Diver certification?

[stringfrenzy]

I have been thinking awhile now about trying to obtain diver certification. The problem is that I'm not real sure how to go about it. I have seen some online courses offered for the "bookwork" end of things but not sure if that would be the best route to go. The online "bookwork" would work great for my scheduling but then I'm caught with finishing the certification. I'm currently trying to find a dive shop in my area for possible information and/or help. So far no luck. I know that Celina Ohio has divers on the fire department because of grand lake st. Mary's being near but i haven't been able to speak to any of them yet for information.


What would seem to be the best route to take? Does anyone know of any dive shops for information in mercer county Ohio?

Any of you divers have any ideas or suggestions to help?

I just thought it would be something new to learn and maybe even be able to volunteer if a diver were needed in my area, or an extra diver were needed.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

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[Dixie Digger]

there is a dive shop and instructor in Butler Co. Hamilton Ohio i sued to go there a lot.

 

[Sandman]

For open water certification the only way to go is through a Dive shop. I am a PADI diver and it is hard to attend the classes I know, but you get pool training and the best advice. Any book work you get will have to be repeated anyway with a dive shop. Don't ask why they call it a wet suit, the instructors love it when a woman asks. It's cause you get to warm yourself when you pee in it. You can buy your gear online if you want, but it's best to shop at the dive shop, especially for the wet suit which you should try on for fit. You don't need to buy it all at once, but start with a low volume mask and a good snorkel and fins with quick detachable buckels. When you can, get a pony tank and Spare Air tank too.

Check your yellow pages for dive shops. Don't even think about volunteering till you have a few extra certificates besides Open Water Diver. Asking the firemen is a good idea.

Good Luck,
Sandman

 

[elle]

Stingfrenzy, our waters need more divers. I earned my PADI Divemaster rating in the university I attended.
Most colleges and local YMCA's have courses. Although most of my diving has been in Lake Michigan, I took my tests for certifications in lakes and quarries in Indiana.
Let me know if you still can't find local classes and i'll get some contacts.

 

[stringfrenzy]

Thanks for all the information. I'll be sure to check with the local college here and the y.m.c.a. and see if they have any information as well. If i have any problems or more questions I'll be sure to post them.

Thanks again.

 

[fldiver]

There's several things that need to be looked at when getting certified, the main one being that whatever dive shop you go with doesn't really make money on your certification just the gear they sell or rent to you. You can get better deals online or buying used gear but, when you're first starting you're better off to rent for a little while until you get some bottom time to figure out what you want as far as your gear goes. When buying gear you also need to think about what kind of diving you're going to be doing in the future, if you're going to be doing deep diving or cave diving or whatever you'll need different gear than the stuff made for warm water fishy diving.

You also have choices of what agency to get certified through and there are several, PADI, NAUI, SSI, YMCA. The dive shops and boats will recognize all of them unless you're going for a specialty certification, then sometimes they'll give you a hassle. For example NACD (National Association of Cave Divers) doesn't recognize PADI cavern certification, but they do from other organizations. They don't think PADI covers everything that should be, having known both PADI and NACD divers as well as Instructors I would agree with NACD.

I guess to sum it all up, the Open Water certification can come from any of them really, I got mine through PADI then had to start getting bottom time to figure out the route I wanted to take. I'm now in the process of getting Technical Diving Certifications. You'll have to buy your snorkel gear to get certified, buy what's COMFORTABLE for YOU, not someone else or what's cheapest, you'll be using the gear and being uncomfortable isn't fun I would suggest dealing with the dive shops for this to try on different gear and have them help you with it to get started. The rest of the gear you can rent for a while to get some experience and see what your needs are and if you think you might want to head towards Tech. diving or not, if you like a vest type BC, what kind of regulator you prefer, get the opinion of other divers, then you can buy gear accordingly. I'ts not a cheap hobby when getting started but once you do and get comfortable with it it's worth it.

 

[-Jones-]

Hey stringfrenzy,

I have a NASDS (National Association of Scuba Diving Schools) certification. Nothin wrong with PADI cert like the sandman has. IMO, one has got to be a good swimmer and not afraid of the water and with this asset, scuba diving is fun and pleasurable.

Basic scuba certification involves classroom, water, and an open dive. Find local dive shops in your area, see what they have to offer, and enroll at the place that seems the best.

Anyone getting certified should buy mask, fins, and a snorkel right off the bat. That's the basic gear every diver should own. Then, as you dive you can rent a BC, tank, and weight belt. 8)

Good luck bud......... 8)

 

[stringfrenzy]

Thanks for the input ric. I'm currently waiting on a few friends of mine in the law enforcement community to get back to me. Asked them if they might know someone on the fire dept. dive team that they would reccomend that I talk to.

The quest goes on for now I guess.

Thanks again.

 

[-Jones-]

Thanks for the input ric. I'm currently waiting on a few friends of mine in the law enforcement community to get back to me. Asked them if they might know someone on the fire dept. dive team that they would reccomend that I talk to.

The quest goes on for now I guess.

Thanks again.

Keep the forum posted of your progression..........

 

[stringfrenzy]

The things you learn if you are willing to look....

As it turns out my wife's cousin is a certified diver and can quite possibly be of much help in the matter as well since he got his certification here in the local area. Just waiting on the info she was going to try and get from him. She couldn't remember where he got his certification at so she was going to ask him.