Never — Under Any Circumstances Attempt Scuba Dive Prior to Undergoing Training with a Duly Licensed Instructor

Is it better to have diving training prior doing your first dive? My husband and I would like to dive but are sure how to start?

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:26 am Post subject:

Yes, you must have training before making a dive.

You have two choices.......if you just want to give it a try while on your vacation, to see if you like it, you can take what is called a "resort course" while in the Caymans. All of our recommended dive operators offer these courses. They will give you a briefing and introduction to your equipment and the basics in a pool or some shallow water, and then accompany you on your first dive. They will stick to you like glue.....no worries there. Then, if you want to dive again during that vacation, you can, as long as you go with them and pay for a guided trip. Subsequent dives wouldn't cost as much as the original course.

The second choice is to get certified, either at home before you go, or do the course work at home and finish up the Open Water part of the certification with an approved dive shop in the Caymans......or you could do the entire Certification while on vacation, but that would eat up a LOT of your precious vacation days.

Lots of choices and things to think about, but some level of training and supervision is essential even to just give it a try.

Char

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

Looks like Char and I were responding to the same question in 2 different threads, i.e. the thread just above this one, at about the same time. Wink

Char's advice is spot on. You will not be able to rent scuba gear to dive unless you have completed a certification course, or participate in an introductory resort course with a dive operator.

To just add to her comments, in addition to checking out our recommended dive operators that are listed in this Diving Topic, you may want to consider trying snuba with Sea Trek, the details of which are listed

Any questions, feel free to ask.

jpep

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:30 am Post subject:

I thought some training would be in order. Sounds like we need to have this for next year because something tells me we will want to come back to GC again. Thanks for the info very helpful

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:42 am Post subject:

Just to chime in with my colleagues... Yes, you MUST have proper training prior to doing your first dive.

There are significant physiological events that occur within the body when diving. This is due to breathing compressed air while under pressure. (This pressure is caused by the weight of the water as you go deeper.) You will not be aware of these events, or hope to deal with them, without proper training. I found that throughout my training, I was constantly saying to myself: "Wow, I didn't know that."

Learning to dive can be a life changing event. I found that out about 2 minutes into my first resort course dive. (Yes, that's how I got hooked...) I have had incredible experiences and met some wonderful, amazing people, friends actually, through the years. I highly recommend it. With proper and continual training, it can become one of the greatest experiences of your life.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:

Add another notch to the "ya gotta have training first' school of thought.

I did the resort course in 1995 and was hooked. When we returned for our next GCM trip both Mrs DS and I had gotten certified.

Diving can change and enrichen your whole world. Our diving has taken us to places and given us experiences we would never have had otherwise.

Contact any of the CAG recommended dive operators and you'll get top-notch training and, most important, safety will be paramount with our operators.

DS

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject:

To Divesargent: Are you a pilot? My husband received his private pilot license a couple of years ago. We dont get up as much as we'd like because we have little ones at home.

Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:13 am Post subject:

piglvr36 wrote:

To Divesargent: Are you a pilot? My husband received his private pilot license a couple of years ago. We dont get up as much as we'd like because we have little ones at home.

Yes, I have a private license also. I haven't flown for about three years; we bought land, designed and built a new home so there went my airplane time and money! I miss flying, and will start again son, but the trade was worth it for a new, energy efficient home!

DS