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14/11/2016 at 2:14pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: 2019 VW Arteon + 2002 Avondale Dart
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I've been a qualified scuba diver since 2001 and a certified teaching assistant for PADI courses since 2011. Next year I'm planning to get certified as a course instructor.
So as you might have guessed, I absolutely love it. Whether it's looking for marine life in the crevices of the rocks and reefs of Pembrokeshire or the West Country (yes, there are reefs), diving with seals off Northumberland (they're wonderful, a bit like underwater Labrador puppies), some famous wrecks and crystal clear water in Cyprus or the Egyptian Red Sea, or some spectacular intact reefs off Malaysia (where I was lucky enough to first get qualified) or Thailand (haven't been but it's on my wish list!) there really is a whole new world down there.
Bob61 - yes, diving involves a human having to breathe air under water which is not man's natural environment, and so it's not without risk. But like most things, you can reduce the risk to a minimum by being sensible, using equipment that's been regularly serviced and not going to depths that you're uncomfortable with. A bit like you probably wouldn't drive from London to Edinburgh in the old banger your dad had bought you the day after you passed your driving test.
Opensauce - you're never too old! We get quite a lot of people who try it for the first time after they've retired and get years' worth enjoyment out of it. Provided you're in a reasonable state of physical health there's really no need to worry.
With regard to cost, provided you have your own mask, fins and dive computer (around £300 for the lot) you can hire everything else from most dive centres. That said, kit's cheaper now than it's probably ever been, most likely due to a combination of more people taking up the sport and online retailing encouraging competition. You can get everything you need - including a drysuit for UK diving - for around £1500 which I believe makes it cheaper than playing golf.
Two tips for anyone thinking about giving it a go. Firstly, if you do a taster session (often called 'Discover Scuba Diving' (DSD for short) or 'Try Scuba') and struggle with something, don't be put off. Of the people we teach, the ones who keep coming back for more are most usually those who have overcome a difficulty during the training - it seems to give them more satisfaction somehow. And secondly, do your training in the UK, preferably in a drysuit. This involves getting used to more challenging conditions than in more exotic environments (colder water and usually - though not always - lower visibility for a start). But if you can dive in those conditions, you can dive anywhere in the world!
Sold yet ?? :)
Sam
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14/11/2016 at 3:11pm
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Great advice from Sam. Although, dissapointingly, I have not dived for 6 years I have a few hundred under my belt.
I started diving in the mid 80s after my body started complaining after years of playing rugby, learning with the British Sub Aqua Club, BASC club in Totnes, a wonderful club with some top rank, highly qualified and experienced instructors. Things have changed a little, but I went through the ranks and achieved Advanced Diver/Club Instructor, and taught people this wonderful hobby, leading them on their first open water dive was always gratifying and rewarding.
I absolutely loved it, and so lucky to live in Devon with the divers paradise of the South Devon coast on my doorstep. So many wrecks and reefs to explore, endless diving opportunities, shallow reefs to deep, 40mt plus, wrecks, drift diving along the current.....Fantastic fun.
I kind of drifted away from it for some reason, kids and work I guess, but always hanker for the sea and never go anywhere without my mask, snorkel and fins. I just love the underwater world, my last scuba dive was on the Great Barrier Reef 2010, simply stunning. The dive leader, a tall, young, handsome, suntanned girl magnet....Ba****d, was a great bloke who went to uni in Exeter, he said "you have done a bit before mate" I told him who I had trained with and that I was a BSAC Advanced Diver to say he was impressed was an understatement, to learn and get to advanced diver in the UK is well looked upon in his circles. Learn to dive here with sometimes low visibility, cold water, strong tides etc is a real good grounding for diving around the world.
I did do some snorkelling a few months ago and got bumped by a 4.5 meter female Great White Shark, one of 5 I saw that day! But don't worry, it was in South Africa and I was in a cage, an amazing experience.
But just to add to what Sam said about minimising the risk, get good instruction and training from a reputable organisation/club, it will stand you in good stead. But of course only being slightly biased, the British Sub Aqua Club is THE BEST.
Final tip: Learn to use a drysuit for diving in the UK, forget a wetsuit.
Diving is wonderful, a whole new world awaits. 👍
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Not ALL Newts get p**sed.
“Semper Fidelis”
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Topic: Scuba Diving
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