Two dive clubs, fees paid, 1 month, no dives...

[Prometheus]

SD , can you get down to Swanage pier next week on the 12th Thurs., there should be a few YDers bimbling under the pier,Hagen-Doofers( sp.)birthday I think, + Purple Vonny and a motley assortment of other divers

[tootricky]

Originally Posted by Southern_Dave

Just to detail my training/level - sorry, I missed it in the original post

I passed my PADI OW around a month ago, under which I'm qualified down to 18m, although to date I've 9 dives, the deepest of which was 13m.

I don't care which agency the club subscribes to really (I'm happy to do crossover).

As to the type of dives at the moment, well I have great belief in seeking advice from those with more experience, so any dives suitable for my current skills and with someone more experienced than I...



I'd jump at the Wight Spirit trip Tel if the proposed dives fit in with my current level as outined above...

[Edit] Oh...I see 18m and 20m...probably still too advanced for me right now :-(

Dave,

If you can, take Terry up on his offer. They are a good bunch and do lots of diving, and training, at all levels.

Cheers/Nic

[ShinyD]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

SD , can you get down to Swanage pier next week on the 12th Thurs., there should be a few YDers bimbling under the pier,Hagen-Doofers( sp.)birthday I think, + Purple Vonny and a motley assortment of other divers

I'm doing Swanage with Hogen-Deifar, Purple Vonny and the rest on the 12th. Really looking forward to it too

Originally Posted by tootricky

Dave,

If you can, take Terry up on his offer. They are a good bunch and do lots of diving, and training, at all levels.

Cheers/Nic

I intend to - PM sent Tel

As I say, the guys on these forums are great and I appreciate the offers

[jcsp]

Not trying to have a go at your or new divers in general. But its not just up to the club to organise your diving for you, its up to you to organise it yourself. Ask in the club does any one mind taking you in for a dip somewhere. Make yourself heard is what i can say, and ask about. They may take into considerations when you ask and may be sort something out for the week after or an alternative site. I suppose thats where being bossy helps.
Be vocal and ask and they will know that there are people looking for shallower and should start to accomodate you more.

I spent the first 3/4 months of my qualified time organising my own dives at the weekend to quarries by asking people ive met. I have to say I have managed to dive most weekend sometimes even both days .

Good Luck.

James

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by jcsp

Not trying to have a go at your or new divers in general. But its not just up to the club to organise your diving for you, its up to you to organise it yourself. Ask in the club does any one mind taking you in for a dip somewhere. Make yourself heard is what i can say, and ask about. They may take into considerations when you ask and may be sort something out for the week after or an alternative site. I suppose thats where being bossy helps.
Be vocal and ask and they will know that there are people looking for shallower and should start to accomodate you more.

I spent the first 3/4 months of my qualified time organising my own dives at the weekend to quarries by asking people ive met. I have to say I have managed to dive most weekend sometimes even both days .

Good Luck.

James

Sorry that is crock and I think some clubs deserve bitch-slapping.

Bloke comes along to a club and the club officer will ask what he is
now and what he wants to do. At this point the awnser should be yes
we can do that, or no we are not doing that at the moment.

Then leave the newbie to decide if he's prepared to wait.

The club though seeing £ signs and a new member will just say yes to
anything, leaving said new member kicking his heels for months.

If you have to shout to be heard in a new club, then the only shout should
be "where is the exit".

T.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Southern_Dave

Just to detail my training/level - sorry, I missed it in the original post

I passed my PADI OW around a month ago, under which I'm qualified down to 18m, although to date I've 9 dives, the deepest of which was 13m.

I don't care which agency the club subscribes to really (I'm happy to do crossover).

As to the type of dives at the moment, well I have great belief in seeking advice from those with more experience, so any dives suitable for my current skills and with someone more experienced than I...



I'd jump at the Wight Spirit trip Tel if the proposed dives fit in with my current level as outined above...

[Edit] Oh...I see 18m and 20m...probably still too advanced for me right now :-(

Dave,
grab this with both hands, look at TerryH 's history of trips organised and events run
go along gain experience & then qualifications

this trip looks like it's right up your street.

Dave_S [that s is not for southern although i am]

[jcsp]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Sorry that is crock and I think some clubs deserve bitch-slapping.

Bloke comes along to a club and the club officer will ask what he is
now and what he wants to do. At this point the awnser should be yes
we can do that, or no we are not doing that at the moment.

Then leave the newbie to decide if he's prepared to wait.

The club though seeing £ signs and a new member will just say yes to
anything, leaving said new member kicking his heels for months.

If you have to shout to be heard in a new club, then the only shout should
be "where is the exit".

T.

As a side note i was not in a club for the 3/4 months of my qualified diving time.

But the question remains would you wait for someone to say do you want to do some training? or would you ask the diving officer/more experienced divers if theres someone available to take you in?

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by jcsp

But the question remains would you wait for someone to say do you want to do some training? or would you ask the diving officer/more experienced divers if theres someone available to take you in?

No because I woudnt join in the first place.

I looked at 5 clubs before I settled on SUCS.
4 BSAC, 1 SAA.

They ranged from a few members who couldnt fill the one boat they had,
to one that was blatantly charging a very high fee for new divers, knowing
they couldnt train them.

I chose the one that actually did what they said on the tin.

[ShinyD]

Originally Posted by jcsp

As a side note i was not in a club for the 3/4 months of my qualified diving time.

But the question remains would you wait for someone to say do you want to do some training? or would you ask the diving officer/more experienced divers if theres someone available to take you in?

Jcsp, your view is a valid one, and would suit some people, but I think you have to look at it from another point too.

Personally, as someone newly qualified to a sport and joining an established club I find myself doing the same as I have on the rare occasions I've changed jobs (even within the same company) - sitting back, listening and neither being too vocal nor demanding until I've got the feel of the dynamics of the group.

From a club point of view, unless that club is happy to remain small and introverted, they need to be taking ownership of anyone new, at least for the first few months, and making sure their requirements are met. People like me soon begin to feel like it's only our money that's important and not what we can bring to the club.

If clubs want to grow and have a future then they have to speculate to accumulate in the same way any other organisation does. If new people like me are catered for and included right from the start then in time that will be extended to other newcomers as experience and skills grow.

Just my view on things

[Tazzie]

Apologies ina dvance if this is seen as spam but it does answer directly the OP's request:

I've recently been involed in starting up a new club in the area called Southampton Divers who are forming for exactly the reasons you are looking for - to dive regularly for all levels of exoerience. Although we're based out of a PADI orientated shop we will cater for all agencies (I'm PADI and SAA personally)

It's our opening weekend this weekend, we've got a couple of dives planned in Swanage, weather permitting or Vobster if the weather doesn't permit, Although there are no boat places left you are more than welcome to join us either under the pier or in Vobster. The diving will be followed by a BBQ at the Freemantle Arms in Shirley.

If you are interested drop me a PM and I'll put you in touch with the right people!

Hope we can help you!