I want to learn to dive

Dive training is really not expensive.

You might as well get the whole thing, such as a PADI Open Water. A least you could use it elsewhere as well as looking for scallops.
 
Croak said:
Website says 30 mins at 20m.
Click to expand...

Without knowing the size and working pressure of the bottle it's hard to tell, but just be aware they may well be using an "optimistic" consumption rate, in the same way that manufacturers of all kinds of things pick the assumptions for their calculations to make their stuff look better. Beginners tend to use significantly more air than more experienced divers.

Pete
 
Croak said:
Website says 30 mins at 20m.


I have no intention in using one without training.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to see where it says that.

Firstly you are only rated to 9 metres with a Mini B not 20, and secondly it depends on the size of the tank!

It's not that the Mini B isn't suitable for lower depths, all the gear is good.

They simplify the course so for example from 9 m you don't have to worry about compression stops.

I have a Mini B Sport 11 with the 10 litre tank. See here

http://www.mini-b.com/products/mk2.cfm

I'll get back to you later with some more info.
 
Hi Croak,

I'm biased towards BSAC.

You are lucky to be NW based as their is a weath of knowledge and experience locally to you. Suggest that you either take a look at the website and follow the links or simply give HQ a call (based at Ellesmere Port) on 0151 350 6200.

http://www.bsac.com/landing.asp?section=1069&sectionTitle=Learn+to+Scuba+Dive+with+BSAC

I'm confident that someone will talk you through all of the many options plus willing address any other related queries you may have.

Diving is a very rewarding adventure sport and it's wise, IMHO, to get some training to understand how man accommodates to the water world.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy!
 
Croak said:
I was thinking something basic so we could "dive for scallops"

Based in the North West.
Click to expand...

Hmm, scallops are usually found from about 10m downwards. I've brought up tens of thousands over the years so do know a bit about finding them. Do not think of it as basic diving, speak to at least 2 different training organisations and choose the best for you. And what about your dive buddy, does he/she also need training?

I've spent 30 happy yers scallop diving, you could say its been addictive! Also make sure you get a well fitting suit to stay warm, you'll hate it if you get cold, and it can be dangerous. Do it properly and you should hopefully enjoy it and eat well!
 
I am a BSAC Advanced Diving Instructor and Miitary diving supervisor with over 2500 logged dives from the Arctic to the Antarctic and LOTS of points in between over the last 20 odd years :D

Like MOBOs and Raggies you will meet many die-hards from the BSAC and PADI camps who will swear blind that their way is the only way. In my experience I have found fantastic divers and fantastic instructors (but as someone else pointed out earlier, one doesn't necessarily mean the other!) from both training schools (and many of the others out there). I have also encountered positively dangerous divers from both camps.

My advice would be to google a couple of schools near you and go along for a no-commitment chat. Definately do a try dive to find out if it genuinely is for you and then take it from there. Balance the costs against time taken to achieve the qualification. Try the BSAC web forum or another called Yorkshire Divers forum and ask other people for their personal recommendations. Actually, there are some really great deals on offer for training courses in the Red Sea at the mo so you may find that is something to think about. I can give some recommendations for training establishments if you wanna PM me... no connection to me, but have had lots of experience with them and their students.

I love BSAC club activities (except the bl**dy politics on occasion :mad: ) but the time it can take to qualify can be a source of frustration for some. But DEFINATELY get trained properly before using any kind of SCUBA gear... you wouldn't go and buy a parachute and jump without training would ya? :eek:
 
Croak said:
http://mini-b.com/reviews/pdf/scubadiver.pdf
Click to expand...

That's an editorial mistake I would say. I have done the Microdiving course and it is very good as long as you understand the parameters. I would say you should get 25 mins out of a 5 litre tank at depths up to 9m. Some Mini B's have a 10litre tank. I have used mine in Egypt, the UK and the Channel Islands.

The point of the 9m limit is that you don't need to think about comprssion stops. The training will still teach you stuff such as not holding your breath, mask clearing, regulator removal and replacement, balancing pressure in your ears, the importance of understanding tidal flows and the general dangers of diving including not diving alone. It's pretty much a normal dive course with the deeper stuff removed. When I was doing my training a very qualified instructer took a Mini B down to 30m so the kit is very capable.
 
Decompression diving is just one part of the equation and that's a whole different ball game. The greatest greatest range of change of ambient pressure change occurs between 10m and the surface so the principles of safe diving practices are even more important in this 'shallow' area. Get trained properly, understand the physics involved and act accordingly. ;)

p.s. Every scallop plundering dive I have ever done in UK South Coast waters has been a buddied drift dive at circa 20m (@ +1knot) or more and that is not something I would expect a single, inexperienced, limited gas, diver to undertake.

Diving is safe... for properly trained, medically fit and properly equipped people who execute an appropriately detailed pre-dive plan. Anything else is russian roulette. I'm not being melodramatic, but I have pulled up several bodies (7 so far to date) of people who didn't meet those criteria. And from less than 6m in an inland quarry with no tides to worry about in one case!
 
Last edited:
KevO said:
Diving is safe... for properly trained, medically fit and properly equipped people who execute an appropriately detailed pre-dive plan. Anything else is russian roulette. I'm not being melodramatic, but I have pulled up several bodies (7 so far to date) of people who didn't meet those criteria. And from less than 6m in an inland quarry with no tides to worry about in one case!
Click to expand...

Wise words, Kev. I don't think you are being melodramatic; there can sometimes be a bit too much bravado from people with very little knowledge of this subject.

Get trained!

I also have direct experience of lifting a casualty from the bottom of a shallow inland quarry. Despite almost immediate medical intervention he died. Not nice for the family.

BSAC NI 189
 
Croak said:
but have no idea how to go about it.

Are there weekend courses or weeks courses or night classes

Where are they, how do I find them?
Click to expand...

The most straightforward way of learning to dive is to book a cheap 2 week holiday in Sharm el Sheikh, do the PADI Open Water Course in 4 or 5 days then, if you are enjoying it and feel comfortable and confident, do the Advanced Course. IIRC the Advanced Course requires you to choose a number of specialised modules, and takes another 4 or 5 days.

Emperor Divers are good..... As are some of the others. Several are bad.

After the above, you won't be an expert, but you will know how things work, and what not to do... All in a couple of weeks in the sun.

If you want to dive in the cold and poorer vis. UK waters, you can get involved in a club, knowing a bit about the sport, and ahead of the game.
 
Croak said:
I was thinking something basic so we could "dive for scallops"

Based in the North West.
Click to expand...

I did a PADI Open Water Diver course with Mike's Dive Store in Warrington. This was about 5 weeks of Tuesday nights involving some theory stuff at the shop after-hours followed by a pool session. Then we had a weekend at Capernwray dive centre to put it all into practice. There was a short exam on the theory stuff (which is mostly self-study).

My aim was to learn the basics with a view to doing the odd holiday dive rather than become a committed diver. I'd definitely recommend the course - very enjoyable.

Dave.
 
Hi Croak, I promised I'd come back but feel a bit superfluous now :)

All the advice given is, of course, spot on.

Your real decision is how serious are you?

I decided to buy my Mini B as I KNEW that I only really wanted it for emergencies but now I've had the training who'se to say that you won't see my wandering around 20 feet down off some lovely Breton beach?

Well, me really! I don't have a buddy to dive with, and my 3 mill. wetsuit is only really suitable for short times in the water. Which is what I intend it for.

Similarly, the Mini B course reminded me a bit of those people who take a driving test ... in an automatic car! So near yet so far.

If you think that you'll want to progress beyond 30 feet take the Open Water Course. You'll have done a large proportion of it on the way to achieving the Mini B but no dive shop in the world should let you hire equipment with just that qualification.

Let us know what you decide.
 
I'm a PADI instructor, only things I'd add is try to meet and talk with the instructor who will actually be teaching the course you're booked on, whichever method of training you choose. Also I would pick somewhere quieter than a big resort type place like Sharm el Sheikh, places like that in peak season you could find yourself part of a larger group with a "factory" dive school - you should aim for a group with no more than 4 students per instructor. Enjoy...:)
 
From my experience (BSAC Club Instructor & PADI Rescue Diver) PADI and BSAC are very different and suited to different audiences.

PADI is a high volume, money-making commercial operation which is acceptable just about anywhere. BSAC is more about learning in a club environment over an extended period of time where you build up your experience gradually (although I accept you can do it via a commercial organisation over a shorter period).

Both serve their purpose well and the commercialness of PADI really does give it the edge for acceptability. In theory BSAC should be recognised everywhere as it's a fantastic, thorough qualification. My experience is that once you get off the beaten track, say in Asia, it becomes more and more challenging to get recognition.

I started with BSAC in about 1985 and then did a 1 day conversion to PADI Rescue Diver on the great barrier reef, about 20 years ago just to avoid the lengthy discussions I was having. My daughter has just done her Open Water Diver training (in warm water) and I was very impressed with the attention she received from the instructor during the course, but also amazed at how quickly she completed the course and became a qualified diver.

Whatever you decide - Never dive alone or without proper training. 9m might not sound too deep, but as a novice diver you will find it looks a very long way up when you're sitting on the bottom!

I'd also add that diving in a thin lycra suit in tropical water is a very different experience to diving with a thick wetsuit (or a drysuit) in UK waters.

I hope you find something that suits. :)
 
Deej said:
I did a PADI Open Water Diver course with Mike's Dive Store in Warrington. This was about 5 weeks of Tuesday nights involving some theory stuff at the shop after-hours followed by a pool session. Then we had a weekend at Capernwray dive centre to put it all into practice. There was a short exam on the theory stuff (which is mostly self-study).

My aim was to learn the basics with a view to doing the odd holiday dive rather than become a committed diver. I'd definitely recommend the course - very enjoyable.

Dave.
Click to expand...

Yes thankyou we have been in touch with Capernwray today.
 
Bav34 said:
Hi Croak, I promised I'd come back but feel a bit superfluous now :)

All the advice given is, of course, spot on.

Your real decision is how serious are you?

I decided to buy my Mini B as I KNEW that I only really wanted it for emergencies but now I've had the training who'se to say that you won't see my wandering around 20 feet down off some lovely Breton beach?

Well, me really! I don't have a buddy to dive with, and my 3 mill. wetsuit is only really suitable for short times in the water. Which is what I intend it for.

Similarly, the Mini B course reminded me a bit of those people who take a driving test ... in an automatic car! So near yet so far.

If you think that you'll want to progress beyond 30 feet take the Open Water Course. You'll have done a large proportion of it on the way to achieving the Mini B but no dive shop in the world should let you hire equipment with just that qualification.

Let us know what you decide.
Click to expand...

Mini B it is......for now.

But the interesting bit Is to find some training for my diving buddy who has lost the use of her legs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

M
Raymarine Plotter Trackpad
Replies
2
Views
148
laika
laika

Share this page

Top