mate
Debs xx
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Post by Arthurdollar on Jun 5, 2008 7:24:51 GMT
Ben88 where in Tenerife did you do your try dive ? as i am a Scuba diver (PADI advanced) and involved with a dive club. By the way if anyone is holidaying in these parts PM me if you are a beginner or a certified diver as we do shore and boat dives. These dives are one on one for try dives shore only Max 6mts. And plenty of varied dives for the experienced.
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Post by PotteringThrough on Jun 5, 2008 11:38:22 GMT
Big thanks to Boothenbooboo and damonhillseyebrows!
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Jun 5, 2008 11:58:35 GMT
Ahh now I get the Muffdiving thread.
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Post by frasier37 on Jun 5, 2008 13:43:53 GMT
Boother i didn't know thou dost venture south ;D
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Post by salopstick on Jun 5, 2008 13:46:06 GMT
did you muff dive the goth fella
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Post by frasier37 on Jun 5, 2008 13:48:41 GMT
That would be silly wouldn't it. Sorry to highjack your thread Pottering.
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Post by pattayapotter on Jun 5, 2008 15:04:13 GMT
I am either on my way back to Stoke (my Dad is ill) after the weekend or to a job in Phi Phi
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Post by frasier37 on Jun 5, 2008 16:05:10 GMT
To do a job in phi phi.
teehee hee ;D
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Post by bobafett on Jun 5, 2008 16:13:58 GMT
potteringthrough , i'm a qualified diver and a member of a local dive club . It's called submission and they do have a website . www.submissionscuba.co.uk . I did a few try dive's abroad then bit the bullet and did the open water course in fuertaventura last year , do it mate , you'll never look back .
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Post by pattayapotter on Jun 5, 2008 17:13:11 GMT
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