07rubicon Posted November 21, 2007 #1 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I am going on a cruise in April and DH would like to go scuba diving. I am unsure if I can do this. I am fearful of panic attack while under. I am going on a Princess cruise and was thinking about the New waves program. I live in Michigan and wouldn't be able to do open water dives but there is a local dive shop that I could do my pool dives and course work. My question is what will help me become more comfortable if I do the course work should I look into a discovery dive. I am not sure about DH but I don't really want to go to deep. What are the depths needed on the 4 open water dives to be certified???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrdbrain55 Posted November 21, 2007 #2 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I just finished my open water certification in September. The first two dives are no deeper than 40 feet (I think we went about 25-30). The second two dives are no more than 60 feet. This is per the PADI standard for the instructors. With that said, I was very nervous before my first dives in open water and I had a blast. I am completely addicted now and have already completed my Advanced Open Water and my Enriched Air (Nitrox) certifications. I have 17 dives in just over a month and a half. I plan on finishing my Rescue Diver course in January or February and hopefully will finish some specialties in the meantime to get my Master Scuba Diver certification. I would love to ultimately become a DiveMaster and Instructor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbennett Posted November 21, 2007 #3 Share Posted November 21, 2007 The discovery dive is basically the dive class without all the class and homework. You will go through the basics in a briefing. You'll then get into the shallow end of the pool to do some excercises with your equipment (retrieving your mouthpiece and filling/clearing your mask), then to the deep end of the pool for the same. For the actual dive part, you will typically go out with a regular dive group but stay in a relatively shallow part of the water with your instructor. You can usually book these as a tour through your cruise line. The open water certification would probably have to be scheduled by yourself depending on what your cruise line offers. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helo driver Posted November 22, 2007 #4 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Last spring we did the discovery scuba dive in St Thomas with Coki Divers. Great setup, 10-15 minute brief, gear up, walk 20-30 ft to shoulder deep water, 10 minutes of work in shallow water, then off for a 30-40 minute guided dive (probably no deeper than 20 ft). DW and DD completed it, but didn't like it enough to do again, other DD and I have since completed our open water certification.....so from my perspective, I would recommend the discovery dive before spending the time, money and effort of the course. Our local dive shop also offers a free introductry pool dive, may want to ask if yours does the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverearl Posted November 23, 2007 #5 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I am going on a cruise in April and DH would like to go scuba diving. I am unsure if I can do this. I am fearful of panic attack while under. I am going on a Princess cruise and was thinking about the New waves program. I live in Michigan and wouldn't be able to do open water dives but there is a local dive shop that I could do my pool dives and course work. My question is what will help me become more comfortable if I do the course work should I look into a discovery dive. I am not sure about DH but I don't really want to go to deep. What are the depths needed on the 4 open water dives to be certified???? Personally I feel you, or anyone else for that matter, would be better prepared and trained if you do the open water course and get certified the way you outlined above. Typically if you have an open mind about diving the more you know the more at ease you will feel. Many people have apprehensions before trying anything but do just fine after the proper training. If you decide to try the discovery dive, at least read as much as possible on the safety aspects of diving. Either way I hope you enjoy the experience, earl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveMaster Posted November 23, 2007 #6 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Ditto what Earl says. Training = comfort = less stress = more enjoyable experience. Personally I feel you, or anyone else for that matter, would be better prepared and trained if you do the open water course and get certified the way you outlined above. Typically if you have an open mind about diving the more you know the more at ease you will feel. Many people have apprehensions before trying anything but do just fine after the proper training. If you decide to try the discovery dive, at least read as much as possible on the safety aspects of diving. Either way I hope you enjoy the experience, earl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
07rubicon Posted November 24, 2007 Author #7 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Thanks for the advice. I just talked to the local dive shop. It is under new owners and they are running a special discount this month. Course work $220 for first diver and 150 for the second. It sounds like a good deal. I will get a referral card and just need to do my 4 dives with Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccawalleye Posted December 5, 2007 #8 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Myself and wife are going to get certified on our up coming cruise and the cost for this is $359 for me and $329 for the wife since they only have to send 1 dvd for the both of us. Now you might think this sounds high but it really isn't. I read on other posts that the classroom reading part costs between $150 to $200 then you also have to complete 5 confined dives at ? $ in some pool and then 4 open water dives at ? $ I know for a fact that most dive sites in all of the Caribbean would cost around $100 for a 2 tank dive. So lets say Classroom $150 Pool Dives (5) total $100 Open Water (4) Total $200 ( also at the best place on the planet) priceless ------ Total $450 With the Cruise Waves PADI Course with all dives included 5 confined on ship in pool and then 4 dives (2 at each island) in the Caribbean. $359 Plus only in groups of 6 at the most, so far only the two of us signed up on our weeks cruise. My daughter is a dive instructor here in Illinois and said she could not even do better than that cause we would still have to book a cruise or fly to one of the island for 3 or more days and cost for diving charters would be alot more. I will let you know how ours goes. We are looking forward to it as we have done the discovery dive and loved it. Hopefully after our cruise we will be certified open water divers. ccawalleye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
07rubicon Posted December 6, 2007 Author #9 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Just signed up today. I am getting a little excited and hope this turns out to be fun. I decided to do the course work and pool dives at the local dive shop. Cost $375 for the both of us and then New Waves is charging $189 each. It is slightly higher but it doesn't take away as much cruise time and it allows me to get more familar with everything at a slower pace. The local instructor said he will take it very slow and I can have as many pool dives as needed to get it right. I am still very apprehensive that I can pull this off without getting anxious underwater. Like my DH says that is the worse thing to do so I want to be over prepared and confident before I go in the ocean. It makes me feel better knowing there is only 6 person max. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveCruiser Posted February 3, 2008 #10 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I am going on a cruise in April and DH would like to go scuba diving. I am unsure if I can do this. I am fearful of panic attack while under. I am going on a Princess cruise and was thinking about the New waves program. I live in Michigan and wouldn't be able to do open water dives but there is a local dive shop that I could do my pool dives and course work. My question is what will help me become more comfortable if I do the course work should I look into a discovery dive. I am not sure about DH but I don't really want to go to deep. What are the depths needed on the 4 open water dives to be certified???? You need to go as deep as 33 feet, which is on atmosphere, for your cert dives. The only thing is spending time in the water alot to get you comfortable. I would discover scuba them if you like it get certified. That was how I got hooked. 1000+ dives since 1990 Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccawalleye Posted February 3, 2008 #11 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I too did the Discovery before deciding on getting certified. But have learned so much more now that I am certified. Sounds like you have the same concerns that I had before I did the Discover, so thats what I would reccommend before investing $329-$379 in getting certified cause if you don't panic in the discover you should be ok then to do the certified. As promised before on this thread, I said I would post after we got back from our Crown Princess cruise and let you know about our experience with New Waves instruction at home and confined dives and open water on the cruise ship. Well I am very happy to say both the wife and I are certified divers and very proud of it as we were fortunate enough to get certified over a very famous wreck in the southern caribbbean. Here is my Review of Our Cruise: In Attachment Charlie Cruise Review 2008.txt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccawalleye Posted February 3, 2008 #12 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Just signed up today. I am getting a little excited and hope this turns out to be fun. I decided to do the course work and pool dives at the local dive shop. Cost $375 for the both of us and then New Waves is charging $189 each. It is slightly higher but it doesn't take away as much cruise time and it allows me to get more familar with everything at a slower pace. The local instructor said he will take it very slow and I can have as many pool dives as needed to get it right. I am still very apprehensive that I can pull this off without getting anxious underwater. Like my DH says that is the worse thing to do so I want to be over prepared and confident before I go in the ocean. It makes me feel better knowing there is only 6 person max. It was only the two of us on our week and instructor can take time to make sure you are comfortable with all tasks in the pool on the ship before going to the ocean. Our instructor was great and very knowledgeable and trusting. Like I had said previously my daughter is a dive instructor and she even said that he sounded like he was very well qualified. If you decide to go with getting certified just relax a enjoy the new underwater adventure, cause it is awesome. We are already planning our next dives and probably on a cruise. Charlie & Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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