I think it's called a discovery dive. It's just for someone to feel how it is to scuba dive in a controlled environment--a gateway drug, if you will, so that the person will eventually take an open water course. When I took my course, one in our group did the discovery dive instead because she couldn't bloody make up her mind. I think it's done in just deep enough water to submerge a person. I think it's likened to a thrill ride or something.JR8 wrote:I think the clue is in that Ecu says he 'always does private dives with an instructor'.
Believe it or not you can do the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course (aka resort dive, try dive) 1-1 with an instructor, or a DM with DSD Instructor status - even if you cannot swim. I know many Pro's who find that (cough) a little surprising, but given the level of supervision being provided...
So I wonder if Ecu has done repetitive DSD's? There was a guy in Tioman doing this just last week. He probably didn't even realise, just thought he had a 'private guide'.
Other stuff mentioned is just so wrong on many levels, where to begin?
- Panicking in divers ... I'd say the biggest trigger in students is breathing with their face submerged. Most are naturally happy, but some just flip. Nothing to do with being able to swim.
- Task loading. You have a lot to think about while diving, and can only deal with so much before going nuts and killing yourself. Donning 30kg of gear and jumping in the sea and not being able to swim doesn't really help matters.
- Flipper was a dolphin. the things on your feet are called fins.
Swimfins, swim fins, fins or flippers are worn on the foot or leg and made from finlike rubber or plastic, to aid movement through the water in water sports activities such as swimming, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, kneeboarding, riverboarding, and various types of underwater diving.
Dontcha just hate thatnakatago wrote: EDIT: aw, dammit; JR8's post on the discovery dive came in first.
JR8 wrote:You don't dive with 'tanks' of air they are bottles. Tanks are what drive over infantry.
[This is perhaps ironic pedantry originating from the British military and their school of choice BSAC]
Lift, elevatorA diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of a scuba set. It provides gas to the scuba diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator.
http://www.tioman-dive-centre.com/cours ... water.htmlTo be able to swim 200 yards and able to tread water for 10 min OR able to swim 300 yards with mask, snorkel and fins, and tread water for 10 min.
TriniNades wrote:Any suggested dive shops to go through in Singapore?
This one. Has all you want but is $$$ (example: most gear is Scubapro, they seem to carry no budget product lines)
http://www.diveshop-sg.com/contact-us.php
Another is 'Sports Centre' on the corner of Beach Road of Beach Road and Bussorah Street. Friendly owner, carry many product lines including budget products.
http://www.sportscenter.com.sg/
Just for local dive sites. Are there any decent local dive sites?
In Singapore? In a nutshell no, the water is silty and really churned up. Some people dive Pulau Hantu to do their OW certifying dives but the vis. might be 0.5m, maybe not what you're looking for.
I'm planning on eventually doing 4 day weekends over SEA but just for a weekend dive I need a big of local insite on where to go and who to see. Any suggestions??
4 day weekends is a good idea. In general I'd avoid the west coast of Malaysia as the water is pretty turbid (brown with silt). The east coast you have the Perhentians, Redang, Tioman. Note they close for monsoon from Nov - say mid February. Phuket is nice. All of those can be done as long weekends.
You could even get some diving in on a 4 day trip to Sipidan or Lembeh Straits. It comes down to what kind of diving you want to enjoy and how much $ you have!
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