Discover Scuba Diving...positive or negative experience?

[Bigg_Budd]

Took my wife as a way to introduce her to scuba. She loved it. Very patient instructor, and he even let me dive with them. I highly recommend for anyone that has concerns/questions regarding scuba as a first step...

[Clanggedin]

Took myself and my scouts to a Discover Scuba course a few months ago. The LDS was offering classes for free. Took the class and had an awesome time.

Now my nephew wants to go to one to see if scuba is for him.

[scarlet&gray nut]

Did my 1st discovery dive in Cozumel, did it with my wife and daughter. The instructor was not very patient. We had 4 people in our group and he gave everyone one chance to drop and recover their reg. I was the only one that could do it. so I was the only one that got to go on the dive.

[FOUNDATIONER]

Sandals MoBay is where I did mine. Feb 02. It was free then.
The instructor, "Termi", caught me snorkeling, dragged me up
to the pool, threw me in and said, "LEARN". I had a great time
and never looked back to the dismay of my wife. Like amatuer
astronomy isn't an expensive enough hobby.
I even took a camera with me on my very first dive.

[DUnder]

Took my Discover Scuba in Hawaii. The instructor spent 1 hour going through the basics. Explained the gear and how it worked. Then we all geared up in the pool. We had to clear the mask and do a reg recovery. After that we had the option of doing 2 dives in the ocean. It cost $125.00 for the 2 tank boat dive.
I found it very helpful and enjoyable.

[chilly willy]

I was disappointed with the instructor that was the cause for my wife not enjoying the experence, he didn't cover mask flooding and reg recovery well enough so when it happened to her she panicked and bolted for the surface. No injuries but she is very reluctant to do it again.

[scubadiver888]

I did a discovery dive in Dominican Republic for $35. I survived without injury. Other people were not so lucky. Person who gave us the pool lesson did not join us on the open water portion. Equipment we used at the resort was not the equipment used for the open water portion. Dive masters who took us out did not speak English very well. Looking back on it, I should have gone with my gut and said no to the open water portion.

Two years later I was honeymooning in Jamaica and discovery dive was free at the resort. Sat in on the class portion. Watched the people in the pool. Asked a lot of questions.

Person giving the pool session was the person taking us out to open water. Equipment used in the pool was the equipment used in the open water portion. Instructor seemed much more concerned about our safety.

Was an incredible experience.

If you check other threads about PADI versus SSI or SSI versus NAUI or agency1 versus agency2 you will see a number of people indicating it is all about the instuctor. If the instructor does the minimum requirement it won't be as good as the instructor who goes above and beyond.

So make sure the person teaching you and the equipment you use is the same for pool and open water plus you have to have a good feeling about the instructor.

[Byte Me]

Definitely a positive experience for me. The dive/snorkel shop - Maya Diving - at the resort we were at - Dreams Tulum - talked me in to that after a snorkel trip. I was reluctant but they said if I didn't like it they'd give me my money back. The pool stuff was easy and the open water I was nervous for but had a blast. It was life changing. I went again with them the next day came back home and signed up for open water. It was $99 for the discover which included the first ocean dive and then $40 for addl ocean dives after that.

I got my recently retired parents a discover gift certificate from a shop in FL where they winter. I was able to go with them on it since we happened to be down there and they both just loved it. My mom for sure is doing her OW cert later this summer and we're going to try and get to Playa del Carmen in Nov / Dec and get them their first ocean dives! It was $160 for both of them for discover which included a CD full of pictures and a really well done gift certificate. No pool work, everything was done in Alexander Spring, FL.

To me it's like living with someone before you get married - you get to try it on and make sure everything fits before you make a big commitment!

BTW - excellent point scubadiver888 makes; both instructors that I've been involved with were awesome. I've heard horror stories from others about not so good instructors.

[CompuDude]

I was certified at 16 (full course), and only snorkeled before. But I know many people who had their first taste of scuba from a Discover Scuba program, and are die hard divers today.

I think that, properly done with attention to safety, it's a fantastic tool to attract new divers to the sport who wouldn't otherwise want to go through the commitment of a full cert course.

One of my LDSs actually offers it for free every week as a leader to attract new divers. Great idea, IMO.

[scubasamurai]

yes my lds does the same thing, it is always a good way to get people in the water withour renting or buying all the gear. when they get a taste of diving then they are hooked!!! great program