Got the diving Fever

[Streamline]

I am from Ontario, Canada and am new to the diving scene as I am not yet certified ... I went on an OW dive in Malta and have been completely hooked ever since.

We are heading to Jamaica in March and I want to get my PADI OW there (probably get started on it here, then do the referral dives in Jamaica)

This is a great site ... I came across it while looking for an underwater camera. I still haven't decided what to get yet ... just something digital and easy to use at this point. Any suggestions on that would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,

[navyhmc]

For starters, welcome to Scubatoys forum.

If you're in Ontario, I would definitely do my OW dives in Jamaica.

As far as UW camera's . I am particular to digital as depending on your memory format and size, you can get a lot of photos on one dive. There are indeed many cameras out there.

Two on ST are pretty good for starting out:
ReefMaster Mini Camera SL-320 6mp Digital, Underwater Cameras, SeaLife, ReefMaster Mini Camera SL-320 6mp Digital
SeaLife ECOshot 6mp Digital Camera SL-321, Underwater Cameras, SeaLife, SeaLife ECOshot 6mp Digital Camera SL-321

You will also need to look into getting a strobe for the camera as well. The red and yellow band of light are filtered out very wuickly underwater and you end up taking a lot of blue-green photos. You can find yourself spending a great deal of money on a UW rig, that's for sure.

only $999.95 SEA&SEA DX-1G camera , Underwater Cameras, Sea & Sea, SEA&SEA DX-1G camera

Good luck and i hope you enjoy Jamaica.

[RoadRacer1978]

Welcome to the forums. Looking foward to hearing about your upcoming cert in Jamica. That sounds like a great place for some diving.

[Streamline]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

For starters, welcome to Scubatoys forum.

If you're in Ontario, I would definitely do my OW dives in Jamaica.

As far as UW camera's . I am particular to digital as depending on your memory format and size, you can get a lot of photos on one dive. There are indeed many cameras out there.

Two on ST are pretty good for starting out:
ReefMaster Mini Camera SL-320 6mp Digital, Underwater Cameras, SeaLife, ReefMaster Mini Camera SL-320 6mp Digital
SeaLife ECOshot 6mp Digital Camera SL-321, Underwater Cameras, SeaLife, SeaLife ECOshot 6mp Digital Camera SL-321

You will also need to look into getting a strobe for the camera as well. The red and yellow band of light are filtered out very wuickly underwater and you end up taking a lot of blue-green photos. You can find yourself spending a great deal of money on a UW rig, that's for sure.

only $999.95 SEA&SEA DX-1G camera , Underwater Cameras, Sea & Sea, SEA&SEA DX-1G camera

Good luck and i hope you enjoy Jamaica.

Thanks for the camera information - I will definitely go for a digital one (I don't do film anymore) and the two sea life ones were the ones I was pondering over. They look like they will be perfect for white water rafting as well.

Do you have a picture taken with one of those camera's without the strobe - I use Photoshop and I would like to experiment and see if I can bring out the natural fishy colours.

[Goober]

Welcome! Looking foward to a trip report from you!

[Navy OnStar]

What were you doing in Malta? I have been there a couple of times with the Navy and had a great time........except for getting a flat on my bicycle on the opposite side of the island from where we were moored. I almost got to do a rescue in 2002 when a cargo ship sunk right off the southern coast.

[Streamline]

Not there for any particular reason ... just a holiday. We rented a car, a standard ... didn't realize they drove on the opposite side of the road - that made for an experience all on its own!!! We saw every inch of the island - I would definitely go back again

We didn't end up diving until 24 hours before we left ... I wish we had of dove earlier in our trip, because I would have loved to go down again ... the mediteranean was absolutely amazing !! I can't wait 'til I get to Jamaica.

Do you regularly do rescue dives for the Navy?

[adv_diver1]

Congrats... remember to keep with the education... the certs may seem kinda cheasy after awhile, but in my case I have not had the classes in awhile and have alot of catchin up to do! Good luck!

[Navy OnStar]

Originally Posted by Streamline

Not there for any particular reason ... just a holiday. We rented a car, a standard ... didn't realize they drove on the opposite side of the road - that made for an experience all on its own!!! We saw every inch of the island - I would definitely go back again

We didn't end up diving until 24 hours before we left ... I wish we had of dove earlier in our trip, because I would have loved to go down again ... the mediteranean was absolutely amazing !! I can't wait 'til I get to Jamaica.

Do you regularly do rescue dives for the Navy?

Not Rescue Dives, Helicopter Search And Rescue (SAR) Pilot. I flew over the ship after their distress call. They were sinking and heeled over at a 20deg angle. We were instructing them on how we were going to lift them to the helo when they said they had stopped the flooding and had an ocean going tug coming to tow them back to Malta. I stayed overhead for 2 hours and then had to go back to get gas and since they cancelled the distress call I didn't go back. The next day when I woke up(in port) I saw in the paper where they had sunk and the Maltese got the rescue.

I would go back again as well it was a great time!

OnStar

[Streamline]

Very cool career ... my son is in air cadets (he's only 13) - and that is on the list (its a very long list) of things he wants to do