Evening, all

[sjalmond]

Hi, I'm Steve and I've been diving for sixteen months [chorus of 'hi Steve' in background]. Well, when I say diving... A week in Tenerife, doing the PADI OW, and three days in Turkey. About twelve dives total, with one down to a 'cave' at about 33m. Our instructor in Turkey did his nut when he saw that - I dunno, maybe Turkish divers all become positively bouyant at 18m. He seemed to think it was physically impossible, anyway.

I've got a mask and snorkel, so I'm no kit whore. Not yet, anyhow.

I live in Sheffield and want to do some diving in the UK. By a funny coincidence, my in-laws have a spare room and live 20 mins from Capenwray. My wife and I may be seeing more of them this year...


See you on the forums (, slipways, and RIBs),

Steve

[Sakara Drinker]

Welcome and enjoy the cold, wet, UK experience. Its great.

Phil

[sjalmond]

Wow, people actually read these intro posts! And reply to questions!

I like it here already!

Okay, two big 'uns:

1) Kit, buying of said. My renovating-this-house and being-a-Viking hobbies eat a lot of my cash, but I've got (or can get) some spare. Where should I put my pennies to a) most improve my comfort in hired-kit and/or reduce my per-dive expenses, and b) encourage me to go dive more often? Actually, (b)'s more of a consequence of (a) but you know where I'm going with this one.

2) Infection, middle ear, in, probable. I've got a mild (reverse-?)block in my right ear. Five to 15 metres is sometimes slow, careful, gulping work (and sometimes no problem), but always fine coming back up. GP #1 tells me that, as I'm not in pain in daily life, it's not a problem and it'll go away in time. Any advice (apart from, or even, 'find GP #2')? I've had (mild) symptoms for more than two years. Cars and hills don't cause me pain, but that ear does pop a little after the other.


Steve

[Diving Dude]

Welcome to the nuthouse Steve.

[StephenT]

"I've got a mask and snorkel, so I'm no kit whore. Not yet, anyhow. "

Well if you count the snorkel as diving kit .

If i was you i would spend ages deciding on what kit you will actually purchase. Certainly don't do any so called "impulse" buys, and to be honest don't casually think the dive shops will offer the best choice. Since I'm a new diver most of my advice is pretty mute, but i did spend ~18 montsh deciding what i eventually bought. And i'm kinda still uncertain if i bought the correct regulators (even though mine looks GREAT), probably should of went with the apexs :].

One thing i will tell you though my 2 cents per se:-

From personal experience i didn't dive much last year (no dives in the uk) simply because i felt it was too expensive to hire equipment. now that i've purchased most of it, i'm still having to pay ~£40 for travel and ~15? for a nitrox tank filled. Last year the cost-per-dive was appaling since i hadn't yet bought equipment it was something like £50 to hire + £15 for a filled tank + cost of getting there + i didn't have a spool or smb .... . So because of the costs i didn't dive last year. Since i own my equipment i plan to dive weekly this year.
If cost is an issue for you:- I think i've spent just over 5k now on gear and a few courses, but i didn't buy the cheapest stuff etc etc. So if you are going to struggle to pay for this hobby i'd advise against it :]. I mean i'm only a newbie single tanker :]

[Chrystianne]

Do nitrox (TDI) course as soon as you feel comfortable with Kit. Before you go to the dive show completely investigate what you need beforehand and take an experienced diver with you. I never had these tips in 1998 and wish I had.
Do at least 20+ dives before you do your next course, which I presume is Advanced Open Water (AOW), but the people abroad will tell you different.
Hell, in these situations I always ask my buddy/Guru Keith Lawrence for advice, see him on the BSAC Stand in London early April.
Cheers, safe diving
Chrystianne
www.chrystianne.com

[Mark Griffith]

cheers
seadweller

[KeyLimePie]

Welcome to the boards, Steve. There's loads of useful info in the threads here - there is a thread on kit for novice divers here. If you can't find the answers just ask away.

[Lou]

Welcome.....hope you enjoy the UK diving. I love it.

One bit of advice from your intro is that you Turkish instructor was right. 33m to a cave for someone who has only done a few dives is crazy. Please, please, please don't even think of doing that again for a wee while - esp not in the UK! There is stacks of stuff to see at 20m and above so enjoy that for a bit. And then keep on enjoying.