Jac8724

Hey guys im new to the forum! Im trying to plan a dive trip, im a beginner who has done my Open Water on Roatan, but missed the last test b/c of ear problems. So i have alot of time on my hands now and want to go somewhere to do my open water all the way up to dive master. im thinking like 3 months. and im thinking asia...somewhere safe because ill be going alone.

What do you guys think would be safe, cheap, and great diving? thailand/phuket? phillipines? fiji? indonesia? malaysia?

any info of places youve been/heard of would greatly help me decide. Thanks guys!

Sveta

MgicTwnger

What's the rush? There's more to diving than filling up your wallet with C-cards by meeting the minimum requirements. Experience, practicing skills, learning from better divers, and lots of dives (in addition to the proper training) are what makes a good, safe diver.

__________________
I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Jac8724

Well, australia was always out of my mind because i assumed its first world status would make it expensive. But, i will do some research and if it fits in my budget, ill be there in a heartbeat.

The rush- i have just completed my undergrad this past summer, and took a year off before i go to law school to do traveling. so i have from now till fall. then i will start law school, join law review in summers, hopefully intern with an international org., and wont get a good vacation for a very long time. atleast never more than a week. i have 7 months and i plan on hitting up the middle east, india, and asia! i have a bit of a travel bug i need to feed

i loved diving while in roatan and want to dive on vacations for the rest of my life. but i feel like it wont be until retirement that ill ever have 3 months to get a dive master.

ScubaJohn511

do you know a good place in america to go freshwater diving...ideally where the water is crystal clear but still fresh water...if you do please let me know! thanks!

Scuba Mama

Flordia is the first place that comes to mind for clear fresh water. They have several springs in the upper part of Flordia. Mermet Springs depends on the time of the year. Also dive training magazine gives write ups on fresh water diving in the US.

Kev Martin

I remember diving up in northern Florida at a place called Branford (around the Suwanee River). The water there was gin clear (and icy cold )

Scuba Mama

Have you considered Master Diver as opposed to Dive Master? The change is non professional route. You still will dive a lot, train a lot, spend about the same. However, at the end as a Master Diver you will not have to pay professional insurance. It may be a matter of terms, if you training is with PADI that's there break down.

Jac8724

hey your from the chicagoland area? Me too!
i will look into Master Diver, never heard of it, was trying to stick with PADI courses bc they seemed the most well known to me. im not planning on going a professional route with diving, unless i flunk out of school, go crazy, and run off- which really is always a possibility. but ill deal with that if/when the time comes

Scuba Mama

Some of my pictures on the website are from Pearl Lake in South Beloit a dive training site. If you don't mind I would suggest some courses you can take before going aboard. Enriched Air, Fish Identification these are both good courses and do not require dives. Enriched Air will give you the availability to stay longer on dives (NOT DEEPER) and you might as well know what your looking at while diving. Also, Our World Underwater will be at the Rosemont in February. Its a large dive show. Most dive shops from the local area, Resorts from around the world and scuba manufactures, and many lectures. The show runs over two days, it can tend to overwhelm a bit. You can look it up on the web. If your still in Chicago in February it may help you decide where to go and what it will take.