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phinfreak09
Senior Member
373 Posts |
 Posted - 05/17/2012 : 1:18:53 PM
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i have been wanting to dive for a long time and never really started looking into places to get certified until now. what are your thoughts on getting certified? does it take a while to get certified? just a few weeks? how does the process work?
"Good things come to those who bait" |
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skinneej
Prolific Poster
11907 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 1:37:37 PM
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| One weekend. Lowcountryscuba.com... Last time I checked it was a friday night class (6pm-10pm) and then all day saturday, and half day sunday which includes some diving in a pond on Sunday. You may have to read a little before the class. |
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phinfreak09
Senior Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 1:47:18 PM
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skinnee are you certified? how is it?
"Good things come to those who bait" |
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Local Boy
Senior Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 1:56:06 PM
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Wow thats alot less time then it took me to get my PADI open water in 77. Diving is great alot of fun
Local Boy, Just having fun. |
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skinneej
Prolific Poster
11907 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 4:07:11 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by phinfreak09
skinnee are you certified? how is it?
"Good things come to those who bait"
Yes, PADI certified and a certified bad-ass  . It's awesome. Wish I would have gotten certified 15 years earlier. It's something that I am going to buy my neice and nephew as soon as they are mature enough (and of age for PADI). |
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skinneej
Prolific Poster
11907 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 4:08:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Local Boy
Wow thats alot less time then it took me to get my PADI open water in 77. Diving is great alot of fun
Local Boy, Just having fun.
77? Old ass! I figured you a lot younger than that. When you got certified, I was still ****ting my diaper... |
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skinneej
Prolific Poster
11907 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 4:11:24 PM
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Also, you do NOT need the "Advanced Open Water" unless you are planning on a lot of vacation diving in water > 60. It doesn't really teach you anything new. Same concepts at 60' and at 120'. I did the "Advanced Open Water" and thought it was a waste of money. Basic "Open Water" will teach you almost everything you need to know for diving in Charleston. But you should get NITROX. Everyone in SC dives NITROX because you can stay down longer and less time sitting out between dives. We don't let air tanks on our boat, just nitrox. So to recap, get:
OPEN WATER
NITROX CERT
The Nitrox cert is the best investment you can make in diving. |
Edited by - skinneej on 05/17/2012 4:12:03 PM |
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phinfreak09
Senior Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 4:23:14 PM
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what ab NAUI? is open water certification better with PADI or NAUI. im trying to figure it all out.
"Good things come to those who bait" |
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skinneej
Prolific Poster
11907 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 8:16:37 PM
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| Phin, I think it's all the same. Lowcountryscuba happens to be a PADI shop. You would probably be better off giving the dive shop a call to ask the difference. I don't really know the benefits of being one versus the other. Most shops that I have seen personally are PADI and I have seen one NAUI. That could just be regional though. |
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JimIslander
Senior Member
1804 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 8:36:56 PM
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Like Local Boy it took me a LOT longer (months!). Course mine was taught by the US Navy in Panama City in 1982. 
Great thing to do. Then you can get your hobby diver license and find cool stuff in the Cooper!
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pungo 120 |
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RussB
Senior Member
4202 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 9:51:16 PM
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Absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
Just don't take it lightly, a lot of "unanticapated scenarios" that on dry land are just a inconvience, can become a life threatining one under water.
One sees a lot more NAUI shops on the West coast vs PADI on East coast, definitly seems to be a regional thing like Skinnee said.
Oh, and you were definitly still poopin yer diapers when I got certified too SkinneeJ! Jus no poopin in da pool!
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
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Edited by - RussB on 05/17/2012 9:54:38 PM |
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phinfreak09
Senior Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 10:56:05 PM
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thanks fellas!
"Good things come to those who bait" |
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Cracker Larry
Senior Member
1450 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 11:26:36 PM
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quote:
77? Old ass! I figured you a lot younger than that. When you got certified, I was still ****ting my diaper...
Dang bunch of younguns I got certified in 1970, NASDS. Anybody remember them?
I should probably get a refresher course
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats |
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RussB
Senior Member
4202 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 01:44:22 AM
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Got me beat there Larry! I think mine was like in 76, Dad lied about mine and my brothers ages so we could get certified early cause he was tired of havin to fill our tanks for us all the time!
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
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Bug Catcher
Senior Member
622 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 10:47:45 PM
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not trying to top anyone, got mine in "69". austin dive shop south miami, fla. when I was in HS! learned it again the hard way in panama city in "83" USN 2ndclass diver.I was 29 then, bunch of young bucks wore me out! worked at the shipyard as a hardhat diver till they closed the gates in 96. i was lucky to hook up with some great guys just a few yrs ago and with constant networking, I have a list of 20+, very dependable divers that will go at the phone call! im 59 now and wear them young bucks out today! had 60+ dives on my computer last year and hope to top that this yr. there just is not another sport with the adrenaline rush when you are one on one with a 50+lb fish, in his world ready to do battle once the trigger is pulled, not knowing whats lurking behind you!(we never dive alone and i know my partner has my back) some will tell you how dangerous it is, but with the proper training and a little exp. I would worry more about driving up I-26! skinneej is right, get nitrox at the same time or there won't be many offers AS ALL THE GOOD DIVING is generally out past 60' as a rule with 100'/110 holding the best targets!
i think skineej will also tell you how blessed we are to live in S.C. the fishing is off the chart compared to most of the east coast.
my kids have been diving all their lives and they are starting their kids out right!
it is another world down there and there is a very sobering report on spearboard.com of a diver that got bent last yr in ga. and may never walk again! pm me your phone# and i can give you some good intell on the local dive shops. I'm a meat hunter and don't own a fly rod, not that there is anything wrong with that!
If it got any better I couldn't stand it. |
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dreamin-on
Senior Member
-001.JPG)
207 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 01:01:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
Also, you do NOT need the "Advanced Open Water" unless you are planning on a lot of vacation diving in water > 60. It doesn't really teach you anything new. Same concepts at 60' and at 120'. I did the "Advanced Open Water" and thought it was a waste of money. Basic "Open Water" will teach you almost everything you need to know for diving in Charleston. But you should get NITROX. Everyone in SC dives NITROX because you can stay down longer and less time sitting out between dives. We don't let air tanks on our boat, just nitrox. So to recap, get:
OPEN WATER
NITROX CERT
The Nitrox cert is the best investment you can make in diving.
I am going to politely advocate getting an AOW cert. Especially for diving here in Charleston. There is a lot more Navigation and Drift diving taught in that course which IMHO is necessary with the large tidal currents you can experience offshore.
If you go anywhere on vacation and want to dive >60 feet. They will check for an AOW cert and some will even ask to see your log. Who want's to get certified to only dive offshore Charleston? Lets admit it, unless you are shooting fish, diving here sucks. We have pretty crappy viz most of the year, with the exception of winter. Get an AOW so you can go anywhere you want and dive ALL of it.
Get a NITROX cert too. It's a bit pointless until you get good at using your air. In other words, unless you have been diving a lot recently, you wont realize the true benefit of NITROX if you huff through your tank in 30 min which is what most beginner divers do, heck its been awhile since my last dive so my air usage is going to suck the next one I do.
On the point of having a shorter surface interval, well that is kind of mute also. Most people wait an hour between dives/dive sites anyhow, which is what your surface interval is going to be on most dives using air.
I say get the NITROX so that if you are diving with a group on NITROX everyone is on the same bottom time and surface interval.
Last bit. Be careful of PADI certifications. Once you get in it, there are a bunch of certifications they will try to sell you on. It's them trying to get your money. Just do Basic, AOW, and NITROX. That's all you need to do just about any charter diving you want to do. |
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work2fish
New Member
24 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 09:14:16 AM
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| Been thinking about skydiving also. When I go 8 feet deep without gear the water pressure makes my ears pop and it is very painful. Any advise or should I just stay in the boat or go snorkeling? Thank you. |
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JimIslander
Senior Member
1804 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 09:16:59 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bug Catcher
not trying to top anyone, got mine in "69". austin dive shop south miami, fla. when I was in HS! learned it again the hard way in panama city in "83" USN 2ndclass diver.I was 29 then, bunch of young bucks wore me out!
I was a scuby doo in October 82. Just missed you. Arrived about a good bit early so ended up working out with the UDT class until my class started. They about killed me. 29 is definitely "old" for that crowd (I was 20). Wonderful to see you passed it down to your kids. My dad and I started dredging for gold when I was 14, so I learned to dive at a young age. Still some awesome memories of he and I diving dawn till dusk on the Mokelumne River, then panning out the gold late into the night.
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pungo 120 |
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Bug Catcher
Senior Member
622 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 12:34:41 PM
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have to politely disagree with dreamin-on about the viz, last 2 dives were 40+ft. awesome viz, although TD-1 may mess up the viz for the next 10 days. the viz can sometimes get bad but we usually have 20/30' most dives, again we stay out past 85'most days. we have had 100+ viz at times! ( looking for Jordan to jump in here about the suckey diving, he takes pics yr round) AOW won't hurt, you can't get to much certification or experience. good point on everyone on board having same gas. you wont be able to do 3 dives on air @ the depths we dive with the time avl to us running out 35/40 miles! we can have everyone do 3 nitrox dives on the average (last dive is usually 60/70' on way in) each trip depending on hook and line bite! get with a good crew and they will make sure you dive safe. we like to come home with everone! Its a reqirement!
JimIslander, SGT Tillet was my instructer and Mad Dog Redecki was our Master Diver.
If it got any better I couldn't stand it. |
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claim
Senior Member
2092 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 3:15:51 PM
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I still have my Navy Dive chart and can dive a dive from the chart. I've even got a wheel in my log book somewhere. We got certified in 82...it took 4-5 weeks. Sadly, we haven't blown any bubbles since the cherubs started wanting to go with us on vacations.
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"I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public."
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 17 year old
1 - 13 year old
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC |
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Cltdeerhunter
Senior Member
316 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 3:44:12 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry
quote:
77? Old ass! I figured you a lot younger than that. When you got certified, I was still ****ting my diaper...
Dang bunch of younguns I got certified in 1970, NASDS. Anybody remember them?
I should probably get a refresher course
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
I got certified in 1995 NASDS have not made a dive in 10 years i need a refresher.
Cliff
2006 pioneer 197 SF 150 4s |
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Bug Catcher
Senior Member
622 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 9:54:04 PM
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Claim, take the cherubs with you! been takeing mine for 23+yrs. used to tuck them under my arm on the octo rig in 10'. mask and snorkles were the norm for years, the kids would point out the lobsters and I would go down and catch them. with the wife in the boat we could harvest 40 a day during the mini season in the keys. took a canoe then my bass boat for years before upgrading to a johnboat pulling innertubes with the gear! made our frist trip to KW this year with a grand, 4yrs old. she had a blast walking the sandbars looking for seashells with grams while we dove the channels with her mama!
if you don't find something for them to do they will find it on their own, and you might not like it!
If it got any better I couldn't stand it. |
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phinfreak09
Senior Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 10:45:23 PM
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dang all these lobstaass. looks like a ton of fun
"Good things come to those who bait" |
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Blueskyguy
Senior Member
291 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 06:06:30 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by work2fish
Been thinking about skydiving also. When I go 8 feet deep without gear the water pressure makes my ears pop and it is very painful. Any advise or should I just stay in the boat or go snorkeling? Thank you.
certified NASDS diving in '74 in Lake Murray, spent a summer doing archeological dives in the Cooper, did some dives for DNR in Moultrie around the locks working on sonar counters to measure the herring run, 6 months in Galapagos for the Darwin Institute - fun stuff
started skydiving in '78, 3,784 jumps and still going
the ear pressure thing will also bother you when skydiving, check with your MD to see if you have anything unusual or maybe you just need to learn how to properly clear your ears
Pioneer 197SF |
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JordanOnaYak
Senior Member
1000 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 11:33:25 AM
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Start by getting your Basic Open Water cert that is offered by both of the dive shops here in town through PADI. Then get your Nitrox Cert (1 day) and your advanced open water certification. The advanced cert covers the same material as basic open water but in more depth and it is good to repeat these things since they keep you from killing yourself. I kinda wish they offed 5 year refesher courses because I think most divers could benefit from constant training and updating their knowledge with the latest in diving science.
14' Pamlico 140 Angler w/ rudder
Kayak, SCUBA, or both. |
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yellabird
Senior Member
416 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 08:17:20 AM
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Ok,
I'll be the grumpy one. Get certified, but don't plan on learning much. I find that newly certified divers are more dangerous than if I would have taken them "fresh.". The key really isn't getting certified...it's surrounding yourself with good divers with lots of experience. An hour with a really experienced shooter/diver will teach you more than you can learn in any classroom. Furthermore, some of the trash that's taught, or not taught is pretty negligent IMO. This isn't necessarily the shop or the instructor's fault. It's just what they have to teach to stay within the bounds of their insurance coverage. So...the takeaway...get certified, then begin your real education.
Stephen Goldfinch
"Sleep When You're Dead!"
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Topic |
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PADI certification
