djr33
New
I will be in Ecuador in July. I have scheduled an extra week to go scuba diving (and possibly other things if I can't dive the whole time). For what it's worth, I speak Spanish well enough, and I've spent a lot of time in Ecuador over the past few summers, and I was in the Galapagos for a week a couple years ago. I will be traveling alone.
I am an experienced snorkler and strong swimmer (was on a swim team for years). I'm totally comfortable in the water. I did SNUBA a year ago and have wanted to try scuba since.
I did my first scuba diving in the Canary Islands about a month ago. It was great, and I think I learned fast. I just had time for two dives, one was a training dive and the other was my first 'real' dive. So I've logged 2 dives-- I know, unimpressive so far. I got certified to 12m, ITDA.
I unfortunately live in central Illinois (lots of corn here, not ocean) for now due to grad school, so I can only go diving when on vacation (not interested in hanging out in pools here).
So my question is simple: I'd love some advice on how to start out diving in Ecuador. The obvious attraction would be the Galapagos, but it's more expensive and from reading on here and elsewhere it sounds like it's not for beginners-- can I catch up in a week or so? Would it be a waste of time if I can't do the best things anyway?
The alternative is the mainland coast -- probably Isla de la Plata and Machalilla National Park -- but I would rather go to the Galapagos if it's reasonable. Or maybe these locations are great too.
I'm eager to learn but don't want to get into anything over my head to the point where I have to just watch other divers do cool stuff. I'd love to see a whale shark, but overall just looking forward to diving.
I am an experienced snorkler and strong swimmer (was on a swim team for years). I'm totally comfortable in the water. I did SNUBA a year ago and have wanted to try scuba since.
I did my first scuba diving in the Canary Islands about a month ago. It was great, and I think I learned fast. I just had time for two dives, one was a training dive and the other was my first 'real' dive. So I've logged 2 dives-- I know, unimpressive so far. I got certified to 12m, ITDA.
I unfortunately live in central Illinois (lots of corn here, not ocean) for now due to grad school, so I can only go diving when on vacation (not interested in hanging out in pools here).
So my question is simple: I'd love some advice on how to start out diving in Ecuador. The obvious attraction would be the Galapagos, but it's more expensive and from reading on here and elsewhere it sounds like it's not for beginners-- can I catch up in a week or so? Would it be a waste of time if I can't do the best things anyway?
The alternative is the mainland coast -- probably Isla de la Plata and Machalilla National Park -- but I would rather go to the Galapagos if it's reasonable. Or maybe these locations are great too.
I'm eager to learn but don't want to get into anything over my head to the point where I have to just watch other divers do cool stuff. I'd love to see a whale shark, but overall just looking forward to diving.