View Full Version : How to get wet???
IanStevenson
30-03-06, 16:07
I want to do LOTS of diving in the UK this year - starting now really.
So Ruth and I have our own kit, we are PADI AoW with drysuit specialty and a few UK dives in the log.
What ways are there for us to go diving?
I can think of
1) Club trips - we are now in a PADI and a BSAC club so there's a few of them
2) Dive centers/shop trips - I know one dive shop that dives most weekends in the Forth, how do I find more? How do I know if they are good?
3) Boat trips/charters - how do I find skippers that will just take an extra buddy pair rather than wanting you to charter the whole boat?
4) Just dive - do people just kind of turn up at sites and dive in, or do people usually dive with club/shop etc? What extra considerations are there? Oxygen, surface cover etc? Is this something for much more experienced divers only, or can we just drive to North Berwick one evening and walk in off the beach?
This may be a really silly question, but I'm just sitting here thinking "I want to dive on Saturday" but neither of our clubs has a trip (at least not with available spaces), so what would you do?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Ian
P.S. Recommendations within easy reach of Edinburgh particularly welcome!
I want to do LOTS of diving in the UK this year - starting now really. NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
So Ruth and I have our own kit, we are PADI AoW with drysuit specialty and a few UK dives in the log. WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR DRYSUIT ENDORSEMENT?
What ways are there for us to go diving?
I can think of
1) Club trips - we are now in a PADI and a BSAC club so there's a few of them YOUR BSAC CLUB IS PROBABLY BEST PLACE TO START. I ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU "CROSS-OVER" YOUR AOW QUALIFICATION TO A BSAC SPORT DIVER QUAL.
2) Dive centers/shop trips - I know one dive shop that dives most weekends in the Forth, how do I find more? How do I know if they are good? USUALLY EXPENSIVE. CLUB DIVING IS BEST, IN MY OPINION ...
3) Boat trips/charters - how do I find skippers that will just take an extra buddy pair rather than wanting you to charter the whole boat? YOU COULD LOOK ON YORKSHIRE DIVERS TRIPS / SPACE AVAILABLE FORUM. ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS FORUM. WE OFTEN HAVE SPARE PLACES ON TRIPS AT EASTWOOD
4) Just dive - do people just kind of turn up at sites and dive in, or do people usually dive with club/shop etc? What extra considerations are there? Oxygen, surface cover etc? Is this something for much more experienced divers only, or can we just drive to North Berwick one evening and walk in off the beach? THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP YOU GOING FOR IT ... OTHER THAN MAYBE NOT KNOWING HOW TO DIVE A PARTICULAR SITE ... I.E. NAVIGATION IN LOW VIZ TO FIND REEFS ETC. BETTER TO BE SHOWN WHERE STUFF IS FIRST. HENCE BENEFIT OF CLUB DIVING ... ;)
This may be a really silly question, but I'm just sitting here thinking "I want to dive on Saturday" but neither of our clubs has a trip (at least not with available spaces), so what would you do?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHY CAN'T YOU GO OUT WITH YOUR CLUB? IF THE BOAT'S FULL, THEN MAYBE SOME MEMBERS MIGHT BE UP FOR A SHORE DIVE SOMEWHERE ... ?
Ian
P.S. Recommendations within easy reach of Edinburgh particularly welcome!
Hi Ian,
I stuck my responses in the quotes above.
Cheers
The problem with teh East coast is the winter weather. St Abbs etc is blown out Oct-Mar. We see a lot of Edinburgh folks over here in winter ...
IanStevenson
30-03-06, 16:52
Cheers Gord,
Aware of the benefits of club diving, and waiting for a Sport Diver course to start later in April. Just keen to find out what options are open to us so we don't miss out!
Ian
Just because there's no club trip planned or no space left doesn't mean you can't organise your own.
If you club has an email group why not put out a message looking for others who might want a dive. There are shore dives near Dunbar, North Berwick and St Abbs.
If the weather is too rough for the east coast head for Loch Long & Loch Fyne in the west, loads of sites that can be dived in any weather.
All you need to do is alert your DO to your plans. They'll offer any guidance they feel you may need.
1) Club trips I would say this would be your best starting point. You will find people in a club that can dive on different days - saturdays like you say maybe (for instance, i work shifts and cant always make the weekend. Theres 2/3 people in eastwood club that i regularly go out with for a wee dive on weekdays coz were all off). And also in a club you will get a chance to organise yur own trip to places you fancy and other people will come! Guaranteed!
2) Dive centers/shop trips Ive not really done this before, so no comment! I think Gord uses /used Puffin quite a bit on bookings for just a buddy pair of divers though.
3) Boat trips/charters - how do I find skippers that will just take an extra buddy pair rather than wanting you to charter the whole boat? Well, the only skipper i can think of is Paul Crowe of MV Topline in St Abbs http://www.divestabbs.info/ you can book as little or as many spaces as you wish and its only £10 a dive! Fantastic guy, lovely cuppa waiting for you as your climbing up the ladder (a decent ladder may i add!).
4) Just dive - do people just kind of turn up at sites and dive in, or do people usually dive with club/shop etc? What extra considerations are there? Oxygen, surface cover etc? Is this something for much more experienced divers only, or can we just drive to North Berwick one evening and walk in off the beach? As long as theres a pair of you then theres no reason that you cant just turn up for a dive when you fancy it! Best to let someone at home know where your diving, and when you expect to be home if you dont have shore cover. Better safe than sorry. It is always useful knowing the site first, but i find you can get lots of useful dive site info on the web that is very useful and often accurate!
This may be a really silly question, but I'm just sitting here thinking "I want to dive on Saturday" but neither of our clubs has a trip (at least not with available spaces), so what would you do?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? You organise one! Other people will go! Then its up to you where and when to go! Go for it!
Ian
P.S. Recommendations within easy reach of Edinburgh particularly welcome! St Abbs/ Eyemouth April onwards. Loch Long and Loch Fyne just now (although a bit of a journey for you still?)
Not that i am biased since i am in a club, but i do think that joining an active club would be a major thinking point! You could probably get out somewhere at the weekend and have small groups/buddy pair diving during the week. Maybe a wee night dive too! Its more fun diving with a group that you know rather than a boat full of buddy pairs (IMHO), "Oh the banter the banter"!
Cheers,
Lynsey.
I'm usually up for a thursday night dive in Loch Long ... and my club-mates have become dead lazy about this (i think they're gettin old :rolleyes: ) . Also, there's no reason not to arrange a dive with any qualified diver you meet on this forum, so long as you check out eachothers qualifications and insurance.
Kash Bhatti
31-03-06, 16:31
Hi Ian,
I'm organising a trip 1st May bank holiday ( 29/30 April + 1 May ) to the Sound of Mull. Someone has just pulled out of my trip and I see from your post that you are up for some diving. Let me know if these dates suit and I can send more details.
Cheers
Kash
bubblemaker
01-04-06, 02:06
Jesus .. mr bhatti.. how the devil dude!!!
anyway.. in answer to the query... if you are confident in your diving, then go for it.. find a bit of water and jump in!! most of the considerations have already been mentioned..
but always remember safety.. tell someone where you are going.. your DO, your family, anyone... as well as them it is also a good idea to let the coastguard know where you are..just give them a phone..(not on 999) and let them know.. then if something goes pear shaped..they know where you are already.. then when you're safely out of the water..let them know..
I would advocate joining an active club however. i know lots of people dive 'on there own' but club diving offers soooo much more than just diving. there is great fun to be had when the club goes away on trips.. i know if i was going on a trip, I'd probably be happier with the club than random individuals. i know how they dive, and am happy to dive with them because i know what they are like in the water. i would not be able to say that if i turned up at a boat full of strangers. the other side of that is that it gives you the opportunity to dive with lots of other divers, thereby gaining a whole lot of experience simply by watching the ways different people approach things.
and above all.. always remember.. when you're standing in the pissing rain on your surface interval, freezing cold, drinking soup in a vain attempt to heat yourself up..... diving is fun fun fun!!!! ha ha
IanStevenson
01-04-06, 10:07
Hi There!
Thanks for all the advice everyone!
Already joined 2 active clubs, but we already have busy lives and therefore if both clubs have weekend trips organised and we are only free on the Sunday there is a gap... Hence I wanted to know what the options are, which you have all helped with!
Cheers,
Ian
Hi There!
Thanks for all the advice everyone!
Already joined 2 active clubs, but we already have busy lives and therefore if both clubs have weekend trips organised and we are only free on the Sunday there is a gap... Hence I wanted to know what the options are, which you have all helped with!
Cheers,
Ian
Good stuff! Get out and enjoy yourself!
:D
Good stuff! Get out and enjoy yourself!
:D
One more bit of advice is move to the west coast where all the best diving is
:D :D :D