Interesting, I dont recall our instructor making us swim those laps or tredding water to get our PADI Open Water... I think he just took our word that we could so that he could do the certification faster. I guess I shouldnt say who he was or he might get in trouble.

Got certified through PADI with a friend that could not swim. She doggie paddled from one end of the pool to the other and the instructor said that was good enough. She didn't have to do all of the laps to complete the test.

We went diving in Cozumel several times and loved it! You do not have to know how to swim in order to dive as my friend did very well and can not swim at all!

Colby

Diving is great, I love it. You will also love Cozumel I did.

I cannot swim but have gone diving in mexico. Diving is awsome and tried to do the lessen thing when I got home without much success. Now that I hear of other people who can't swim getting their certificate I may check into it a little better.

Jamaica
 

I just came back from Jamaica in April. I left Montigo Bay one week after the high jacking. I did 19 dives during my two week trip. I was really disappointed with the reefs. There were lots of fish traps. There were also not many fish. I did not see one single large predator fish (shark, barracuda, jack or large groupers). There were several remoras swimming around trying to attach to divers, I assume because there was no large fish around because all the small fish had disappeared. There were also a lot of algae on the corals, probably because there were very few surgeonfish and other algae grazers around. However, I was able to get a few nice dive pictures.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/...cfcd18da_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/...7947ac4b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/...14304a56_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/...f37d858a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/...61e18853_b.jpg

I got my National Geographic Open water diver 4yrs ago.

What is the difference between the NG open water and the PADI Open Water Diver?

I have the PADI open water and have always thought about the NG open water. I was going to take it in Thailand last year but I never made it there after deciding to stay in the Philippines instead. Always wondered what I missed???

scuba
 

I have had my Padi open water and Padi advanced certs for years. I love the diving here on the west coast. I have dove in Hawaii, California and Mexico. Mexico was awsome. Still one of my favorite dives was at Lund, a spot called the "Iron Mines" Coolest drift dive I have ever done. Night dives here are crazy fun!
One of my dive instructors said " If you learn to dive here you can dive anywhere." I can see what he ment now after diving in warm water with nothing but a t-shirt and shorts and 150' of viz. as apposed to a 8mm dry suit, 30lbs of lead and 15' of viz.
Winter diving seems to be the best time to dive here. The viz is usually better in the winter, the dive sights are not crowded and the "newbs" don't usually want to dive during the winter and drag themselves along the bottom stirring up the sand/silt.
Keith.

I agree, haven't dove in years but the Iron mines are impressive, we have some world class dive spots around here, and some of the best night diving is in Oakover inlet, take a goody bag, lots of treats to be had:biggrin:

the only dif is two extra dives, basically is about preserving the enviroment, and taking care of it. dont touch, dont remove, name some fish, corals etc.
it was fun, just another excuess to hit the water, and you get a c-card with NG;s logo on it, lol.