Utah Scuba Divers?

[Iceaxe]

Something in anther thread got me wondering.....

How many certified Scuba divers do we have on this site?

I'm PADI certified as a Rescue Diver, but it's been a few years since I last went diving. So stand up and be counted if you are a diver.....

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/q/qs-dive.gif

[double moo]

Ceritfied in Australia way back in 1977. French system of certification. Haven't donned a tank for 25 years... sad to day.

[James_B_Wads2000]

I'm open water certified. I took a class from the U in 2000 and certified at Blue Lake. I did all that with the intention of traveling to the ocean. But sad to sa, that was the last time I ever put on the tank. Maybe I'll do it again someday soon.

A couple of pics from Blue Lake:

http://uutah.com/forum/files/02-183__medium_.jpg

http://uutah.com/forum/files/02-184__medium_.jpg

http://uutah.com/forum/files/02-185__medium_.jpg

http://uutah.com/forum/files/02-186__medium_.jpg


James

[Heather]

I went for my first dive on our honeymoon! It was very cool! How many dives does it take before you to become certified?

[JP]

NAUI here :mrgreen:

[fourtycal]

NAUI in Hawaii about 18 years ago and advanced at Flaming George several years back, night dive, 100', search and rescue etc.. :cool2:

[Iceaxe]

How many dives does it take before you to become certified?

It's been a while but I believe the correct answer is ONE. :haha:

If it's still the same as when I did it you take several classes that are divided between class work and pool work. At the very end you have to pass a test and go diving in "open water" with your instructor.

It's not difficult to get certified, but the info taught in the class is pretty much "must know" type stuff.

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

I certified about 15 years ago at the mud pit better known as Blue Lake. After that I spent some time diving shipwrecks off the West Coast. It was fun but not something I wanted to make my full time hobby. It's an expensive sport if you want quality diving and live in Utah.

[shagster]

So where is the best place to certify, cost, instruction, equipment, etc? I have been thinking about this for some time. I would like to be certified as a rescue diver for search and rescue, but I was never sure where to start. :ne_nau:

[DiscGo]

I'm certified (also through Padi).

[DiscGo]

Most of you know that my original name on this site was "DiscGolf Diver" the diver part was for scuba.

[ExpUt]

Took my class through SLCC 06'
Certified PADI at the Homestead in Midway in 06'
Got my Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Boat Diver and a couple others?? In a second trip to Midway.
Dove 3 places in Mexico (Cancuun, Cozumel, Play del Carmen)
Dove a couple places in Hawaii

Been to Blue Lake swimming, but never diving.

I've wanted to do Flaming Gorge? Anyone done it?

[Alex]

PADI Open Water here as well, dove in Blue Lake, Fish Lake, Heber crater, Belize, San Diego, Oregon, San Juan Washongton, Seattle Washington, Baja Mexico (all the way down the west coast).

[jumar]

I'm certified through PADI. I've done some of the local dives, seabase, the crater, bear lake...then took a trip to belize, and haven't dove since. I want to go again, but it is expensive and I already have so many hobbies.

[Alex]

I'm certified through PADI. I've done some of the local dives, seabase, the crater, bear lake...then took a trip to belize, and haven't dove since. I want to go again, but it is expensive and I already have so many hobbies.

Sweet, have you dove Blue Hole in Belize? On my trip a dude kicked a bucket in there. Though he was just snorkeling at the top, but when we came up from the dive he was floating with his head below the water line. It was pretty freaky. The guy took his whole family to Belize for his youngest kid graduation (he was around 55ish) and had a heart attack in the water. Then we were flying back to the States with the casket on board the plane. Was kind of odd.

[James_B_Wads2000]

On my trip a dude kicked a bucket in there.

It's "kicked the bucket". You accent is so cute Alex. :haha:


James

[jumar]

I'm certified through PADI. I've done some of the local dives, seabase, the crater, bear lake...then took a trip to belize, and haven't dove since. I want to go again, but it is expensive and I already have so many hobbies.

Sweet, have you dove Blue Hole in Belize? On my trip a dude kicked a bucket in there. Though he was just snorkeling at the top, but when we came up from the dive he was floating with his head below the water line. It was pretty freaky. The guy took his whole family to Belize for his youngest kid graduation (he was around 55ish) and had a heart attack in the water. Then we were flying back to the States with the casket on board the plane. Was kind of odd.
Yep, dove the blue hole. It had been a life long dream to dive with sharks. Finally got to in the blue hole, bull sharks swimming all around. I'll have to see if I can find a pic.

Also did Hol Chan several times, shark ray alley, half moon caye...can't remember the rest of the names.

[jumar]

Yep, dove the blue hole. It had been a life long dream to dive with sharks. Finally got to in the blue hole, bull sharks swimming all around. I'll have to see if I can find a pic.

Don't have very good pics, but here's a few
http://www.my-mania.com/water/images/BullShark.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/water/images/Jeff_TomDive.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/water/images/Jeffscuba.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/water/images/StingRay1.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/water/images/StingRay2.jpg

[neilether]

PADI certified in 2004. I've been down to Cozumel twice to dive since then. The local dives are fun, but don't even compare to the diving in Cozumel. Alas, I don't do it as often as I would like to.

[Alex]

On my trip a dude kicked a bucket in there.

It's "kicked the bucket". You accent is so cute Alex. :haha:


James

:doh: Thanks bud, will note that :2thumbs:

[fourtycal]

I've wanted to do Flaming Gorge? Anyone done it?

did my advanced certification dives there. It was cold, dark, murky and boring. quite a few fish but nothing big and bass arn't very colorful :haha:

Strawberry was about the same, filled a bag with crawdads and the dog crate I found under the dock was exciting for a minute (it was empty) :nono:

I always wanted to dive lake powell.

[fourtycal]

So where is the best place to certify, cost, instruction, equipment, etc? I have been thinking about this for some time. I would like to be certified as a rescue diver for search and rescue, but I was never sure where to start. :ne_nau:

http://www.utahdiving.com/ lots of good links and reports.

I took a class and have rented a few times from "scuba for you" http://www.scubaforyou.net/ They were great but it has changed hands since I used them last.

I think any of the dive shops that have been around for a while would be good.

[jumar]

Is there enough interest to have a separate section on uutah for diving?

[DiscGo]

I want to go again, but it is expensive and I already have so many hobbies.

That is my boat exactly. I have gone in a couple areas of the Caribbean and Catalina. I want to do it more, but it is just too pricey coupled with all my other hobbies.



Have any of you been to Bonaire? The visibility is just as good underwater as above. I have been in a lot of water, and Bonaire is the best water I have ever seen.

[Alex]

This is another cool place to dive in Utah. I'd say the best I have dove in Utah. http://www.seabase.net/facilities.html

The neat attraction here is the ocean fish (including sharks). The depth is only 40-45 feet though, still it's a great spot to dive year round. Also has a sunk boat for a "wreck" exploration.

[jumar]

This is another cool place to dive in Utah. I'd say the best I have dove in Utah. http://www.seabase.net/facilities.html

The neat attraction here is the ocean fish (including sharks). The depth is only 40-45 feet though, still it's a great spot to dive year round. Also has a sunk boat for a "wreck" exploration.
Yeah it's a fun little place to go see some tropical fish. The nurse sharks are cool.

[Iceaxe]

I'd say NO on the diving section on uUtah unless this thread becomes super popular..... I'm guessing we will chat diving for a bit and then the subject will die out around here.

I've dove Lake Powell dozen's of times. I kept Scuba gear on my boat at Wahweap..... nothing to really see diving Lake Powell that you can't see snorkeling..... same goes for most the Utah water..... it's fun for about an hour and then.... yawn....

Blue Lake is a fun afternoon but not what I would classify as "real" diving.... Seabase and the Crater at Homestead are barely one step up from backyard swimming pool. Back when I certified PADI didn't recognize anyone who certified at Seabase or Homestead.... the battle over if these places qualified was just getting underway when I lost interest in the sport.

Pretty much anywhere in the ocean is fun.... I really enjoyed diving off the coast of Oregon and Washington..... it's cold water but there are usually seals to play with.... also lots of wreaks up around Astoria where I have some family. Catalina is a fun place to dive and a romantic place to take the woman..... I always like it when I can kill two birds with one stone.

:five:

[Heather]

How many dives does it take before you to become certified?

It's been a while but I believe the correct answer is ONE. :haha:

If it's still the same as when I did it you take several classes that are divided between class work and pool work. At the very end you have to pass a test and go diving in "open water" with your instructor.

It's not difficult to get certified, but the info taught in the class is pretty much "must know" type stuff.

:popcorn:

That's all it takes, eh? Are there any special benefits to being certified beyond the knowledge you gain in the classes? I've probably only spent about 1-2 hours in a pool and 2-3 hours in the ocean, but it was really quite fascinating and unlike any other thing I have done before. :)

[Iceaxe]

If you are going to dive then get certified.... what you learn might/will save your life.

I'm guessing you have been diving in 3rd world countries where there are no rules and life is not highly valued. You really can't do any legal diving below 35' without a dive master in many places without being certified.

FWIW: When my little brother certified in Lake Tahoe two of the students in the class where killed when their lungs ruptured..... it's a painful death. No one knows exactly what happened, the group was at about 100' when the 15 y/o girl bolted for the surface, her dad took off after her.... both died with ruptured lungs.

Also: I was diving a wreck in about 130' of water and backed into a doorway, this caused my high pressure hose to blow and I had to do an actual emergency assent for the deeps doing the scream thing just like they teach you and it worked..... I'm alive... good thing it happened when we first swam down so their was no issue with the bends.

:2thumbs:

[Heather]

I dived in Costa Rica, but I would not say life is not highly valued there. I don't think we went below 35 feet, and I'm not even sure I would want to go down that low. It was fascinating, but I think I might tend to get claustrophobic if I stayed down too long or went down even further. It certainly does sound scary if not done right!

[chickenlicken]

I got PADI certified a few years ago, but since my wife doesn't like "outdoor stuff", I haven't done anything but the open water cert. at the Crater and one at Udy Springs near Garland.
I've wanted to get some guys together for an outing to Seabase, but that is low on my activity list for 2008.

[offpiste]

PADI in 1976.

[Glockguy]

How much does it cost to get decent gear?

I am talking "Honda Civic" (not too expensive, but reliable, well known)

[Alex]

I still rent my stuff, I don't go enough to buy a full set

[Iceaxe]

You need to buy your own fins, mask and snorkel, which is a couple hundred dollars for good stuff. Order it out of the dive magazines or on-line and save yourself some major coin.

Other then that just rent your equipment unless you start to dive really a lot. Most folks in Utah dive maybe once or twice a year and the cost of buying and maintaining equipment is not worth it.

The best part about renting is you rent your gear at the dive site.... which means you are not packing tanks, weight belts and regulators through airport security or trying to pack it all into the trunk of a Honda econo-box for a trip to the coast.

:kickit:

[Alex]

That's why you get a big ass van and pack it with tanks, kayaks, bikes and camping gear and head down to Baja! :2thumbs:

But ya, buy your own mask/snorkel and fins.

[Iceaxe]

And a dog named Scobby Do. :haha:

[fire]

Something in anther thread got me wondering.....

How many certified Scuba divers do we have on this site?

I'm PADI certified as a Rescue Diver, but it's been a few years since I last went diving. So stand up and be counted if you are a diver.....

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/q/qs-dive.gif

Same here, PADI certified and Rescue Diver. learned in Humboldt Bay ( Arcata CA) when on a good day the visibility was 3'. Halibut spear fishing is a rush. Haven't been diving for 15 yrs or so. Telemark is the new hobby.