Resort Diving, get a course first?

[DiverDude]

The most time-efficient, cost-effective, and pleasant way to do this is to do all the classroom work and pool dives here, before you go. The course costs less here and you don't burn vacation days sitting in a classroom.

Then, if you can, try to pick a resort with a dive operation on the premises. This will make is a LOT easier and you will spend less time away from the family. Finally, pre-arrange with the dive shop to do your open-water "referral" dives with them. You will just pay for 2 dives (there will likely be a surcharge because you will need 1-on-1 time with a divemaster on those dives -but it's not a lot).

When you arrive, they will take you on an easy dive or perhaps just into the surf and have you go through some basic exercises. You'll then do a couple of easy and fairly shallow dives (50' or less) and as long as you can recover your regulator, maintain buoyancy, clear your mask underwater, etc. you're done and they will certify you. You will then receive a temporary C-card. A permanent one will come by mail later.

That's it. You can now get cylinders filled and dive where you want (subject to your experience level and the judgement of a divemaster).

Enjoy.

[mark]

phoned one dive shop and they'll still do the open water (at Jasper) until mid October, imagine others the same.

Any recommendation on who to go with in Edmonton for the course?

[parkinsn]

Dude let me tell you, you dont want to do your open water in october. I did mine last year in october (1st week I think?) and it is f-ing cold.

As for a recommendation I found that PADI is more universally accepted and more PADI dive shops around. I could be wrong but it seems that way..... Its not as advanced from what I have read/seen but it will do the trick. We went to an island in Venezuela population like 50 and it had 2, PADI and I cant remember the other. Some places dont accept PADI vs. others and vice versa if that makes sense.

[tinman]

well in the dominican it can run you about 600 us for padi or in calgary 200 bucks and 1 weekend in the pool and i think it's about 150 for your open water and they go till it freezes there is a dry suit rental till winter then they head to the west coast or you can finish up at the resort of your choice i'm doing mine in calgary, most diving shops offer a pretty good discount on gear also

[russp]

If you just want to give diving a try almost all the hotels offer a resort course , they will do a little class & pool time them take you on a single tank dive to a max of 40 ft. It is a great way to check it out & they will credit the dive towards your certification within a certain amount of time. I have a few friends that did there open water in Minnawanka & they say that a lot of people are turned away from diving after the cold water experience but everyone has there own opinion

[Jfish]

First trip to Mexico we took advantage of the resort course and dive. Pretty simple instructions in the pool one afternoon followed by a verbal and written test. The test was pretty simple but the instructor helped lots and made sure you would pass. After that they took us out to shallow waters just off the beach to get the feel of bouyancy, regulator and clearing mask under water. All of that took a total of about two hours (free) and we were cleared to go on a dive with the instructor at a shallow reef (100$us).

It was a short and easy way to test out diving which was nice. But, if you have any long term interest in diving I would just take the course before you go. You'll feel that much more comforatable in the water and won't have to depend on someone else for your safety in a foreign country. Example, we were told our dive should last about 45 mins. We were back to the surface after 30 mins and that was after signalling the instructor that my tanks were near empty then empty. It wasn't a traumatizing experience but not the best feeling when the instructor tells you not to mention several things that happened on the dive or he would be in trouble.

[mark]

Plan is I'll do the weekend classroom and pool portion here in Edmonton and found a few places in the Philippines in the areas planning on anyways that will do the Open Water referral thing for about $250.

I've climbed into a wet suit before after shaking off the the frost so thinking I'll pass on a Alberta lake in October.

Thanks all

[mark]

one step closer to an Open Water certificate, just completed the classroom and pool sessions through Ocean Sports at NAIT's pool. Busy 2 1/2 days with great instruction.