SCUBA Divers?

Alan Parsons	Posted May 16, 2010 9:00 AM Link to this discussion
user 10459477 Omaha, NE Post #: 4	My wife and I just recieved our Advanced Open Water Certification through PADI. We're hoping to go diving a couple more times this year and even more in the future. I'd love to post some underwater adventures on this site. With 230 members and counting there must be some people out there that have a SCUBA certification. So, one, does any member have a SCUBA certification and still dive or want to start diving again? And two, would anyone that is certified and does dive be interested a in SCUBA trip? If you aren't certified I would highly recomend it. There are few things as amazing as what you find in the oceans or even lakes! There are places around here that can train you such as MidCoast Scuba 'n Snorkel Center and DiVentures. Both are PADI certified schools.
A former member	Posted May 18, 2010 5:29 PM Link to this reply
Post #: 8	Alan, I'm PADI certified but would definitely need to take a refresher course to relearn my charting, depth/time tables, etc. It's been a while (several years) since my last dive (I think at John Pennekamp in the Keys) but I'm very interested in the possibility of doing some diving again. In addition to this, I used to be really into spear fishing and I'm totally interested in getting back into that. I'm not sure what the local access allows but if you're at all interested in snorkel spearfishing (most places don't allow use of tanks) then I'm even more down for that. I actually lived in the Azores for a few years prior to this so I've been missing the ocean badly.
amy wells	Posted May 19, 2010 12:14 PM Link to this reply
user 10466799 Omaha, NE Post #: 1	I am SCUBA certified but would defiantly need a refresher course. I have done only 2 open water dives in lakes in Nebraska and Arkansas so I am not real experienced but would be interested in doing some diving around the area, maybe a trip also.
Alan Parsons	Posted May 19, 2010 1:35 PM Link to this reply
user 10459477 Omaha, NE Post #: 5	I too went a couple years before diving again so a refresher was needed and much appreciated. The charts were the big thing for me too and kinda getting used to breathing in a reg again. I know DiVentures is building a new training facility that is suppose to be really nice. I'm not sure on completion dates though. When we do have a date in mind for a trip I'll be sure people are aware well in advance so they have time to get a refresher class somewhere before heading out. I've never done spear fishing but it sounds like a chalange id be up for. Amy: what's lakes did you dive? What was that like?
William Fann	Posted Jul 20, 2010 10:40 AM Link to this reply
user 11973297 Lincoln, NE Post #: 5	Alan, I have been certified since 1982. I will need a refresher course. I am very interested in diving again; however, I will only be interested in diving in salt water. I have spear fished and it was fun, plus the meals were fresh and tasty. One of the most overlooked dive locations is Key Largo. There is no spear fishing but the coral reefs are beyond description. My experience includes off the coast of San Diego, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Hawaii. Key Largo was, surprisingly, far more beautiful. Going in the off-season should prove to be less expensive and crowded. The down side is it can be more windy at that time and sea sickness is more easily incurred. William
Doug Daniel	Posted Dec 9, 2010 8:31 PM Link to this reply
littlebucks Omaha, NE Post #: 7	I'm also PADI certified, but would need a refresher. I don't fare well on the boat ride to the dive site, but I'd be willing to try someplace if we get a trip together. Florida is usually reasonable, so maybe early Summer?
Phil	Posted Dec 10, 2010 2:22 PM Link to this reply
user 11010226 Omaha, NE Post #: 6	Is there a place to get certified around here?
Doug Daniel	Posted Dec 11, 2010 9:58 AM Link to this reply
littlebucks Omaha, NE Post #: 8	Phil, It looks like the 2 places left in Omaha are DiVentures and UnderWater World. I got mine at UWW about 3 years ago. They used the Ralston pool for training and certified in a quarry south of Glenwood. Looks like they have eLearning courses now which I know nothing about. Do you practice in a fishtank in front of your computer?
Alan Parsons	Posted Dec 11, 2010 12:34 PM Link to this reply
user 10459477 Omaha, NE Post #: 6	Is there a place to get certified around here? I've heard DiVentures does a good job. Their facility is brand new as well and they have a large pool. There are a number of classes you can take under the PADI diving course system, standard everywhere around the world. If you want a cheaper experience you can try the Discover SCUBA class. Sometimes you can get pretty good discounts on these. They cover basics and let you "dive right in" with an instructor, bypassing most the heavy book work. It let's you see how comfortable you'll be before working over bigger bucks for a true certification. However if you think you'll really like it and want to dive to dealer levels then go all in with signing up for open water certification. It's not cheap and is about a 4 day class but worth it if you really want to get into SCUBA diving.
Ryan Forman	Posted Dec 13, 2010 11:04 AM Link to this reply
rforman Omaha, NE Post #: 2	If you decide to get your open water cert, here is my strong recommendation: Regardless of who you certify with, do your book and pool work here in Omaha. Then, get a referral and go do your open water work someplace nice and warm with more then 5 feet of visibility. It's a double edged sword, you "waste" some of your trip time doing certification work (used to be 4 dives (?) over two days), however, you aren't scarred by having your first open water dive be in a frigid, zero vis rock quarry in Iowa. I did a referral on my certification. I dove Don's (UWW) quarry as a refresher. When I dive next I will do my refresher dive upon arrival at my destination, as the quarry was not good. Also, my daughter takes swim lessons at Diventures. It's a beautiful facility, the pool area is super warm, almost tropic like, and the pool itself is heated to somewhere in the 80's. I'm guessing Ralston doesn't heat their pool quite as high. Every employee I've interacted with at Diventures has been extremely friendly and polite.

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