Scuba Diving

“there is a program here in NY that I am interested in.


NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Monitor Project

you help gather scienctic data with the divers.
I have always wanted to learn to dive.

I may have a chance to at least dive once just to get my feet wet so to speak. I was thinking that if I like it, i might look into classes.
This might be a great thing to get into because this is what I am going to school for. Plus they study Marine Wildlife. :)

so who here has dived?”

“I have logged over a dozen dives, from the Gulf of Mexico, Key West, Lake Superior, and Thailand.”

“I dove some in college, but it's been a while.

My oldest is old enough now for a C card, been thinking about getting us both in a class.”

“i am looking into classes.
Damn why does everything have to cost so much.”

“Down here (FL) it'll cost about 250 each for me and my son.

That does include tanks and BC rental, I think, but thats it. Oh, and two boat dives for the check out cert.”

“I'm getting my scuba liscence when I move back to Miami

Make sure you take a good course - not just one of those fluff and stuff 1 to 2 day classes - take one that requires you to free dive to the lake bottom and gear up down under and covers all safety issues

Snorkling rocks - can't wait to be able to stay under longer - want to get into wreck diving too”

“oh - ps - then you can come visit me and we'll go diving in the Keys!”

“they have that here in NY
lots of wreaks off of Long Island”

“cool - you can tell me all about it - we'll compare notes - FL vs NY wreck diving! Though up here I'd fear underwater mines :) have fun!”

“Hand up, head up, come up.
Hand down, head down, stay down.

In other words... look where you're going! <G>

(it's like the Scuba version of "Don't step on anything you can step over...")”

“I have my open water certification. My advice would be to obtain quality instruction and be prepared to spend money on good gear.”

“oh no. i can not afford more gear for a new hobby

i think tree would have my head on a platter”

“I would be surprised if they let you dive at all in a river w/o a C Card. Take a PADI or Naui Open Water Dive course from a reputable scuba shop (course includes two open water dives) and you should be well prepared for your initial dives. Allways dive with a budy and take advanced course (Rescue Diver etc) as appropriate for what you will be doing.

I did my cert. dvies in Key Wesy also went back once or twice after for dvie vacations. Water in Key West can be warm or cold, clear or silty depending on storms and Gulf Stream. I have seen great diving and some where you could not see 2 feet. Best for me was Bay Islands of Honduras. 80-80-80 80 feet deep, 80 degree water temp and 80 feet of visibility. AWEOSOME!!!

I am VERY near sighted so I had mask made with my prescripotion lenses fixed to the inside of the eyepiece of the mask. The peripheral vision is not that great, but it beats not being able to see at all.

Have fun.”

“Post pictures of you in the wetsuit...”

“me?”

“Don't do it, maple!”

“THe diving, that is.”

“I was a certified PADI instructor for several years in the late 80's and early 90's. It's certainly not a cheap sport, by any means. There should be a written test, exercises and tests for pool work along with 2 open water certification dives. The certification dives will involve all of the exercises practiced and tested in the pool. It's all a matter of safety. Wreck diving may involve another specialty certification test because of the additional safety issues.

I don't recommend diving without first obtaining an Open Water Diver certification. There are so many simple things that you naturally do which can kill you underwater, such as holding your breath while surfacing.”

“and why not??”

“You might get hoited!”

“hoited!
??”

“Think "Three Stooges" maple...”

“oh so you think i will get hurt?

me?

never...

its all for the name of science.”

“i'm an advanced open water diver..was doing some work on my cave and cavern certification.
I like cool water, but in NY it's COLD water, and prob require a dry suit which is more technical, requires more cost and skills.
Also with colder water diving and in the area's your looking at the visibility will be 0-30'. And that sucks. Certification runs 300 bucks on average, more so for dry suit, and other aspects. Gear also runs high, as does the maintenence or rental of it.

If you can't dive in tropical waters at least 2-4 times a year i'd say leave it be..it's just another expensive hobby that you won't be able to participate in at it's grand levels..and in the harbor...it'll be nasty as F***”

“thanks for the advice. not really looking to do it just for a hobby.
i thought i could put it to use with my schooling.
im in school for science and will have to take courses that eg research.”