New to NorCal, looking to get wet

[sharkster]

Hi guys, I just moved to San Jose on Sunday from Austin, Texas, and I'm looking to get into the local diving scene. If someone could offer me any advice and maybe point me to a good dive shop in the bay area (preferrably one that will give me "proper" fills for my LP 95's!!!) I would be much obliged. If any of yall would be so kind as to show me around the Monterey sites I can compensate you with deco-medecine! (cervezas en espanol).

 

[dannobee]

When did you plan on diving? I'll be in Europe until June 16, but I'll probably be open after that. Review Chuck's fine website for tips if you're new to cold water diving. Heck, review it anyway, you'll learn something.


http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/


Here are some of the area dive sites.

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/CDNDiveSites.html

 

[mweitz]

Any Water Sports is a great shop in San Jose.

http://www.anywater.com

Mark

 

[sharkster]

When did you plan on diving? I'll be in Europe until June 16, but I'll probably be open after that. Review Chuck's fine website for tips if you're new to cold water diving. Heck, review it anyway, you'll learn something.


http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/


Here are some of the area dive sites.

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/CDNDiveSites.html

Thanks for the link Dannobee. I'm looking to dive at any time whatsoever. Weekends are probably best however. Texas is a land of warm water weenies, but I use a drysuit because viz can be good in the winter and I'm really skinny. I may have to upgrade my undies for the California winter however (using Thinsulate 200g ATM). 20' viz, awesome!!! Sure beats measuring it in inches! I'll swing by Any Water Sports, I've heard it is a good shop. If anyone is going shore diving in Monterey this weekend drop me a line.

 

[Narcd_dvr]

Hi guys, I just moved to San Jose on Sunday from Austin, Texas, and I'm looking to get into the local diving scene. If someone could offer me any advice and maybe point me to a good dive shop in the bay area (preferrably one that will give me "proper" fills for my LP 95's!!!) I would be much obliged. If any of yall would be so kind as to show me around the Monterey sites I can compensate you with deco-medecine! (cervezas en espanol).

Hey sharskter,
What a surprise! Got tired of the Texas heat, eh? I'll be in the Bay Area around 4th of July, maybe we can do some diving in Monterrey.

 

[sharkster]

Hey sharskter,
What a surprise! Got tired of the Texas heat, eh? I'll be in the Bay Area around 4th of July, maybe we can do some diving in Monterrey.

Hey subzero! Didn't get a chance to dive with the swampers again after all... at least not in Texas. Send me a PM when you get here, I'll probably be in town for July 4th.

 

[Wristshot]

Sharkster,

Welcome!

The answer may depend upon where you live.

I use Pacific Offshore Divers Inc (PODI) in South San Jose. They are my LDS, and where I was certified and where I get my fills. I can recommend them. http://www.podih2o.com/

However I have bought a significant portion of my gear at Any Watersports, and I get my ScubaPro gear serviced there. They are several miles further away than PODI, but they have been pretty good to me. Never bought breathing gas there. http://www.anywater.com/

I also go to Diver Dan's often. They have some big sales and the bring in special events on occasion. I bought a spare computer there. They have an indoor pool for trying out gear (sometimes) and for training. Again I have never gotten any breathing gas there. http://www.diverdans.com/

Stan's is not a place I have ever been too keen about. http://www.stansdiving.com/

There are a few other shops up the Peninsula that would be nice to visit, especially if you lived further up there. I go to Peninsula or Wallin's once a year or so, just to see what they have that I can't possibly live without.
http://www.pendive.com/
http://www.wallins.com/


Just my thoughts and opinions.


Wristshot

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Hi guys, I just moved to San Jose on Sunday from Austin, Texas, and I'm looking to get into the local diving scene. If someone could offer me any advice and maybe point me to a good dive shop in the bay area (preferrably one that will give me "proper" fills for my LP 95's!!!) I would be much obliged. If any of yall would be so kind as to show me around the Monterey sites I can compensate you with deco-medecine! (cervezas en espanol).

Hi Sharkster,

Welcome to Norcal.

I don't get to Monterey much since I live about 3 hours north and do most of my diving north of the Golden Gate up on the North Coast in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
But most people on this board regularly dive Monterey so if you just let them know, just as you are doing, that you want to buddy up you should have several people to dive with.
I could also recommend any of the dive boats running out of Monterey and if you want Nitrox fills go to Aquarius on Del Monte Ave in Monterey.

If at some point you did want to give the North Coast a shot consider joining the North Coast Divers for a shore dive up in Sonoma County.
http://www.northcoastdivers.org/
Happy diving,

ZKY

 

[Jim Ernst]

its looking good for me , so i will be diving monterey this weekend!! give me a shout!! jim

 

[ae3753]

Welcome! Glad to hear that there will be another set of 95s in the Monterey. We moved back from Austin last year, and we shocked our LDS when we walked in with the 95s to get fills.

If you're in San Jose, I'd recommend Any Water Sports as well. Haven't ask for a "proper" fill yet. However, I have always received 2640, which is better than some other shops that will only do 2400.

The wife and I will be in Monterey this weekend at Breakwater/San Carlos Beach doing some tuning dives. It'd be great to show a fellow transplant around. Let me know.