Any SCUBA divers here?

[Paverdude]

I just got re-certified after being out of diving for 25+ years.

Went to Mexico for 2 weeks, did my open water cert. dives in Cozumel

as well as 8 more south of Playa.

Had a great time saw lots of fish, no sharks

[Veng68]

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

[spikehs]

Originally Posted by Veng68

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

I would say it is.. you don't have to be a great swimmer, just comfortable in the water.. they make you do some swimming tests in the course. Tread water, swim some laps, nothing to hard..

I love diving.. Dove in Mozmabique, Thailand, and Cozumel so far....

[DanG]

The only places I've ever been diving were in the pool at the YMCA during training, then at west hawk lake for the open water dives(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westhawk_Lake). All I can say about west hawk is that it's cold, damn cold.
I've been dreaming of going somewhere warm and diving, but west hawk has been my only experience so far. 2 degrees celsius when you get below 60 feet, and I've been down as far as 95 when I did my advanced open water.

[BC564]

I am certified and have dove off the coast of Can Cun. Snorkeled a ton on the reef just off shore from Club Med in Can Cun. There was actually lots more to see on the reef, of course, which I guess is why we have our own little reefs in our homes. Dove lots in the Nanaimo area. 6mm wetsuit for the Nanaimo dives. You cant beat the clarity in the Carribean though.

[Midknight]

I would love to get certified but I am not sure if I can.
I have athma and would require something like a full face mask.
Does anybody have any ideas about this?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Veng68

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

PADI is 200m free swim, I think... it has been a while since my cert.

[justinl]

yeah just swim a few laps in a 25m long swimming pool. you can go as fast or slow as you want and the instructor will let you know when to stop.

one thing to think about is the fact that when you look up you won't see anything. One friend of mine (we did the padi open cert together) was a little nervous during her first dive when she looked up and couldn't see the surface. She quickly got over it though by being thoroughly distracted by various things on the sea floor.

[Knobsmith]

I got certified just about two years ago and love diving! I've done a few local dives (mostly on Vancouver Island) witch has triggered my plans for a cold water reef tank. The life here is amazing! Octopus, eels and inverts galore!

Last year we did a trip to Aruba for a freinds wedding and snuck in a few days of diving. The corals are amazing and healthy and the water was 90deg. at 100'!!! There is nothing like being at 100' in nothing but your swim suit.

We did Grand Bahamas Island earlier this year. Corals were not nearly as impressive as Aruba, but I got to swim with a bunch of 5'-6' reef sharks!

[Paverdude]

We dived "PARADISE" in Cozumel and it was paradise a drift dive @ 35 feet just sit back and the current carries you past coral head after coral head, amazing

My buddy had a camera with him, i'll post some pics when i get them