problem..I'm Ignorant

[moabe]

i'm leaving for Cozumel over memorial weekend and I want to scuba dive. I am aware of classes at st and i have made a visit. my questions are as follows:

do I have time to get certified?
what is the schedule options?
and can someone please explain to me all the additional costs that i might incure on top of the $249.00 fee.

i am wanting to get several dives under my belt prior to purchasing a boatload of gear so that I may research what equipment is best for me.
therefore, is it feasable to think that I can rent all the gear I need for the class as well as rent the gear in Cozumel for the Memorial dive?

thanks

[3rdEye]

i did my cert in essentially 2 weekends, including all my pool dives, and my open water checkout dives (in a quarry) before I went to Cozumel the following weekend. You could also opt to do your open water checkout dives in Cozumel with instuctors down there, though I would recommend doing them before you go so that you can just enjoy the diving.

not sure about the ST schedules and everything, but I'm sure they rent all the gear you need for class, and you can rent everything for diving down in Cozumel for sure.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by 3rdEye

i did my cert in essentially 2 weekends, including all my pool dives, and my open water checkout dives (in a quarry) before I went to Cozumel the following weekend. You could also opt to do your open water checkout dives in Cozumel with instuctors down there, though I would recommend doing them before you go so that you can just enjoy the diving.

not sure about the ST schedules and everything, but I'm sure they rent all the gear you need for class, and you can rent everything for diving down in Cozumel for sure.

Agreed. I did my OW in Cancun/Cozumel. Entire course plus dives in 3 days. If you can do your cert before you go, I'd recommend it. It really sucks to be on the Santa Rosa wall and be limited to 35 feet because you are on a checkout dive demonstrating skills! No problem renting everything you need in Cozumel. I'd take a little bit of time trying out different equipment before you purchase.

[moabe]

fantastic, thanks for the info. i will get in line for the st class

[Diver Kat]

I did all my classes and dives over two weekends as well. Friday nights, and all day both Saturday & Sunday. Friday night was classwork, the first weekend was classwork & pool work, the second weekend was classwork and the open water dives in the local lake.

Don't know about fees and such with regard to the certification, but I know my LDS rents gear for travel trips as well as local diving, so you don't have to go broke to get gear for your first trip. Or depending on hoew much diving you plan to do, you can rent from the op you book with in Cozumel.

[Foo2]

ST has classes every weekend. As soon as you can, sign up. The only things you'll have to pay for other than the $249 class fee is entry to the scuba park for your check-out dives...$20 per day plus air $8 per tank. You can expect to get 6 air fills. Also if you'd like you can camp out there for I think $10-$15 per night. Can't remember. The scuba park you will be at is at this website Clear Spring Scuba Park is "clearly" different You can find everything about it there.

Have fun!!!

[moabe]

done deal, im in the pool 5-2-09...time to start sheddding the extra 50 pounds of pasta weight...

[scubadiver888]

moabe,

You might want to consider purchasing mask, fin and snorkel. These are usually required purchases around here. A poorly fitting mask can really ruin a dive and just adds to the workload when trying to get certified. If you are lucky the mask a dive shop will rent you fits fine. My face is a little narrow so I couldn't find a good rental mask. Same thing with fins. Most people can find rental fins that fit. Too tight and you'll get cramps. Too loose and they fall off in the water. Snorkel, well you can use the dive shop snorkels but would you rent a toothbrush?

The regulators are also an icky thing but $10 snorkel versus $200+ regulators. If a toothbrush costs $200 I'll share and wash the thing before I use it.

Worst case, if you don't get into scuba diving you can use the stuff for snorkeling or sell it on craigslist/ebay.

[Vlane]

Originally Posted by scubadiver888

moabe,

You might want to consider purchasing mask, fin and snorkel. These are usually required purchases around here. A poorly fitting mask can really ruin a dive and just adds to the workload when trying to get certified. If you are lucky the mask a dive shop will rent you fits fine. My face is a little narrow so I couldn't find a good rental mask. Same thing with fins. Most people can find rental fins that fit. Too tight and you'll get cramps. Too loose and they fall off in the water. Snorkel, well you can use the dive shop snorkels but would you rent a toothbrush?

The regulators are also an icky thing but $10 snorkel versus $200+ regulators. If a toothbrush costs $200 I'll share and wash the thing before I use it.

Worst case, if you don't get into scuba diving you can use the stuff for snorkeling or sell it on craigslist/ebay.

I agree with buying mask/snorkel and fins first. They were my first purchase and its good to know they fit right. I've heard many people say they won't rent regulators because you don't know how well it works and its your lifeline, but ultimately that's up to how much you think you'll be getting into diving.

[5513]

Originally Posted by moabe

i'm leaving for Cozumel over memorial weekend and I want to scuba dive. I am aware of classes at st and i have made a visit. my questions are as follows:

do I have time to get certified?
what is the schedule options?
and can someone please explain to me all the additional costs that i might incure on top of the $249.00 fee.

i am wanting to get several dives under my belt prior to purchasing a boatload of gear so that I may research what equipment is best for me.
therefore, is it feasable to think that I can rent all the gear I need for the class as well as rent the gear in Cozumel for the Memorial dive?

thanks

Buy or rent makes little difference early on. My wife and kids rent, I dive more often and bought. Slowly. What ever you do make sure you have a computer, if you rent, pay the extra. It provides you with more bottom time, unless you do flat profiles. They are worth their weight in gold. We did Bonaire and the kids had rental computers. It made life much easier for them and gave them more bottom time.

Enjoy! It's lots of fun to see what most of the world is missing.