Joining girlfriend on PADi Open Water dives...

[emilin]

Hi,

I got my Open Water certification back in February this year and I am planning a trip to the Red Sea (Sharm) as part of our Holiday in Egypt.

We are only planning 5 days there and don't want to be diving everyday, maybe 3 days (6 dives).

My girlfriend plans to do the Open Water pool sessions and exam here in London and then just do the 4 dives in the Red Sea. I would like to be able to join her on the boat and ideally the dives but a couple of places told me certified divers couldn't join.

I don't actually mind doing the exercises again if it comes to that,... Basically we really don't want to be a part for two full days (4 dives).

Could I at least be o the same boat? Has anyone done the referral dives there and had some certified divers join?

Any recommendation for places that will allow me to join at least on the same boat, if maybe a different dive.

Thanks for all your help!

Emilio.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Yes it's doable. When are you planning to be in Sharm?

[Walter]

They don't want you to disrupt their classes. Other instructors won't have a problem if you promise to be good.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Here it's more about boat operation. Normally the certified divers won't be happy diving where courses are held (shallow, uninteresting sites). So boats carrying certified divers don't carry students. However, when numbers are not so big, the same boat could have students and certified divers.

[emilin]

Thanks for the quick responses guys!

I will be there from from the 9th or 10th of October till the 14th or 15th. We would like to do:

- Me 6 dives
- GF 4 Open water dives + 2 normal dives

With the remaining time to be spent by the beach chiling :cool2:

Asser, feel free to PM me some quote.

Walter, can you recommend anyone?

Thanks! ;)

[Solly]

check oonas dive club, they are flexible and can arrange whatever you want.
Red Sea Diving Holiday Hotel Oonas Dive Club Sharm El Sheikh (http://www.oonasdiveclub.com/)
email them and they will help you.

[emilin]

Thanks Solly, I emailed them for some quotes.

[String]

Tag alongs are relatively common. Fine if they're (i) competent and (ii) stay out of the way.

Often though they need more mothering than than the actual student making the course a nightmare. Parents with kids on a course are the worst.

[Stephensharm]

As Above, some centers don't want to take the chance you spoil the course or exceed the course numbers, most large centers will let you on the same boat. Sometimes a course can be stressful enough without qualified partners looking on. Maybe a better plan to do that course you dreamed about and let her get on with the referral herself, then joining up together for some fun dives after the courses. Camel will be able to help...

[Red Sea Shadow]

I've run courses with tag alongs before. What I noticed is that when the student is alone on the confined water sessions then the partner joins the open water dives, things go fine. On the other hand, when the partner insist on joining the confined water sessions (kids and parents like String said), sometimes the course is a mess.

[Stephensharm]

Thats true, but this is a referral, just qualifying dives...
When did you, Emilio, last dive. Maybe you need a check dive or refresher. Your girlfriend because she has just done her training should be competent, are you? If not then you could potentially disrupt the course. I am sure thats the last thing you would wish to do...

[emilin]

Stephen, good point. I will obviously will try not to disrupt, I never had any issues with te exercises the first time and I plan to review everything before we go.

Thanks everyone for your advise!:)

[samaka]

I would like to be able to join her on the boat and ideally the dives but a couple of places told me certified divers couldn't join.

That is because it would be breaking PADI standards if the Instructor would guide divers at the same time as he is teaching


I don't actually mind doing the exercises again if it comes to that,...

You would then have to participate in the course (theory, confinedand OW) and pay the course price. Alternatively bring a referral form and pay for the referral course.


Could I at least be o the same boat? Has anyone done the referral dives there and had some certified divers join?

You get most out of the day if the two of you go on the same boat and when it's time to dive your girlfriend goes with the Instructor and you go with the dive guide. This way you get mor3e out of the dive than if you'd sit on the bottom waiting for your girlfriend to finish the skills and your girlfriend gets to do the skills without you hanging around stressing her out. It doesn't matter how much you love each other and how well you know that it would not because it will stress her having you there while she's doing the course. Nothing good comes out of it. Trust me, after nearly one and half decade teaching diving full time I can save you alot of headache.

My suggestion:
Send Red Sea Shaddow an email and let him sort out all this stuff for you. Yeah it's true I never met the guy but I've read a lot he writes here on the forum and I would recommend him to my younger sister if she wanted to take a course on the other side of our Red Sea.

Wish you a wicked holliday!

Cool Runnings
Anders

[Red Sea Shadow]

My suggestion:
Send Red Sea Shaddow an email and let him sort out all this stuff for you. Yeah it's true I never met the guy but I've read a lot he writes here on the forum and I would recommend him to my younger sister if she wanted to take a course on the other side of our Red Sea.
:blush:
Thanks man :)

[Red Sea Shadow]

You would then have to participate in the course (theory, confinedand OW) and pay the course price. Alternatively bring a referral form and pay for the referral course.
Actually some of the certified divers are keen about revising the skills every now and then. Sometimes certified divers join beginner courses just to do that.

[Red Sea Shadow]

You get most out of the day if the two of you go on the same boat and when it's time to dive your girlfriend goes with the Instructor and you go with the dive guide.
Totally agree.

[Jai Bar]

My suggestion:
Send Red Sea Shaddow an email and let him sort out all this stuff for you. Yeah it's true I never met the guy but I've read a lot he writes here on the forum and I would recommend him to my younger sister if she wanted to take a course on the other side of our Red Sea.

Wish you a wicked holliday!

Cool Runnings


Ok, since you started with the flattering, I'd like to take advantage of the opportunity and tell again how much I like your website WELCOME TO AZIAB (http://www.aziab.com/)

One does not find so often such a site as yours, clearly done with love and dedication to the Red Sea, and I always recommend anyone who asks about going to the area to visit your site before the trip.

[Red Sea Shadow]

I'd like to take advantage of the opportunity and tell again how much I like your website WELCOME TO AZIAB (http://www.aziab.com/)

One does not find so often such a site as yours, clearly done with love and dedication to the Red Sea.
Exactly. The site is very comprehensive and developed with passion.

[samaka]

Ok, since you started with the flattering, I'd like to take advantage of the opportunity and tell again how much I like your website WELCOME TO AZIAB (http://www.aziab.com/)

One does not find so often such a site as yours, clearly done with love and dedication to the Red Sea, and I always recommend anyone who asks about going to the area to visit your site before the trip.


Exactly. The site is very comprehensive and developed with passion.

Awww... You Guys...

Thanks!

...a...

[Red Sea Shadow]

Just a quick update; Emilio and Kelly finished their diving the day before yesterday. Kelly is now a happy confident OW diver :)

[samaka]

Congratulations Kelly and Emilio!

.......a.......

[emilin]

Thank you guys!

It was a very good experience and I look forward to go back and do some more diving.