Anyone know of a place to Scuba if NOT certified?

[tezb]

My DH & DS have done Scuba before in Hawaii but they are not certified. Seems all the places that offer this require certification. Anyone know of any places that do not?

 

[poohs4me]

Checkout the Dive Today program at www.unexso.com. Its only available at Freeport that I know of. We are in a similar situation where we want to Dive but are not certified. I have not tried them and posted a question asking about it, but didn't get too many answers.

 

[cowhiting]

tezb and poohs4me,

While I can't answer your question, I will recommend that you just go get certified as open water divers. The cost is not great and the certification never expires. You just have to do some refresher time (or dive a lot).

DW and I got our classroom and pool work done in one weekend and if you are anywhere near some open (warm) water, you could be certified in as little as 2 weeks. I highly recommend it. There is not a lot of warm open water in Colorado so we had to go to Cozumel for our open water dives. Bummer (not)!

DW and I enjoyed the scuba excursion in Nassau but it is not for those not certified. Get your certs and you will always be ready to go.

Wish I could help more and I hope you all have a wonderful trip. We had so much fun a month ago that we booked a 7-day Eastern while still on board the Wonder. Hope the year goes fast!

Mike



PS...now that I've checked where you are posting from, you should have no problem finding some open water close by.

Mike

 

[tezb]

thanks...I'll pass that info onto my husband..

 

[dizmomof2]

Just another possible incentive for becoming certified. When I took mine I attended the classes through a University. Why the University was offering Diving corses I have no idea but because it was a University I actually got an educational tax break for becoming a certified diver! It was a nice little extra for me.

 

[nosnerk]

No legitimate dive operator would take people who are not certified.

Diving can be dangerous especially if you go below normal snorkeling depths and there are many things to understand besides breathing and clearing your ears.

Have you heard of snuba? It's a long flexible snorkeling tube to a floating platform. Works great to 20 feet of so.

 

[Wavegirl]

You can always do a discover diving course which is a short course followed by a dive with an instructor. You can do it in Grand Cayman right at Abanks which is really near the port.

Visit Abanks Discover Diving Course

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'll cast my lot with the people who are encouraging you to get certified. I'm a PADI-certified instructor, so I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about. To be blunt, scuba diving when you don't know what you're doing is a very good way to kill yourself. It is NOT the same as snorkeling. I encourage you to be careful about this.

 

[tezb]

Yes, my family did do SNUBA in St Thomas and enjoyed that too but don't know of a place on the Western who offers that either.

As for becoming certified, don't think he will do it. He would only be looking to Scuba on a vacation, not as a dedicated hobby. Just thought to ask since the lesson was offered to him once in Maui and after 4 hrs of instruction they were taken out into the ocean. Kind of like a taste of what it's like I guess. That is all we were looking to do, NOT get ourselves killed. Thanks for the info anyway.

 

[tezb]

thanks wavebanks....just noticed your post...your description sounds like what my DH did in Maui....

 

[prymsu]

i know there must be a place in Nassau, as i just signed up for a shore excursion through another cruise line for a four hour non certified scuba dive. Sorry i don't know the name of the tour operator, but there is at least one in Nassau willing to do non certified.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by nosnerk
No legitimate dive operator would take people who are not certified.

Diving can be dangerous especially if you go below normal snorkeling depths and there are many things to understand besides breathing and clearing your ears.

Have you heard of snuba? It's a long flexible snorkeling tube to a floating platform. Works great to 20 feet of so.

My thoughts exactly!!! Any tour operator who would go against conventional safety standards is not a tour operator I'd trust--what else will they be cutting corners on???

Anne

 

[tezb]

I don't understand the way this thread is going?? I was simply asking if anyone knew of a place to enjoy Scuba w/out having to be certified. Only because I know there are organizations that offer lessons and a chance to experience Scuba in a safe manner. I know this because my husband and son have done it once before and there is a place in GC that also offers intro lessons by qualified instructors. Instead I get lectures on being a responsible SCuba Diver or your assumptions that we would do anything irresponsible. Since they were able to do something like this before, thought they could do it again...that's it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked.

I think my question got blown out totally out of proportion. I just wanted to know of any similar places, which I got from some people...thanks. That's it, not out to cut corners or do anything wrong or go against conventional safety standards!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

As one of the people who blew this "out of proportion," I'll first apologize (I am sincerely sorry), and then attempt to explain myself.

As I said, I'm a SCUBA instructor, so I believe that I have an understanding of the dangers involved. I don't believe you can be sufficiently prepared for an open water dive (and take said dive) in four hours. I don't believe it's safe. I offered my sincere opinion and advice. I apologize if you took it as an attack on your character. It's been my experience that if, after taking one of these one-day sampler courses, you then take a proper course and become certified, you'll be horrified that you went into the ocean after so little instruction.

In the end, do what you feel is best. You do not need to justify yourself to me or anyone else on this board. And again, my apologies.

 

[tezb]

Thanks for explaining Lloyd...apology accepted. I too apologize as I didn't mean to come down on everyone who posted in this thread. I realize you were trying to be informative about safety, etc. and appreciate that. I actually was going to "let it go" til I read the last thread and didn't think it was necessary to "quote" something I had already read and continue to make more comments as if I was disagreeing.

My husband has only done it once and just wanted to try again but not enough to become certified. We didn't know the dangers of just doing a beginner instruction course. If they are unsafe or not recommended why are they being offered?

Thanks for your response.

 

[Wavegirl]

Discover diving courses are not dangerous as you basically have your hand held by the instruction who is right next to you. You don't got down below 30ft so its not like they are taking you on a wall dive or something. Plus Cayman has one of the best safty records out there which is why I like to visit and dive in Grand Cayman.

I did a few of these courses prior to deciding that I would like to get certified and I think that they are a great way to introduce yourself to diving to see if its for you.

As an instuctor I'm sure you'd love everyone to drop the $300-$400 it costs to get certified right off the bat but I preferred to do a trial run first as diving is not for everyone.

 

[tezb]

I agree wavegirl....that's exactly what my DH & DS did while in Maui. They didn't go down that deep and just went so far out in the water...not even in a boat. An instructor was with them the whole time. It was a great experience to see what it's all about and if you like that sort of thing. Sounds like we're on the same page.....thanks..

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Against my better judgement, I'll dredge this thread up again....

Wavegirl, I resent the implication that my motivation is to make money rather than to advise people of the safety factors invovled. I do not work as an instructor any more, I have no financial stake in this.

If you disagree with my advice, that's your option, and I have no problem with that. Please don't try to attribute my motivation, and I'll do you the same courtesy.

 

[andybear]

I'll add my 2 cents. 2 Years ago, my son (10) and I did a "resort-course" on St Thomas with Coki Beach Dive Club. They pick you up at the Magic, provide all gear and fairly extensive classroom stuff prior to a reef dive off Coki Beach. They gave us bags of dog food to feed the fish, and I got some fantastic pictures. Bottom line? We were hooked, went ahead and got our open water, and will dive with Pete again on the 8/9 Magic. The resort course is a good way to see if you like it or not prior to investing a considerable sum in certification. I felt the whole thing was conducted VERY safely, or I would never have gone out, let alone let my son dive.

Steve

 

[tezb]

Hey Steve,, my DH and DS felt the same way from their similar expeience in Maui. My son was only 12 or 13 at the time (the age requirement is 12 I believe) and did fine with it. It was a very safe and fun experience for them. They would also do it again if given the chance.