hdtran
Geography Police
Depending on the resort area & season, an o/w referral can be a private lesson...
When I decided to have a midlife crisis on vacation two weeks ago :05: , I decided to get a scuba o/w certification (I've been a long-time snorkeler). I started walking around the dive shops in Cabo San Lucas (where we were staying), and found a PADI instructor who had no students scheduled. He was happy to give me private lessons (you read the book & do the exercises in your hotel; you come to the shop to take the tests, and go dive...). With the private instructor, he/she will slow down or speed up based on your comfort level. Out in tropical waters, the water is warmer (and the view much more interesting than Santa Rosa lake). But unlike Santa Rosa lake, you will probably be doing a back roll entry (which can be intimidating). There will be light swell, which could give you motion sickness (happened to me until I got my head underwater), and you may be fighting a small current (ditto). My instructor required me to do one more o/w dive than normal to practice my buoyancy control and fin stroke (he says I still s*** at it, but he felt I was acceptable).
Mind you, the 7mm 2-pc suit I wore on the first dive (62 deg. water at that time) was painfully stiff! On our last day (when my wife did a resort dive), the water was 72, and we were overdressed in a much more comfortable 5mm 1-pc.
So, do ask your shop to send the o/w referral papers with you. Typical rates for the o/w referral dives are $200 to $250, and may include equipment rental.
I think Belize in June/July should be warm enough that you can do a 3mm or a shorty (but check with the locals!).
Whatever you choose to do, best of luck!
When I decided to have a midlife crisis on vacation two weeks ago :05: , I decided to get a scuba o/w certification (I've been a long-time snorkeler). I started walking around the dive shops in Cabo San Lucas (where we were staying), and found a PADI instructor who had no students scheduled. He was happy to give me private lessons (you read the book & do the exercises in your hotel; you come to the shop to take the tests, and go dive...). With the private instructor, he/she will slow down or speed up based on your comfort level. Out in tropical waters, the water is warmer (and the view much more interesting than Santa Rosa lake). But unlike Santa Rosa lake, you will probably be doing a back roll entry (which can be intimidating). There will be light swell, which could give you motion sickness (happened to me until I got my head underwater), and you may be fighting a small current (ditto). My instructor required me to do one more o/w dive than normal to practice my buoyancy control and fin stroke (he says I still s*** at it, but he felt I was acceptable).
Mind you, the 7mm 2-pc suit I wore on the first dive (62 deg. water at that time) was painfully stiff! On our last day (when my wife did a resort dive), the water was 72, and we were overdressed in a much more comfortable 5mm 1-pc.
So, do ask your shop to send the o/w referral papers with you. Typical rates for the o/w referral dives are $200 to $250, and may include equipment rental.
I think Belize in June/July should be warm enough that you can do a 3mm or a shorty (but check with the locals!).
Whatever you choose to do, best of luck!