Any SCUBA divers here?

[Paverdude]

I just got re-certified after being out of diving for 25+ years.

Went to Mexico for 2 weeks, did my open water cert. dives in Cozumel

as well as 8 more south of Playa.

Had a great time saw lots of fish, no sharks:(

[Veng68]

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

[spikehs]

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

I would say it is.. you don't have to be a great swimmer, just comfortable in the water.. they make you do some swimming tests in the course. Tread water, swim some laps, nothing to hard..

I love diving.. Dove in Mozmabique, Thailand, and Cozumel so far....

[DanG]

The only places I've ever been diving were in the pool at the YMCA during training, then at west hawk lake for the open water dives(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westhawk_Lake). All I can say about west hawk is that it's cold, damn cold.
I've been dreaming of going somewhere warm and diving, but west hawk has been my only experience so far. 2 degrees celsius when you get below 60 feet, and I've been down as far as 95 when I did my advanced open water.

[BC564]

I am certified and have dove off the coast of Can Cun. Snorkeled a ton on the reef just off shore from Club Med in Can Cun. There was actually lots more to see on the reef, of course, which I guess is why we have our own little reefs in our homes. Dove lots in the Nanaimo area. 6mm wetsuit for the Nanaimo dives. You cant beat the clarity in the Carribean though.

[Midknight]

I would love to get certified but I am not sure if I can.
I have athma and would require something like a full face mask.:sad:
Does anybody have any ideas about this?

[04scoobysti]

Im a certified Diver, was just in Cozumel Last month. Beautiful reef!! Current carries you along at a nice speed to take everything in! Would definitly recomend it to anyone, just wish i brought a camera :(

[spikehs]

I would love to get certified but I am not sure if I can.
I have athma and would require something like a full face mask.:sad:
Does anybody have any ideas about this?


i have very slight asthma (dont even really have an inhaler).. you have to get a doctors note giving you permission. You wouldn't need any sort of special equipment.

[Jason McK]

Was Diving on Saturday with Cprowler @ Porteau Cove. Miserable in the rain LOL

J

[wetcoast]

I have my open water cert and would like to do more. Trying to finish the snowboarding season before going underwater - but would love to find novice divers to do some shore dives in the near future. I have all equipment, with the exception of a dry suit - Does anyone dive in a wet suit around here?

On my list of purchases this year.

[BC564]

I dove there in a wetsuit....I beleive it was a 6mm suit. They told me the water temp. only changes 1-2 degrees from summer and winter.....our deepest dive was 80' but we spent most of our dives around the 30-40' mark....we were never cold....we had 2 harbour seals swimming with us the second dive...they were like dogs....come right up and play with ya....which was more like teasing then anything else....it was fun....

[BC564]

oh...and fed some wolf eels sea urchins.....wolf eels are not much to look at..

[deep_six]

I just got back from a Cruise in the Western Caribbean. I did a couple dives off of Roatan Island, Honduras. All I can say is WOW! It was a reefkeeper's dream to see the coral formations there. I have done lots of diving in the Hawaiian Islands also, and I found that they didn't even compare to any of the reef systems I saw in Roatan.

Now back to reality..:cry:

[justinl]

Ive always wanted to dive the tropics. And Im determined to do so... eventually.

local diving is fun and most people never see what is down there. You don't need a wetsuit here unless you're staying down deep for a lengthy time. Shore dives don't need drysuits imo. even if drysuits do make it more comfortable and are infinitely easier to get in to. My favourite dive so far was off bowen island at miller's reef. There is an underwater canyon and if you go in to it, you are just surrounded by white plumose anemones. ethereal is the only word i can think of to describe it. I want to dive a local sponge reef too. Ive seen beautiful pics, but even good pics never do the underworld justice.

[BC564]

I was actually thinking of doing a cold salt water tank...just from what I have seen on my diving on the west coast ....Im just not sure how critical temp. is in the summer and didnt really want to use a chiller. I guess I could put one in the basement where it is cool but then Id never see it...so whats the point of that.....still thinking and need to do more research on it...

[justinl]

bc564, i have two words for you my friend: tide pools. The species that get stuck in tide pools have to be able to adapt to large and relatively quick changes in salinity and temperature. I would run a couple of fans on that tank just in case and not let the tank drop below 8deg if i could help it.

the nice thing about tide pool tanks is that specimens are not hard to find. the beach is your lfs.

as you might be able to tell, Ive been thinking about this too. My fave local (cold of course) species, although it isn't tidal, is the pacific spiny lumpsucker. They look ridiculous.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/pacspinsuck.jpg

[atcguy]

I am a Dive instructor and did 8 months in Grand cayman working for redsail. This is the King of Dive spots. tiny island 35 plus dive operators . I have dove the great barrier reef. amazing for diversity. Cozumel is great current diving at night but Cayman islands are a must. I have touched the tip of a 14 foot hammerhead shark. Dove with 10 plus 8+ foot black tip reef sharks and dove the underwater cenotes in the yucatan peninsula about 2 hours south of cancun. Check out the pics. Freakin unbelievable. Our diving is great around vancouver . winter is best with 1 plus foot of snow on the shore as you dont have run off meaning 100 plus vis. at times. Gotta dive the 5 wrecks off the coast . Chaudier destroyer is the best !!!

but the caves in mexico rock, check the pics out...

http://www.cambsac.com/newsletter/december2000/yucatan.html
http://www.hiddenworlds.com.mx/cavern.html

[justinl]

wow those cavern dives look astounding. note to others: you need other certification to dive with over heads. that measn wrecks, caves, etc...

Ill have to do that cert before i go on vacation.

[atcguy]

If you have your advanced cert they will take you into some of the caves. you just really monitor your air and you pop up in sinkholes throughout the jungle. Parrots flying around above then head back down. at times you swim for maybe 10 minutes with no air pockets!! If you have experience they take you into areas where you must take your bcd and tank off and pass it through a hole and slip through, put it all on and keep going. The water is cold as this is where east mexico gets their drinking water from and its as clear as you can get. no particles or life in the water just the most amaazing calcium formations . cant explain til you do it. MORE PICS

http://www.hiddenworlds.com.mx/caverngallery.html

[deep_six]

ATCGUY, I cannot express how envious I am of your Hammerhead encounter. Shark Diving will always be my favorite. I did a dive in Maui where we went into cave that had several white tips hiding out in the daytime and that was cool. I can't imagine being face to face with a hammerhead, that and those cave dives from your pictures are what dreams are made of.

I agree that our diving around Vancouver is some of the best in the world. My father owns his own boat and often times we find our own dive sites to explore. You can really find some true gems that way. As for the Chaudier I dove that on a beutiful spring day back in 02 for my wreck specialty course. I would love to dive it again to see the changes that have occured.

[BC564]

Hi again Justin......our thread talk crosses everywhere......I think we need to chat further about the cold water tanks....seeing as how you have this stuff on your doorstep....

[spikehs]

I did a dive with a great white shark of the coast of capetown. I was in a cage, but got about 1 foot away from a GWS. That was one of the coolest experiances of my life.

[BC564]

I couldnt imagine being in the water with a shark......the harbour seals scared me in the first quick glance until I saw what it was....and they look like little blobs and move so easy....couldnt imagine a shark...

[Chaloupa]

I am certified as well as my husband as "Open Water" divers. I have asthma but don't require an inhaler either....only if I get a cold with a cough do I have any troubles.....so needed nothing special or specific...I actually found it really really easy to breathe down there...no smog or crud in the air you're breathing.

I have been diving in Jamaica (absolutely gorgeous), Dominican Republic, and a few times in front of Quadra Island - just across the water from Campbell River (absolutely stunning stuff we have here!!!). Here, when we did our local diving, we did it with wetsuits only. You're fully gloved, full head to toe wetsuit with a hood. A bit chilly but ok, not painful by any means. If I were to pursue it a bit more locally, I would consider taking my Dry Suit course and purchasing one...but I enjoy the warmer water dives so would consider it a waste.

[fishface]

i've been diving full time and getting paid to do it for the last 12 years so unfortunately it's lost it's magic for me :sad: but i still love to see the look of excitement and wonder on my wifes face...even if there really wasn't anything good to look at! pure joy there! :mrgreen:

[BCOrchidGuy]

I'm a Padi certified Instructor as well as an IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers) instructor. I am certified as a gas blender and a scuba technician (scuba mechanic). I worked at one of the busiest stores in Vancouver for almost 3 years. My favorite class was teaching rescue divers and teaching night dive specialties. On one night dive in Campbell River we encountered a school of mud sharks and in with them were a few blue sharks. We saw a number of sharks over 6 feet long, all in a marina. Gabriola Island has some amazing diving as well, with Gabriola pass being the most amazing drift dive. We did one dive through the pass while a pod of Orca was going through, I myself didn't see them but you could hear them underwater. I was loving it until I reallized I was wearing a black dry suit I tought, Geez, I bet I look like a 200lbs seal... anyway fun was had by all.

You don't have to be a strong swimmer, I did the open water swim test on my back. After I got certified advanced open water I started swimming lessons.

Asthma isn't an end all when it comes to scuba but you MUST talk to your Doctor about it. Don't forget the air you breath in scuba is probably the cleanest air you'll ever find. Scuba doesn't take much of a physical effort but if your asthma is stress induced it can be a problem.

I've never been warm water diving but can honestly say, if Jacque Cousteau says Campbell River and Barkley Sound are two of the worlds best dive sites, that's good enough for me.

FWIW I spent 5 years in the Navy, I got to dive on both of the ships I served on after they were sunk as artificial reefs. The feeling of diving on a ship I lived on was very very humbling.

Doug

[justinl]

whooo master diver in the house lol. When i did my open water i kept wishing orcas would come say hi. ... never did think about the fact that i looked like a seal though, lol. only time Ive ever seen orcas was when i went sea kayaking... that was amazing.

Anyone got pics of a wreck dive? Ive always wanted to do one of those too.

[Matt]

a bit off topic.

I've always wanted to scuba dive but I can't swim.

One of my friends says its helpfull but not a requirement for certification.

I find that really hard to believe.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]PADI is 200m free swim, I think... it has been a while since my cert.

[justinl]

yeah just swim a few laps in a 25m long swimming pool. you can go as fast or slow as you want and the instructor will let you know when to stop.

one thing to think about is the fact that when you look up you won't see anything. One friend of mine (we did the padi open cert together) was a little nervous during her first dive when she looked up and couldn't see the surface. She quickly got over it though by being thoroughly distracted by various things on the sea floor.

[Knobsmith]

I got certified just about two years ago and love diving! I've done a few local dives (mostly on Vancouver Island) witch has triggered my plans for a cold water reef tank. The life here is amazing! Octopus, eels and inverts galore!

Last year we did a trip to Aruba for a freinds wedding and snuck in a few days of diving. The corals are amazing and healthy and the water was 90deg. at 100'!!! There is nothing like being at 100' in nothing but your swim suit.

We did Grand Bahamas Island earlier this year. Corals were not nearly as impressive as Aruba, but I got to swim with a bunch of 5'-6' reef sharks!

[Paverdude]

We dived "PARADISE" in Cozumel and it was paradise a drift dive @ 35 feet just sit back and the current carries you past coral head after coral head, amazing

My buddy had a camera with him, i'll post some pics when i get them

[demon666]

i did my open water back in '99 in jasper in september talk about cold...... id love to do more diveing but there really isnt much reason to dive here in alberta.......... anybody from edmonton dive here in alberta?????? wouldnt mind putting my cert to use again as it has been 8 yrs since i had a tank on my back:biggrin::cry:

[Snappy]

My wife, my son & I are all divers. My avitar is a picture I took of my wife during a dive in Cozumel a few years ago now. (she's the one without the shell):razz: Latest dives were in Kona last month, had a blast.

[Paverdude]

A few pics from Mexico, i couldn't get any of the good ones from my cd's becaus VISTA SUCKS

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=1398&stc=1&d=1176358310
108-0809_IMG.jpghttp://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=1399&stc=1&d=1176358310
108-0815_IMG.jpghttp://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=1400&stc=1&d=1176358310
111-1154_IMG.jpg

[Paverdude]

what the F**K did i do?

[bsyoun]

I love those underwater pics!

What camera did you use? I'm heading down to Cairns, Fiji and the Cook Islands in June and would love to take some pics like yours.

Ben

[Paverdude]

A cannon A85 and housing, i think a extra flash would have helped

[shadowboy]

I got my open water certificate in kota kinabalu, malaysia. It was one of the best times I've ever had. So far I've done 7 dives, we were just in punta mita mexico, bout an hour away from puerto vallarta. we went snorkelling but I didnt feel it was worth diving. Semporna malaysia is supposed to be the best dive spot in the world, unfourtunatley i didnt have the money to travel across to it. Recommend malaysia for anyone on a diving budget. my certificate was 190$ and 3 dives were 40$. and my hostel was 5$ a night, with breakfast and highspeed internet.
tb

[Ruth]

I did my open water in Koh Tao Thailand last spring - absolutely amazing! It was cheap, beautiful and just wonderful diving. I would love to go back. Up until a few years ago tourists could not even go to Koh Tao unless you were diving.

[Ticketyboo]

diver here!!!!! diver here!!!!!! :biggrin:

If your in the area and want to see new dive sites, let know know and we can go dive!!!!!

:biggrin:

[Dale]

Just doing my open water course this weekend actually. Fortunately my dive buddy (and longtime friend) owns a 40' houseboat :mrgreen:
Hi Deep six, hope you had a nice trip! I'll see you this Wed. and hopefully try on that Drysuit.

[King of the Sea]

Wanna make big coldwater setup the cool stuff down deep i smoke 10 cigars a day gotta live by vancouver