Posted by Wayne on July 08, 2001 at 21:56:49:
In Reply to: are 2beach&2boat dives better than 4 boat dives when getting certified? posted by moonpieboy on July 08, 2001 at 19:39:52:
When you do your training, there will be at least 4 dives. The first one is a tour to aquaint you with the openwater environment and to relax you. The remaining dives will be spent mostly performing skills for your instructor.
Beach diving is a little different from boat dives. The biggest difference for you will be the entry and exit. The skills of beach diving will take a long time to master. You will not master them in two dives. No matter which kind of dive instruction you select, I strongly recommend that you seek additional experience after you are certified.
Find a club or find experienced divers to beach dive with. And most important, DO NOT DIVE IN BIG SURF. Experienced divers often abort when they get to the beach. Do not get suckered into dives you do not feel comfortable with -- EVER.
The shop where you get certified will be able to help you get more dive experiences and introduce you to other divers. But make sure you do some diving with old timers who will help you to develop safe habits.
Wayne