Bagheera
Guest
Hi, folks! I've been snorkeling for a while and am now ready to take the plunge into scuba. My class starts in a few weeks. I'm really stoked about getting further underwater. I have a few questions for the more experienced divers:
--My instructor is PADI and NAUI certified, but he teaches the SSI certification. I've never even heard of SSI before. I'm sure he will give me a solid foundation in scuba, but will having a certification from a smaller company limit my options at some dive shops? I mean, are there shops that will serve only PADI or only NAUI certified divers?
--My swimming skill is average, not great. I can swim freestyle (no fins or mask) about 100 meters before I have to rest. With mask, snorkel, and fins I can go about half a mile. I can surface dive to 15 feet before the pressure starts to bug me, and I can stay down for a little under a minute. I can tread water indefinitely (last time, I treaded for 20 minutes before I got bored and swam off) Do you think I'm a good enough swimmer to start my training?
--Just a random observation, but there aren't many young divers out there. In my hometown of San Diego, the average diver age is about 40. I've met maybe three divers who were in their 20's (like me). Why is diving a boomer hobby?
--I need to get new fins. I have full-foot fins for snorkeling, but I need to get strap-fins with booties for diving. My intstructor recommends the IDI Power Fins. He says they allow more manuverability and they don't silt up the bottom as much as regular fins. Any opinions? And how difficult will it be for me to adjust to the power fin design?
--I have lots of surf buds, but no diving buddies yet. Ironic, isn't it? Some surfers drone on and on about "harnessing the ocean's power" and being "one with the sea," but few of them ever want to look below the surface. Anyway, what's a good way to find new dive buddies?
Any advice you can offer will be very helpful. I'm looking forward to my first dives!
--My instructor is PADI and NAUI certified, but he teaches the SSI certification. I've never even heard of SSI before. I'm sure he will give me a solid foundation in scuba, but will having a certification from a smaller company limit my options at some dive shops? I mean, are there shops that will serve only PADI or only NAUI certified divers?
--My swimming skill is average, not great. I can swim freestyle (no fins or mask) about 100 meters before I have to rest. With mask, snorkel, and fins I can go about half a mile. I can surface dive to 15 feet before the pressure starts to bug me, and I can stay down for a little under a minute. I can tread water indefinitely (last time, I treaded for 20 minutes before I got bored and swam off) Do you think I'm a good enough swimmer to start my training?
--Just a random observation, but there aren't many young divers out there. In my hometown of San Diego, the average diver age is about 40. I've met maybe three divers who were in their 20's (like me). Why is diving a boomer hobby?
--I need to get new fins. I have full-foot fins for snorkeling, but I need to get strap-fins with booties for diving. My intstructor recommends the IDI Power Fins. He says they allow more manuverability and they don't silt up the bottom as much as regular fins. Any opinions? And how difficult will it be for me to adjust to the power fin design?
--I have lots of surf buds, but no diving buddies yet. Ironic, isn't it? Some surfers drone on and on about "harnessing the ocean's power" and being "one with the sea," but few of them ever want to look below the surface. Anyway, what's a good way to find new dive buddies?
Any advice you can offer will be very helpful. I'm looking forward to my first dives!
