Scuba
 

Who on here goes under?

I do my theory test tomorrow and practical over the next few weeks. Mates to bounce questions off, especially in Perth, would be useful.:)

Re: Scuba
 

I do! I'm a PADI Divemaster, been diving for 10+ years now. Learnt in the UK, done heaps of diving all around the UK but also in South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Red Sea etc. Absolutely bloody love it :thumbup:

Good luck for your theory test!

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Hi ther,
Don’t worry about your test.... the hard bit is controlling your buoyancy!!, the instructor will help you with the theory, that is what you are paying him money for and most of it is common sense if you just sit back and think about it first. I’m about for a bit if you have any really hard stuff that you want explaining, have a bash at this if you are getting stuck on your tables

http://scubatoys.com/store/software/software.asp

If you join their forum you get the key for nothing and it is actually quite a good programme!!....,
Will be moving to Perth in Sept so will be up for some diving if you pass.....

Re: Scuba
 

I'm an IDC Staff Instructor (Instructor Trainer). Good luck with the test. Its all easy and multiple choice and if you've read the book, done the knowledge reviews then just have another read over and you'll be fine.

The practical part is fun. Its not a test per se. You just go through a set of underwater skills, such as taking off your mask and putting it back on. But as said above the most useful skill and perhaps the hardest is getting your buoyancy right - the ability to float "weightless". But its like riding a bike - once you've got it your sorted.

Best to luck, enjoy it! Its awesome fun!

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Thanks all. I am not worried about the test, being an accountant with a maths degree I would be a bit worried if I couldn't do the tables!

Ok, first question then - wet suits. I am tempted to buy one up front as we do other water sports so would get good use out of it. Anaconda do ones that only come down to the knee at just $85. But Googling dive shops yesterday proper diving ones were more like $400.

Do I need to pay $400 and get a good one or will the $85 one be good enough?

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I believe the water temperature where you are is about 18-22 C.

I'd recommend a full 5mm wetsuit for that sort of temperature, possibly with a hood in winter. However different people feel the cold to different degrees. But I think you'd be too cold in a shorty to be honest.

It might be better to get some advice from your instructor rather than buying something up front to be honest - fit is hugely important with a wetsuit if it's going to keep you warm.

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Yeah I'd recommend something more than that too, although as has been said people feel the affects of the temperature differently - I personally get very cold diving and will probably bring my drysuit with me when we move over (and we're coming to Brisbane!).

When we spent 4 months travelling around Oz a couple of years ago, and dived all over, we both wore 5mm full suits with lined seals so less water flowed in/out through the wrist and ankle seals.

It kind of depends if you think you'll take up diving in a big way or not as well - if you do end up doing it regularly I'd definitely say it's worth investing in a decent suit. I think you'd want to spend more than $85 but I think you could get away with paying less than $400.

Did you pass your test then?

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I've only dived once so far, in the tank at ocean world in Manley, the main cold bit I felt was when it got in to the suit and around the small of my back. I'm planning to do the course once I get back to Oz...

How did you get on?

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All 3 of us got 50 out of 50 on the written test.:cool:

I asked the instructor and another guy about wetsuits and they basically confirmed what you all said. A shorty is no good but no need for a dry suit here. A hood is probably a good idea but not a necessity. They reckoned I wouldn't need to spend any more than $200.

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Matt's under now!
He's off doing the ex-hmas brisbane today.

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Agreed, it's good to be warm enough on a dive.
If I get my visa, my O'Three wetsuit will be coming over - toasty warm.

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I qualified in 2002. Currently working on my Rescue Divers qual finished (though its taking a back seat to my degree sadly!).

I'm one of those freaks that doesn't get cold underwater - I'll happy dive in a 3mm shorty all year round, and for diving in places like cairns its either just boardies and a rash vest or my 0.5mm GUL shorty.

Congrats on the theory!

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Well done, and welcome to the world of diving :)

Yeah I'd say that's about right - our 5mm ones we got in Oz were about $200 I think.

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I love O'Three wetsuits and drysuits! My drysuit is a O'Three one (in fact I've had a couple of theirs) and I love their wetsuits too. I know the guy who started (and still runs) the company and it's nice to support a local company too (I used to do all my diving from Weymouth and Portland).

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I really envy you - I hate it that I get really cold underwater!

Hmm... must learn how to multi quote!

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This is something that I would love to do and if I ever
get to Oz will be something, I would like to take up.......I have always swum as a kid, I was in a well known Portsmouth speed team and then I left that and started synchronised swimming and have swum in some real yukkie places.....now here's my dilemma when I go in the sea now as an adult, I am scared to death of the fish swimming around me.....therefore as much as I would love to scuba etc have real threats about it......hey this is something for me to explore in my self awareness for my counselling diploma....but what's it all about????? :confused:
Ems x

Re: Scuba
 

Just go up to Cairns and go out on a reef. Your phobia will disappear.

Mike.

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could anyone recommend a good diving instructor as I have always wanted to do this. I need to get a bit fitter first though. I am in Baldivis.

Congrats Worzel on passing your theory test.

Thanks for any advise.

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Maybe will give it a try.....would love too....thanks

Yeah Worzel many congrats....forgot to congrat u! :o

Ems x

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Now your just showing off:rofl::rofl:Wish i could swim never mind dive:o

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I just love it!

I qualified about 7 years ago but haven't been for ages - my ex was my instructor so am not as comfortable without a friend to dive with.

I learnt off shore in Bundaberg and have a nice scar still from falling over with my gear on the rocks!

I found the trickiest part removing the mask and putting back on again, mainly because I wear contacts and having your eyes closed while trying to breathe underwater gets a bit much as I want to block my nose but need the bleedin hand to put mask back on. Nearly lost it on a refresher :(

But apart from that its wonderful! I always love the feeling of it when you are finished too - such a nice relaxed buzz.

Welcome to the club!! :thumbsup:

PS anyone need a buddy for the Brisbane area (once I get there in a few months) for possible trips let me know!

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My husband and son want to learn to dive when they get there. So about how much do lessons set you back in Brisbane and how long does it take to qualify?

I'm afraid I hear the Jaws theme tune when I'm in deep water, so I'll stick to snorkelling the shallow bits.

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But sharks don't bottom feed (the ones that bite you anyway) so the theory is that if you see a shark you head down not up. On the rare occassion a person is attacked it is someone on the surface.

Thanks all.

Something like this?;)

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There is a dive shop in Rockingham so maybe ask there?

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Congratulations!
We're doing the RST tonight (theory) and Tues am (practical) so to all those in Perth - keep out of the water in the morning ;)

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you won't need luck to pass the theory - so long as you have read the book - it is a walk in the park - easy questions and an easy pass mark.

But I will wish you lots of luck for the practical if it goes ahead given what Cyclone Pancho is doing to us at the moment! The forecast is 2 metre swell and winds to 26 knots (so seas to 2.6 metres roughly). A combined 4.6 metres!:ohmy: Liam would love that on the jetski but I can't see them letting you out in a boat in that.:(

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Yeah, I've been watching the forecast :ohmy:
I'll see what trevor says tonight - I'm hoping he'll ask us to keep witnin the harbour :)

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Is that the one on the foreshore in Rockingham worzel? Thanks for the info.

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I am not sure but when I googled dive shop and perth the one in Rocky came up near the top.

http://www.diveoz.com.au/directory_s...ps.asp?state=5

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Thanks for that Worzel, I will give them a ring do these places do taster dives? Did you get to do a taster dive before you signed up?
Mark is not sure he wants to do it and I have always wanted to dive.

:thumbsup:

Re: Scuba
 

I am doing it through Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club (where we are members and in the Powerboat section) indirectly. Our section contacted the diving section and the head (rear-commodore officially) put us on to a guy called Rich Bean. He only does it as a sideline but that kept the cost down. He is a really nice bloke (ex US Marine). I think he is getting into it more and said he wants to use ORSSC to build it up. Doing trial dives is certainly part of his intention. The trouble is, I think you would have to join our club (50km away and a couple of $100) to get to take advantage, although I could be wrong.

I would try a few local ones first. I am sure some of them will do trial dives. One tip I was given was to try and avoid some of the more business-focused businesses or cocky young kids. I have heard stories of slower learners being neglected as they want to do as many per instructor as possible (8 is allowed but Rich said he would not do more than 4 on his own) and rush through it.

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Thanks Worzel I will give the local one a call but I will bare in mind what you said about the group sizes and how they go about it. All of the help is much appreciated, hopefully I can get the OH to get his head under the water, just about manages to snorkel! Can wait to try it out.

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Well, we passed :thumbsup:
We both got 29 /30 and funnily enough we both got question 15 wrong and they were different test papers!
Went out for the practical, it was quite rough but managed to do what was required (and the fenders weren't needed when I had to dock at the jetty ;))

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Congrats! That's great! :thumbup:

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Congratulations! Are you sure it wasn't Trevor marking it wrong;)

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:D Congratulations on passing:D

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No, he marked them right. The one Liam got wrong was where is the registration number found on a vessel. He put right side because that's where it was when we bought it - turns out it had been put in the wrong place, should have been the left :sneaky:

Cheers guys :)

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You can't say left and right when talking about boats! It is port and starboard.:p Then you get head = bathroom, galley = kitchen, bow = front, stern = back, transom = platform at the back... It is like learning to speak a foreign language:lol:

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Now I've got the ticket, I'll call it anything i want :p
The only way I remember is - port is left because it's alcohol and I am left handed ;)

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So how do you remember head and bathroom?;)