Where did you do your Scuba course/courses? Was it a great experience?

I'll tell you what I can remember of mine - no the memory loss is not from too much alcohol, it was quite a while ago - 1994 to be precise. I did my openwater through the company I was working for at the time - very handy discount. We had a fun group of people from all around the world and I buddied up with a girl from Canada. We all stayed at the little resort on Fitzroy Island, just out of Cairns. A couple of our training dives were straight off the beach there - including the night dive. This was back when night dives were still a part of Openwater training, I think it has been taken out now. Our drift dive was at shark alley on the eastern side of the island. Didn't see any sharks though - it is known for it's hammerheads. Also went out to one of the outer reefs for a couple of dives. We had a blast, and then on the night we all got back into Cairns we met up at the Woolshed (as you do) to celebrate with a meal, lots of beer and then dancing on the tables - they have very sturdy tables there. Last year some friends came to Cairns to do a dive course with a different company - guess where they have their celebrations - why the Woolshed of course (also the scene of a messy cider incident - damn cider!).

A few weeks after doing the course I had another night dive of the best kind - and the most memorable I've ever had. My work put on a 'crew only' trip out to the reef to see if we could catch the coral spawning. We waited around for it to start and finally decided that if both diving parties were going to get in a dive then we would have to start. I was in the first group. About 15 minutes into the 50min dive it deigned to start, and it was amazing. It was like swimming through orange snow and you could stay still and watch it being pushed out of the polyps. I also saw other things like a Parrot fish sleeping in it's cocoon. I know some of you are going to say - 'eeew, coral spawn stinks!'. Not when it's fresh it doesn't!! You should also make sure you clean off your gear properly afterwards.

Did it on the island of Zanzibar. Immediately found a fish net and one of the divers freed the fish. We then found a wallet on the ground too. Random.

Took my PADI and Advanced at ´The Lighthouse´in Dahab, South Sinai last year. 190 euros for 9 dives in the red sea for my open water course. A friend paid 200gbp in London for 5 dives in a swimming pool and 4 in a quarry!!!!.

best diving experience so far was a two day dive in Gifton Isle, Hurghada, Egypt. With the launch to the site, all kit, lunch, it was an extortianate 25euros!!! Smile? I laughed all the way there

Have since dived (dove?) in Key Largo, Fl and about to find out what the Costa Rican coast can offer.

elv

Oh, I love Dahab. You can also get on cheap boat dives from Sheik via the local operators (ours were backpacker-orientated which, meant we loaded our own gear and slept on deck, under the stars--that's the kind of diving I prefer!) Tiny dolphins (Tursiops aduncus, a small version of bottlenose dolphins) played around the boat, but our group just missed them when they darted around the wreck of the 'Thistlegorm'. Also missed a turtle on our camel dive, but you can't have everything. The experience was amazing.

Scotland was also great, that's were I learned. But I'm no longer one for drysuit diving.

That's it... Packing my bags for Egypt.

Elvie, I can't beleive 25 Euros for for 2 days!! How many dives did you do? Anything in particular to see?

I did my PADI open water in the UK, it was very, very cold. I did my 4 open water dives, in near freezing water, with a 4 inch visiblity.

Not fun.

But I was going to Oz six months later, and I didn't want to waste my time on a liveaboard learning to dive, I wanted to enjoy what there was to see.

I did a fair few dives around Scotland in the six months before going. Some great dives around St Abs.

Diving in Oz was amazing, as you would expect I guess. Though the water was a little colder than I expected. The night dives were the best. I did my Advanced Open water while out there, which is a lot more fun and less academic, than the Openwater.

I have since been diving in Egypt and Mexico and I'm really hoping to go to Thailand to train as a diving instructor at some point in the future.

Dante

The Dahab dive looks great. Myself and a friend are thinking of going on a trip later in the year to get our Open Water and then stay on for a liveabord dive trip. Looks like just what we need!!!

cheers

Chris

My itinery was this: Two dives at Gifton Isle (8-10m deep), inc kit, lunch, the launch and the mini-van to and from the marina. Average costs for a two tank dive was 40euros but I got it down to 25

Just came back from Bocas del toro, Panama. Do your PADI in the carribean for $145!! Open water is 9 dives so that is a bit of a bargain. I never did the scuba there but dived (dove??) three coral gardens just snorkelling. Food for thought

elv

<<< Loves free-diving.

As much as I enjoy blowing bubbles, I love free-diving. I have no idea how deep I can go because I only ever did it in about 15m. Once I get to the bottom I just cruise around slowly, trawling the reef and sand for things to look at - heaven...

bloody work, interrupting my reminiscing!!

I did my open water certificate in Rarotonga, Cook Islands with pacific Divers. there was very good visability and we saw some beautiful octopi and rays (my fave!). My first diving expereince was 2 months before in the Great Barrier Reef where I became HOOKED! In 3 days, I went 8 times, including an incredible night dive (completely escorted since I wasn't certified.

I got my Advanced Diver Cert. in Nassau, Bahamas. So far, my favorite dive sites were in Barbados where there were more sea turtles than I could count! I am leaving for the south pacific and SEA for 5 months in November and I can't wait to fill up my dive book with all the awesome dive sites I have read about from you guys!

Just took lessons and got my PADI Open Water License, In Davao Philipines.

2 people (Me and my girl) 1 pool dive, then 4 open water dives, rented equipment for a 5th dive with friends (everything) , 2 new Masks, lunches and no add-ons.....$600.00! (8,500 peso's) And thats not $600 each!

Treated very good, and learned a lot. Some are suprised we went to Davao, said it's dangerous. Never felt in danger.

The diving here is great, warm water, lots of fish, and cheap cheap prices. And a very strong group of divers, that will now probably kill me for spilling the beans, about Davao.

We live in Montana, so plans for travel back to Davao are already in the works. I want 84*f water again.

I have heard good things about diving on the Philippines. Not a diver (so far) myself, but my gf is interested in learning to dive and we are thinking about doing our course in Indonesia or Malaysia. Anybody out there with experience?

A tropical stone quarry in...OHIO! I can't believe I didn't give up diving right then and there.

The Gilis - heaven on Earth I tell you.

Training and open water on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Beautiful! Of course, dating one of the instructors was a bonus.

We spent two weeks doing shores dives, boat dives and even a night dive to see the mantas. Saw tons of turtles, squid, octopus, fish (duh ), mantas but no sharks. Not sure how I feel about that. Part of me is terrified of them but I want to see one so I can find out what my reaction will be.