vacation ideas

[anamilasti]

ok so im going to go away for vacation with my girlfriend, mayve late december eairly january (if we can get a good last minute deal) or durring our mearch break.... i really wana go scuba diving, i want do see sum nice coral reef. keep in mind we are both students and cant spen a fortune, but what are sum good places to go dive and see sum really intresting things?????

 

[ophiura]

What level of SCUBA certification do you have?

 

[anamilasti]

lol .... i dont have any.... but have learnt in my pool b/c my dad is certified and has the equipment..... do you need to be certified or can you just take a day course?

 

[el bob]

great stuff in the keys

 

[mbx5]

Look into Belize. You may find good deals if you go in the off times. The diving is great!

 

[dragonzim]

I'd look into Cozumel. Its pretty cheap and there is some fantastic diving. I'm not sure what your price range is but I went there a few years ago with a buddy. We went for 8 days, stayed at an all inclusive resort where all meals and drinks were included. The package came with 2 dives a day for 6 days and airfare. I think the whole thing was around $1200 per person.

 

[watson3]

On the certification, some places arent allowed to rent you the equipment without it..However, on some of the inclusive trips, they have a short class, and then you use their equipment

 

[fbm]

Save you money for a new tank

 

[ophiura]

Personally, I am really wary of "train you in a morning" type places. Face it, it is a hobby that can kill you. Get properly trained, and then go diving!

 

[chuckcac]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Personally, I am really wary of "train you in a morning" type places. Face it, it is a hobby that can kill you. Get properly trained, and then go diving!
I agree! i've been a PADI Certified Divemaster and Rescue Scuba Diver for 12+ years...with over 500 hours underwater. IME - Get properly trained. Most accidents that happen are due to lack of education.
"Resort Courses" are fine & dandy and generally take you on "shallow" dives to explore reef & shallow gardens - BUT - +90% of dive accidents happen in the first 30ft of water!!! In the first 30ft of water the atmosperic pressure exerted on you body DOUBLES!!! Be safe -

you only get one life in this game...

 

[f14peter]

I'll second the suggestion of Cozumel. Although I've never been, I have heard that there's some fantastic underwater sites.
As an alternative, snorkeling would also allow you to view some nice real aquascaping, albeit more shallow. I'm partial to the Big Island of Hawaii, especially at the Captain Cook Monument on Kealakekua Bay (Although I've heard access is currently restricted due to the recent earthquakes). In fact, our snorkeling has been a real inspiration for our tank, we want to replicate what we've seen.
Can't have a turtle, nor do I really want an eel, but here's a few things we've run across . . .

 

[topfins-mj]

I agree, th eall inclusive areas will allow you to scuba dive without the certificate.
Try Kozimel(800pp), Punta Cana (1000pp) The caribbeans is great for this.

 

[1journeyman]

SCUBA diving is an amazing hobby.
It can also kill you.
Get certified. I would NEVER dive with a company that didn't ask me to see my diving certification (C Card). If a company is so shoddy they don't bother to check certifications then you can bet they probably aren't checking the quality of filters on their air compressors or properly servicing their gear.

 

[mbx5]

Cozumel is a good place but the water can be a bit cool in winter. The diving is good but Belize is the same reef but better and the snorkeling seemed much much better to me.

 

[ophiura]

I just totally agree with the above - I do not trust ANY of the spots that will take you out without a certification, all the while probably filling you up on alcohol as well. And those that will certify you "in a morning!" Well, many of them are, excuse the pun, "dives." I wouldn't trust my life to such operations, and you ARE by default trusting your life to them.
It is a great hobby, brilliant - but it doesn't take much to kill you.
I took a SCUBA course in college - it was a full semester course, meeting for 3 hours one day each week. I can't imagine doing that in a morning.
Go snorkeling...or better yet, use the money to get certified, and go on a nice vacation later.

 

[chuckcac]

getting certified really isnt that expensive... most places offer lessons for around $99-$149 - the books cost $50 - most scuba centers have basic package deals for masks,fins,snorkel for $50 and under... then they let you use their tanks,BC,and regulators for the lessons... (you may have to rent them to take you open water exam though... +-$50)
With that said... you can, with $200 - $250 get your certification and be certified FOR LIFE... :cheer: then you can go - anytime - anywhere...
"resort courses" and scuba packages at resort hotels will be good for that ONE TIME ONLY... and you'll have to pay take the course again if you ever want to dive again...
its alot like SWAquariums... try to do it right the first time and it will save you money, time & energy
SCUBA is my favorite past time, its sooooo relaxing - and exciting!!!! - its what prompted me to look into SWA as a hobby...

I've been reef diving all over the place- Cozumel, Cancun, Turks&Caicos...etc
Shipwreck diving in the atlantic.... (Brrrrrr)
Cavern diving in Mexico....
If you think you'll go diving more than once in your life... the cost to get certified is negligable... :happyfish
the cost to be prepared and educated in proper safety to protect your life and the lives millions of critters in the sea... priceless :hilarious

 

[1journeyman]

I had a buddy do the resort dive thing in Cozumel. (He later got certified and we now dive together)
They filmed it and he bought the film. We watched it and he pointed himself out. He was swimming along and you could tell he was holding his breath from the lack of bubbles coming up. When I pointed that out he said "Ya, they didn't tell us not to hold our breaths..."
One of the FIRST things you are taught in SCUBA class is that you NEVER hold your breath.
I don't even think PADI allows more than 3 Class dives a day, which means minimum it would take two days to get certified.

 

[fbm]

Dive shops here in NE Ohio have night classes then you can do you qualifiing dives on sat and sunday and be done with it. And it is a great exp as well.

 

[chuckcac]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
I had a buddy do the resort dive thing in Cozumel. (He later got certified and we now dive together)
They filmed it and he bought the film. We watched it and he pointed himself out. He was swimming along and you could tell he was holding his breath from the lack of bubbles coming up. When I pointed that out he said "Ya, they didn't tell us not to hold our breaths..."
One of the FIRST things you are taught in SCUBA class is that you NEVER hold your breath.
I don't even think PADI allows more than 3 Class dives a day, which means minimum it would take two days to get certified.
right... my point exaclty... rule #1 in SCUBA is to BREATHE... and they didnt teach him that?!? Silly!?! that could've caused an air embolism of the lung!
Yes it will take a min of two day to take the Open water exams... most people take the classes during the week and then test on sat/sunday...
sometimes with PADI dive centers you can take the classes... and the written exams at the dive shop.... then take your open water exams at a PADI dive center "on-location" as part of your vacation... Alot of people do this too

 

[mbx5]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
I don't even think PADI allows more than 3 Class dives a day, which means minimum it would take two days to get certified.
True they will do only 3 in one day and get you in first thing in the morn. on the last dive to get you done and out on dives if need be.