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PADI Open Water Qualified
MakeEverything - 29/8/10 at 11:21 AM

Got back from Malta yesterday, where i completed my Open Water Diver course.



Now on the look out for some bargain equipment!

Got a prescription mask, decent snorkel and Cressi fins out there, just need a 5mm wetsuit, BCD, Regs and bottle.


macspeedy - 29/8/10 at 11:34 AM

well done! now get your advanced open water !


mookaloid - 29/8/10 at 11:47 AM

Scuba diving - one the best things I have ever done


Fozzie - 29/8/10 at 11:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Scuba diving - one the best things I have ever done




Oh yes ..... ahhhhh the memories

Well done by the way .... now go and do what macspeedy said ....

You know you want to

Fozzie


jollygreengiant - 29/8/10 at 11:55 AM

Richard, Trust me, in this country 5mm is NOT enough. 6mm better, but best is straight to Dry Suit, Membrane is probably best as you won't need quite so much wieght. When I was diving back in the 70's & 80's I used a 6mm wet suit. It was cold, especially when diving under ice (Guildenburg pit, filmed by BBC news crew and aired). Soon after I got a Typhoon Dry suit and a one piece thinsulate under suit. ALL the lads in Thrapston BSAC said I was a woose, but asked to try it in the pool. A month later most of them had converted to dry suit. If you can try and get a suit with rigid neck and cuff rings and attached boots. The rigid neck and cuff rings will mean that if you get a puncture in a seal then you can just change it for a spare while you repair the old one.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy. I know I did.


MikeR - 29/8/10 at 12:02 PM

Couple of friends are dive masters and the one bit of advice they give is that learning to dive in somewhere warm with clear water is NOTHING like diving in the uk.

Before you dive in the uk - get involved with a group and make sure you're escorted.


MakeEverything - 29/8/10 at 12:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
Couple of friends are dive masters and the one bit of advice they give is that learning to dive in somewhere warm with clear water is NOTHING like diving in the uk.

Before you dive in the uk - get involved with a group and make sure you're escorted.


Yes, i kinda realised that i wouldnt see schools of barracuda, Reef fauna and clear blue waters offshore of portsmouth, but to be honest, the water wasnt that clear in one particular place, which was at about 14.5m, at a cliff drop down to 35m. Obviously we didnt go past 14.5 for the course. Im expecting cold water and limited visibility.

The PADI safe practices dictate that you are with a buddy at all times and only dive with local knowledge anyway. TBH, im quite happy to follow their guidelines, which enforce what you said.

[Edited on 29-8-10 by MakeEverything]


RichieHall - 29/8/10 at 11:30 PM

I would avoid drysuits until you've a lot more experience under your weight belt, buoyancy can be a nightmare and its all too easy to trap air in your suit leg.

Arriving on the surface foot first at a great rate of knots would be embarrassing at very best!


Ninehigh - 30/8/10 at 07:25 AM

Prescription mask, as in the lens on your specs?

I can imagine what that could look like to your diving buddy!


MakeEverything - 30/8/10 at 10:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Prescription mask, as in the lens on your specs?

I can imagine what that could look like to your diving buddy!


Yes, its a mask where they make corrective lenses. It doesnt look any different.


MakeEverything - 30/8/10 at 10:33 AM

quote:
Originally posted by RichieHall
I would avoid drysuits until you've a lot more experience under your weight belt, buoyancy can be a nightmare and its all too easy to trap air in your suit leg.

Arriving on the surface foot first at a great rate of knots would be embarrassing at very best!


Embarrassment would be the least of my worries if shooting up from 18m too fast. (>1m)

IIRC Dry suits is a speciality item which requires additional training anyway.

[Edited on 30-8-10 by MakeEverything]


Krismc - 30/8/10 at 06:54 PM

Mate due to a bad back i dont scuba anymore, also got padi advanced open water, instructor and Boat quals.

Got loads of gear, some new, some old and worn but all perfect.

Got a nice blue unused lead shot weight belt- probably worth more too scrap man as the price of lead has went through roof.

belt was £35 and lead was £5 a KG ill have too check weight but it was either £80 of lead or £80 altogether - make me a decent offer and its yours.

got 6.5mm boots size 9 around 5 or so pairs with matching gloves, some very think some thin - its cold up north!!

Plenty more if you just ask


Ninehigh - 30/8/10 at 11:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Prescription mask, as in the lens on your specs?

I can imagine what that could look like to your diving buddy!


Yes, its a mask where they make corrective lenses. It doesnt look any different.


Ah I was thinking of the effect where some people who wear glasses look like they have massive eyes because of the lens, but across the top half of your face