Dive Log:
by Diving Top 100
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Maybe you need to find a dive location that is “just right” for your needs and qualifications. Possibly have a few questions to ask before you lay your money down on a trip you’re considering. Or it could be that you’re the one that has the answer to help another diver with their questions.
Well, feel right at home to ask them, answer them, post them and fire them away… right here on DivingTop100′s own Dive Forums.
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Hello, looking to do a week of diving, probably do my AOW course while on vacation. I am looking for a vacation without a lot of the thrills, basically just want to dive. I will be alone, so very little top-side stuff to do. Trying to keep expenses down as airfare from New Brunswick will take more than half my budget. Any advice?
Really appreciate your time
Thanks for your comments on Facebook. We’re glad you contacted us and are happy help with your question. We are actually finishing our website’s overhaul and plan to start 2012 off in a splash.
In the next few days, we will be adding a section for questions and answers just like yours. We hope to get input from divers everywhere that have sound advice for their fellow divers.
In the interim, we are happy to share a few ideas with you. Of course these are just our opinions and should be weighed carefully when making you dive decisions. Never attempt to dive in adverse conditions or in circumstances where you are beyond your certification level or feel uncomfortable. Always dive with a buddy and practice safe diving skills.
You mentioned a few things that help narrow our opinions. First New Brunswick, which we are assuming is Canada. Second, that you will be taking AOW upon arrival at your destination and that you will be going solo. And lastly, that this is on a budget. No problem. We dive on shoestring budgets every year.
• Our first thought that you will be taking your AOW certification. A big part of your decision needs to include where you will be the comfortable training and making cert dives.
• Is this location comparable to where you will be diving as an AOW diver in the future? So pick a temperature zone and dive style and water type. (Warm water & Caribbean blue is my personal choice)
• Next, once you pick a general geographic zone, you need to go where your certification agency has an affiliated shop. If you’re PADI, SSI or one of the other larger agencies, that’s pretty easy to find out. They all have websites with their locations listed.
• So now you have a general idea of the where, now narrow it down to the type of diving. Will you be doing resort or beach diving, charter boat or liveaboard diving? How will you be getting in the water?
• Now see where is the most affordable to travel to by air from your location. Factor if you will carry gear at great expense on the plane or will you rent it when you get there?
• Think about taxi cabs, rental cars, restaurants and hotels. Whew! That’s enough to make you take up solitaire.
• Now lastly, re-think about where you will get the best training and feel the most comfortable learning your AOW certification. That needs to be the deciding factor. If you can’t be safe, you shouldn’t do the dive.
So you were probably thinking, what idiots. All I wanted to know is if they have any good ideas on cheap diving…
Well here are my personal thoughts on how you can accomplish all your goals, meet your budget AND have a great diving experience. This is what my close dive group does most often.
1. Save the hotel & room charges.
2. Forget the rental car and get picked up at the airport by the dive operator.
3. Don’t worry about dining out at night and get all your meals included
4. Sleep close to where you’re diving so you can get an early start.
5. Do all this while prices are low, before the dive season starts.
6. Do it in warm water with good visibility.
7. Do it with a seasoned, professional crew.
Drum roll………. All inclusive 3 -6 day liveaboard diving in Ft Lauderdale, FL
Ask for Capt. Dan at http://www.liveaboardlistings.com/listings/index.php?listing_id=4&company=paradise+charters
Or Capt. John at
http://www.liveaboardlistings.com/listings/index.php?listing_id=141&company=juliet+sailing+%26amp%3B+diving
In my opinion, this is the most cost effective way to do it all. Dive, Dine and Git r’ Done. If you talk to them, tell them I send my regards.
I hope this was helpful. I would like to remove your last name and post this in our new Q&A section so others can weigh in and help with their input as well.
Thanks for reaching out to us.
I really appreciate your advice, never thought of a live aboard from Florida, did look at Bahamas and Mexico. Will have send them an email.
Thanks again
John