Diving Holiday Suggestions for a Beginner?

Sleepy

I took a couple of trial dives out in Malta when I was about 16 and ever since have been dying to get myself some qualifications in it. I've been looking at getting a package deal to Malta and organising an OWD course when out there (I notice some of the schools offer OWD and Advanced OWD at the one go too).

Thing is, Malta seems to be quite tricky to get to when booking late (I'm thinking last week of May). I'm wondering if anyone could recommend alternative destinations/travel agents for booking beginners dive holidays with?

bigfeller

I learned in Cyprus, water was warm but there wasn't too much to see. Apart from the Zenobia. Which was class.

Most places (near the sea) will have a Padi school. Croatia may be worth a shot, I know of a few CFT clubs here that head there for club hols and have really enjoyed it.

Will you be doing the course with someone or on your own?

Evil Phil

You could try the Carnary Islands as well but I suspect they might be the same as Malta. Turkey has some dive schools, none that I'm familiar with, and is quite backpacker friendly so you don't have to go on a package holiday.

bigfeller

This place is supposed to be good, though I have no first hand knowledge.

Sleepy

It seems that there's PADI schools in virtually all of the different sun resorts. Cyprus I found a good looking dive school but it's €400 to do the OWD. Is that the kind of price I can expect everywhere? :eek:

Peace

Sleepy wrote:

Is that the kind of price I can expect everywhere? :eek:

not at all, you can expect 600 here in ireland.

NordicDiver

Sleepy wrote:

Is that the kind of price I can expect everywhere? :eek:

120 € + books and medical check here in Norway for OW padi course with free drysuit experience

Evil Phil

NordicDiver wrote:

free drysuit experience

In Norway *experience* could mean anything.

I did my OW for US$275 in 2002 in Indonesia so I would pay €400 on the med if I was doing it this year.

bigfeller

Peace wrote:

not at all, you can expect 600 here in ireland.

And at that price (just to bring up the old argument) you could join a club here and dive every week for a pittance!!

Sleepy

I'd rather get the OWD before joining a club. From what I remember of the dive club in college it takes months of playing about in a swimming pool to get any kind of certification instead of just doing it all in 4 days in the ocean. Seems a bit of a no-brainer to me. Can't really see the attraction to "playing" scuba diver in a swimming pool.

Sleepy

NordicDiver wrote:

120 € + books and medical check here in Norway for OW padi course with free drysuit experience

Hmmm, the software I consult on is developed in Norway, wonder if I could get work to send me over for a while...

NordicDiver

Sleepy wrote:

From what I remember of the dive club in college it takes months of playing about in a swimming pool to get any kind of certification instead of just doing it all in 4 days in the ocean.

If you are lucky you might get to try the snorkel after 6 mnths in the sea but remember to have paid the insurance or you have to stand on the pier...

Sleepy wrote:

Hmmm, the software I consult on is developed in Norway, wonder if I could get work to send me over for a while...

We will take very good care of you

Peace

NordicDiver wrote:

If you are lucky you might get to try the snorkel after 6 mnths in the sea but remember to have paid the insurance or you have to stand on the pier...

Laying the foundation for another "leats beat up on CFT" thread are we?

NordicDiver

Peace wrote:

Laying the foundation for another "leats beat up on CFT" thread are we?

No point in flogging a dead horse, they rarely dance for you

donny

Haha

Sleepy

After having a good look at www.padi.com and a few cheap package holiday sites I've one final question: How widely does the quality of instruction vary between different centres? Is the OWD course pretty rigidly structured to ensure you get similar standards of training in all dive centres or do they vary considerably?

Evil Phil, I like the suggestion of Turkey if it's genuinely backpacker friendly. Have you been over there yourself though? I've only ever heard bad things about it... or is it just that the resort areas are the typical lager lout spots and have resulted in the locals despising the tourists that stay in them?

Evil Phil

I avoided the lager lout spots when I was there as I was climbing. I can recommend http://www.kadirstreehouses.com/olymposadventurecentre/index_en.htm if your looking for a party though

Kadirs can organise diving through a local operator, dunno what the quality is.

NordicDiver

Sleepy wrote:

I like the suggestion of Turkey

Hi was in Turkey (marmaris/icmeler) last august, cant recomend it for diving, not much to see good viz though. If you take the course in "warm water" places you should take an drysuit course or advanced course here to get used to "cold" water diving.

Jan

Sleepy

That's pretty much the idea NordicDiver, gonna get the OWD in one of the resorts then join a club and start progressing through the levels here in Ireland. Would love to get my own gear at some stage but from what I've looked at it looks like a fairly serious outlay!

Peace

Sleepy wrote:

That's pretty much the idea NordicDiver, gonna get the OWD in one of the resorts then join a club and start progressing through the levels here in Ireland. Would love to get my own gear at some stage but from what I've looked at it looks like a fairly serious outlay!

I'd watch out doing that, if you do a PADI course and then come back and join a CFT club they will more thank likely make you do the beginners course (CFT Version) all over again.

For example, I remember someone saying on this board that they were a PADI instructor and when they joined a CFT club they had to start their training from scratch.

Getting your own gear can be as big/small an outlaw as you like. Most diving op's in ireland have kit you can rent for the dive/day/weekend.

donny

http://www.scubaireland.com/downloads/Forms/Crossover%20Module%20Oct%2002.pdf

You don't need to start from scratch but you do need to attend a few lectures and demonstrate some in water skills

Evil Phil

Those crossover requirements seem fair enough; I really think everybody should be trained up to rescue diver when going the PADI route. Thats next for me.

donny

Yep, where possible I'd recommend divers get as far as rescue diver. The PADI rescue course in particular is excellent in my opinion

Peace

Evil Phil wrote:

I really think everybody should be trained up to rescue diver when going the PADI route. Thats next for me.

Agreed, worth while course that is. Really people are kind of diving in blissfull ignorance without going through that course.

rick_fantastic

www.safaridiving.com

the open water course is €425. really nice dive center ive been 2 bout 5 times. right on the beach and plentiful dive sites right from the shore or by boat. nice weather pretty much all year round and lanzarote is really cheap.

or

http://www.deep-blue-diving.com/web/en/html/startframe.htm

this is in calete de fusta in fuertaventura. ive been here 3 times the place is really quiet when its not peak season. but the diving is really good all year. Open water course is bout €330.

recommended 2 go when its not peak season as these dive centres are quite small but well run. if u like 2 relax and take it easy tyhese 2 centres are very friendly and well located.

bringitdown

Usit have a 7 day Cairo -> Dahab -> Cairo holiday incl flights, transfers and 10 dives for E669

Great deal: http://www.usit.ie/367/index.html
Dahab is hallegedly an excellent place for diving, might be heading myself at that price.