V-Flyer

Not sure if this is the right section to ask in, but does anyone have experience of learning to scuba dive in VS served destinations? If so, any recommendations?

No experience of learning there (try the Queen Mother Reservoir near Heathrow - colder BUT you qualify to dive in the conditions you learn in so this means it'll never get any worse!) but can recommend Saba (via Antigua) when you are qualified! Thinking about it I did INITIALLY train at St Lucia on an all inclusive with Club Med. Highly recommended but probably changed since (15years+ ago).

I passed my PADI Open Water in the Red Sea, Sharm el Shiekh, Egypt, and i think it is the best place (bar the GBR) to dive.

Its only a 5 hour flight from London, and the waters are warm and clear with abundant coral and marine life. You literally take two steps into the water at Naama Bay and there are fish swimming around your ankles. The coral is just off the beach so you can see great fish whether you are diving or snorkelling. The coral there is magnificent, bright reds, greens and tube and fire corals.

We have been to a few Caribbean places but none compared to the Red Sea, i havent been to Tobago/Grenada, but i hear that the diving there is great because the islands are not so built up, which obviously has less impact on the coral. Otherwise, Antigua and St Lucia would be next best choices.

The main things to consider would be the language of the dive master, ensuring you have an English speaker is paramount. You cannot enter a situation where you may not understand the instructions being given. In Egypt there are a lot of English divers so it wasnt a problem, but id advise checking ahead. 'English speaking' dosnt always mean 'English understanding' as we all know.

You many want to check with qualifications to go for too, i did PADI, and if you plan to do that id choose somewhere that is PADI five star, gold palm, as they are very reputable.

Id also choose somewhere with warm water and coral, no point going all the way there if you dont see many fish. Also check the difference between learning from a boat or the beach, i did beach dives as i wanted to build up, plus i found it safer incase i had a bit of a panic attack at 18ft down!! Some dive centres do not offer the choice.

I hope you do get to do it though, its a great experience, and ten times better in a fab destination!

Thanks both. Very useful information. The Bristol Channel is closer to me than the QM reservoir, but I can't say that either appeals!

I'd started by looking at the Red Sea, but it looks like I can do a comparable holiday in Tobago / Grenada for only slightly more £, and with the additional benefit of VS miles.

Had some great dives in Tobago just before Xmas - sorry we flew there BA to blow some AA miles so I forgot this was VS. Can STRONGLY recommend the dive shop at the Hilton on Tobago. Great bunch of people and fun too. Suggest doing theory in UK and getting a referral to complete there.

Most Carribean destinations offer PADI dive schools. You are spoilt for choice for dive schools down in the Florida Keys too and there are some amazing dive sights there too. Last year when I was in Key West I did a refresher course and as I hadn't dived for over 12 months at Subtropic Dive Center Key West. They had full class room facilities and used a local hotel's swimming pool for training.

Go here for a search to find PADI Dive centres and Resorts around the world.

I did my open water training here in the UK first - it does apparently work out a bit cheaper. OK it was friggin' cold when I dived in a filled in quary in Lancaster and it was snowing at the time but when I did the course I got it subsidised. The full 5 days Open water course cost me £95 (that was 7 years ago now though)

Regards

not only cheaper but you save having to spend time indoors doing theory when you're somewhere sunny you could be diving! [8D]

quote:you save having to spend time indoors doing theory when you're somewhere sunny

Oh yes, but you can sit outdoors, reading your PADI book, with one of those nice Coconut Rum cocktail drinks! Just not the same doing that in the UK hehe

ahh, my other passion........

Red Sea, Red Sea, Red Sea, beats GBR hands down, harsh but true.

But VS don't fly to Egypt and nor do any Partners so.......

Tobago is excellent for beginers as well as some excellent diving, as the clarity of the water offers additionl confidence, and some instructors, me included belive that better bouancy skills are learnt and mastered in clear warm water (Sorry for the controversy) Also because the reef crest is a little deeper because of the water temp the reef is better protected

But if you promise not to tell anyone, and you can wait until July next year, the best place bar none IMO to learn and dive in the area is at Virgins new destination of Cuba. The amount of money that has been been invested into the industry in the last 18 months is amazing, most of the kit is MARES italian because of the trade embargo with the USA, and also sorry friends from across the pond (Don't forget I live in Sann Fran before you beat me up) is that no American Tourist Dollars, means no high resort course prices!

For the theory, go to the Padi.com and order the Interactive CD Training, you can then do this in advance, it is very good, print out the results, and then you will only need 1 and 1/2 days in the class room before you are in the water, the CDs will also always be useful for when you want a refreser before another trip.

Gone on a bit, but if you want more info PM me

You will enjoy diving even more than an op up to a UCS on a 12 hour flight with a HAricut, and a Massage!

bluefish - now you know why!

Thanks everyone. Bluefish, it's great to have an instructor's opinion, and I think diving is more likely than an OpUp!

just wish I was getting wet more often........ not teaching much now.

I love the red sea, but as you note it is expensive, but then so is UCS make those prorities. But once you have learnt you can reall use the Virgin Network well

Cape Town - Great Whites
Hong Kong - Excellent Macro and Critter Diving
LA - Catalina Island, chilly but 2000 Catalina Gobies sitting on a single rock is soemthing to behold
San Fran - KELP and Seals, really different but great
Cuba, Tobago Antiga Etc Etc

Trouble is you will find that although you used to like collecting passport stamps, not it will be instructor stamps in your log!

Good Luck

I am just in the middle of my open water course - I am doing it at a place called Dosthill which is an old Quarry. I have done 4 resort courses over a period of time at Sandals and on the Barrier reef - these are OK coz they let you dive - but they take up a day of yoru holiday - and you paid good money to go somewhere.

Yes the water can be cold - but only for 2 seconds - and coz its a quarry you always get good conditions - if you learn in a coast area then the day can be cancelled if the conditions are not right.

Use the PADI web page and go to yoru nearest dive shop for a chat - they wont bite and the course is a lot of fun!!!

Mark