Koh Tao Thailand! I took my PADI open water certification while I was there this spring - simply amazing.
I opted to take the entire course there - for one thing it was way cheaper but I am so glad that I did not try to break it up because I am not a strong swimmer and have a healthy respect - read almost fear - of the water. I think for myself if I had not taken the whole course at the same time I don't think I would have been brave enough to just go ahead with the open water dives. Everyone is different but that is my experience.
Koh Tao was recommended to me a number of times by different people and it definately lived up to it's billing. Up until a few years ago you were not even allowed to go there unless you were diving.

I wish I knew how to swim :(

Cheers,
Aquaman

I took my open water while on a cruise so my card say Princess Cruises and the dives were in Jamaica & Cozumel so it was cool but if I could do it all over I would do my dives locally so when I got to the tropics I could just dive and not have to waste time doing the course.

Ed I would recommend Grand Cayman and or Belize, the diving is awesome. As far as dives go it depends on what you want to see. Now getting a little further from home I plan to go to Palau and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia ASAP

If we went to Grand Cayman, I'd never get in the water. I'd be too busy sampling the rum. :drinking:Mmmmmm, Tortuga rum. :drinking: Grand Cayman was one of the stops we made two years ago on our cruise. I did an introductory dive in Cozumel on that trip, that's what made me want to do more. Snorkeling just isn't the same now.

I went with Aqua Sports in Marda Loop and have been super happy with them. One thing I would recommend is that you go with a shop that has an instore pool. That way you can go from the classroom to the pool in a matter of minutes. Not having to have a classroom session and then a day or two later, go to a pool to practice what you have learnt.

editted for spelling

Anyone here with NAUI cert. or am i like really old?