Posted by JFCat on February 09, 2002 at 20:39:49:
In Reply to: Time to learn scuba posted by miguelito on February 09, 2002 at 15:20:25:
For where to learn, most dive shops usually have an on-site instructor. Usually contracted with the shop, sometime part of the staff. Just look for someone that has a certification from one of the nationally recognized agencies. NAUI, PADI, YMCA, NASDS, SSI and a bunch more. PADI is probably the most prolific. Once you find the shop, talk with your instructor prior to signing up and make sure that his (her) "vision" of diving is the same as yours and that your personalities don't clash. Poke around on the net to find out about diving and then ask as many questions as possible of your instructor. Don't worry about locking yourself in to a specific certification agency, it is perfectly normal to take the PADI open water, the NAUI advanced and the SSI master diver (for example) courses. All of the major certification agencies recognize courses from the others. Also, make sure to find out about "hidden" costs. Are the books included? The certification fee? The pool fee? The cost of rental gear? How long is the course (I prefer long ourses to short ones, even if the actual time spent is equal. More short sessions at the pool mean more equipmet set-ups and tear downs which means better familiarity with the gear). If you fail a portion of the course are you required to pay to retake it (in my classes the course cost includes everything, you don't need to shell out a single cent more. I also guarantee that you will pass the course, meaning that if you need to retake a certain section of the class 100 times, then you retake it 100 times with no extra cost. The only time you'd need to spend more is if you fail the open water check out (hasn't happened yet, in 10 years teaching) you'd need to provide your own rental gear as the shop only includes rental gear for two open water check out days.
Gear, you'll need mask, snorkel, fins (different from free diving fins), boots and gloves. Don't buy anything else prior to your class as your instructor will go over equipment in class and let you know what to look for in equipment. Eventually you'll need (and this can all be rented)(in no particular order):
1) BCD (boyancy compensating device)
2) Regulator (consisting of a first stage, second stage, octopus or other type of "safe second" and SPG [submersible pressure guage]),
3) Depth guage
4) Dive timer
5) Dive computer will combine depth guage and dive timer plus add the function of showing decompression limits. Two basic versions exist, one for air only and one for nitrox. All nitrox computers can be used with air (air is nothing more than EANx21).
6) weight belt (possibly integrated into the BCD)
7) exposure suit (wet, dry or semi-dry)
Additional equipment that is highly recommended:
1) Dive knife or shears (not normally used for cutting things, more as a prybar and hammer. However, you will eventually get tangled in kelp, fishing line or fishing nets)
2) Goodie bag (for carrying all those treasures you find on the bottom of the sea)
3) Light (mandatory for night diving Doh!) Figure out how much light you can afford. Wait 3 months and buy a bigger one. For night diving a minimum of two is "mandatory"
4) Camera (suprisingly afordable nowdays. Entry level cameras can be had for less than $100).
5) Gear bag (preferably one that has a seperate padded storage compartment for your regulator and guage/computer set up)
I left off tanks from the list because in my opinion unless you are diving a lot or are diving mixed gas (nitrox or trimix) they really aren't worth the money. Tanks almost never fail, are expensive to buy and cheap to rent. And if you travel you won't take them with you anyway.
Lastly, one piece of gear that most newer people forget is a "save-a-dive" kit. This is a simple box in which you store all the little pieces that can break and ruin a dive trip. Things like extra mask straps, extra fin straps, o-rings various tools. How much stuff and specifically what you put into it is up to you. Also, a first aid kit should be on hand. At least some band aids, cut ointment (neosporem or similiar), aspirin and / or tylenol (or similar) etc. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just basic stuff for the odd cut, bruise and sun burn.
DiversDiscount.com has good deals on gear, and a 30 day 150% price guarantee. They also have retail shops in Montclair and Rancho Santa Margarita with diving instruction available.