So i noticed i forgot to do a intro thread

[GreaseM0nkey86]

Hi, I'm Bobby, from the SF Bay Area. I'm 23, got certified OW @ San Carlos Beach (monastery or was it breakwater?) with Bamboo Reef about a year or so ago. Only dive I've logged is in Catalina next to the casino, and my story goes like this:

My close high school friend was interested in the sport and got me interested also. Long story short, he went to Hawaii with his family and logged a couple of dives, but when we returned, he ended up getting two jobs (as a cook), and we never could schedule a dive day. Thats one reason I haven't logged any dives, and also other hobbies: snowboarding, hiking/camping, and work in general took up most of my free time.

So, recently (couple months ago) I looked into vaca/part time job in Hawaii (working at Kragen, i can transfer my job to other stores). I planned to be in Oahu, try and transfer the job to one of their stores, and just live there for a month or so. As time passed by, the priority became more to get away from the drama i've been having here (the mind can be an ugly enemy), then the drama became the priority, and now I'm going to Hawaii for 18 days in Oahu and Big Island to get away AND go diving! (that is if the SMJATC oral interview schedules don't clash, if it does, i'm out $600 if i can't reschedule my flight)

........WOW, i TRIED to keep this short too. haha

So yea.....thats my story....
not much logged dives, but try to have a calm colllected head, hope to see some of you guys UW

 

[gypsyjim]

Hi, and welcome. Enjoy Hawaii, never made it there myself.

I would suggest hooking into a quick refresher course, (many shops offer them free, or close to free) since it has been a year, or so, and you have only a limited bit of experience under your belt. Even very experienced divers benefit from such refreshers, especially if they have been out of the water for a while. It sharpens old skills, and helps guarantee a great dive experience. I learned this personally, the hard way

 

[pacificgal]

Welcome, Bobby, enjoy Hawaii, come back and enjoy the cold water with us!
-Kristina

 

[fuggler]

Have fun in Hawaii and make sure you do the manta ray night dive. It is not to be missed!

 

[Farty]

if you did not dive for more than a year or even if it's been less time and you feel like you could forget something then the best option is to do refresh course

personally I would do it in Bay Area, this way you will be ready to dive without spending sunny day in the pool on your vacation. I would probably do it in Bamboo Reef if you did OW there before, the shop in the city has a pool right there and if I am not wrong, this can be very quick academic and pool work (there is no ocean dive required) and won't cost much (my wild guess is $50 but I might be wrong)


remember to take a lot of pictures and make us really jealous !!

 

[GreaseM0nkey86]

Thank you for the warm welcome and thanks for the tip for taking a refresher course, I have considered scheduling in a refresher course, good thing about getting cert. with Bamboo Reef is that they offer a free refresher class. (no affiliation,etc, just passing the word)

If I get lucky, maybe I can transfer my job to one of the islands there for a couple months! haha

 

[GreaseM0nkey86]

err scratch that, there isn't a free refresher class
haha