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

[ShinyD]

First of all I wasn't sure where to put this as there's no apparent forum for clubs to advertise, or members to post seeking clubs. Apologies if this is in the wrong place...

Standard advice seems to be to join clubs to further experience and advance in diving, and I've no doubt the advice is correct. As with anything in life I guess you should be sure of what you're getting for your money before parting with it.

I've joined 2 clubs since qualifying, one of which I've heard nothing from other than 2 emails about future trips beyond my level of ability right now, and the other, well...

It's a good, small club, and the members are pretty much all very experienced, although the active divers form a small hardcore within the club. There's not much diving for levels that I'm at though, and that wasn't apparent on joining. I don't want to knock them. As I say, they're a good bunch but are mainly family orientated and for obvious reasons, want to dive to their level as and when they can get to dive. This, unfortunately, means that trying to get people interested in the 'simple' dives I can do right now is proving very difficult.

I've entered the sport quite late, and am keen to dive often - every weekend if I can, with occasional weekdays thrown in when I can get the time off work.

I'm having great difficulty in trying to do what I want (although some of the members here have been very kind and generous in asking me along, and I'm very grateful for that!).

So...two questions...

Any suggestions on what else I can do?

Any good, active clubs doing regular diving at my kind of level who meet regularly within an hours drive of New Milton in the New Forest? I'm happy to drive to any dive site (within reason) at weekends as and when required.

Maybe my expectations are too high? I want a certain degree of committment to me at my current level and I will in return commit 100% to the club as and when my experience and qualifications allow me to do so.

I'm not an ogre - honest. I think I'm friendly and easy-going, willing to 'muck in' where required and enthusiastic, although maybe that enthusiasm needs to be reined in a little by someone more experienced on occasions.

Sorry for 'pimping' myself, but it's harder than I thought to both find a club that meets my needs, and to get some regular diving in

[Fiona]

I might have missed it in your previous post but which agency are you wanting to train with.

[mala]

what sort of dives are you looking to do?

[Finless]

The obvious answer is that you should verify that any club you are going to join has the "right kind of divers for you" before you join.

I would try explaining to your current clubs of the error you have made and ask if it is possible to get a refund/partial refund on your subs. If nothing else it may prompt them to accomodate you a bit more ............ they can only say no?

If you are near to any of the ponds there are bound to be YDers there (Wraysbury Wed evenings) who prob wouldn't mind you going along?

[Spike Jackson]

Hi Dave
What level are you qualified to now?
Yours is unfortunatley a common complaint, most divers that are experienced enough to organise and run trips tend to organise trips to their ability and at both the clubs I've been a member of there were loads of 35m+ dives going but very little in the 18-30m range. My current club does make a big effort to sort out fairly regular trips for newer divers but these are still too few in number.
There are some boats where you can book on as an individual and try to sort out a buddy on the day. That said I suspect finding a buddy last minute that you're happy to dive with might not always be possible! Your best best for that sort of thing is probably the boats out of Swanage or Weymouth which operate shuttle style trips to medium depth ranges - Dive Dorset for example or Swanage Diver.
Otherwise YD can be a good source of buddies!
Club wise a largeish club actively training new members would have a range of different experience levels around and some newer divers in similar situations to yourself.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Southern_Dave

First of all I wasn't sure where to put this as there's no apparent forum for clubs to advertise, or members to post seeking clubs. Apologies if this is in the wrong place...

Standard advice seems to be to join clubs to further experience and advance in diving, and I've no doubt the advice is correct. As with anything in life I guess you should be sure of what you're getting for your money before parting with it.

I've joined 2 clubs since qualifying, one of which I've heard nothing from other than 2 emails about future trips beyond my level of ability right now, and the other, well...

It's a good, small club, and the members are pretty much all very experienced, although the active divers form a small hardcore within the club. There's not much diving for levels that I'm at though, and that wasn't apparent on joining. I don't want to knock them. As I say, they're a good bunch but are mainly family orientated and for obvious reasons, want to dive to their level as and when they can get to dive. This, unfortunately, means that trying to get people interested in the 'simple' dives I can do right now is proving very difficult.

I've entered the sport quite late, and am keen to dive often - every weekend if I can, with occasional weekdays thrown in when I can get the time off work.

I'm having great difficulty in trying to do what I want (although some of the members here have been very kind and generous in asking me along, and I'm very grateful for that!).

So...two questions...

Any suggestions on what else I can do?

Any good, active clubs doing regular diving at my kind of level who meet regularly within an hours drive of New Milton in the New Forest? I'm happy to drive to any dive site (within reason) at weekends as and when required.

Maybe my expectations are too high? I want a certain degree of committment to me at my current level and I will in return commit 100% to the club as and when my experience and qualifications allow me to do so.

I'm not an ogre - honest. I think I'm friendly and easy-going, willing to 'muck in' where required and enthusiastic, although maybe that enthusiasm needs to be reined in a little by someone more experienced on occasions.

Sorry for 'pimping' myself, but it's harder than I thought to both find a club that meets my needs, and to get some regular diving in

Easy Dave, join a club that actually works to it's demographic,
goes diving and trains you.

Have 3 spaces on a "new diver" boat this weekend on Wight Spirit
based at Lymington (err that will be next to New Milton then lol).
Cost £36 for the day.
Introduction - Son of Crust - The divers choice!

Has a lift as well

Sat 7th - Clan McVay (18m) + 2nd.
Sat 8th - Fenna (20m) + 2nd.

Unlike other clubs we dont expect you to join until you know what we
are like. So happy to have guest divers.

Tel.

[PW1664]

Unfortunately it is a common problem. It's very important to find out what and how often club trips are organised. It's also inportant to find out how they cater for dives, what and how often training is provided and to what level.

You should also try to verify exactly what is being done, it's not unusual for people to oversell to prospective members. Not because they're dis-honest, more because they want their club to be seen in a good light.

We have 2 positions on our committee representing New Members and Lesser experienced Members. This helps with quality checks in the Club and does something towards reducing the more experienced guys believing their own rhetoric!!

Finally though, remember the trouble you are having when you too become more experienced and wish to concentrate on the more advanced diving !!

[ShinyD]

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...

Originally Posted by TerryH

Easy Dave, join a club that actually works to it's demographic,
goes diving and trains you.

Have 3 spaces on a "new diver" boat this weekend on Wight Spirit
based at Lymington (err that will be next to New Milton then lol).
Cost £36 for the day.
Introduction - Son of Crust - The divers choice!

Has a lift as well

Sat 7th - Clan McVay (18m) + 2nd.
Sat 8th - Fenna (20m) + 2nd.

Unlike other clubs we dont expect you to join until you know what we
are like. So happy to have guest divers.

Tel.

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 :-(

[mala]

i'm not familiar with your local sites but up here there is plenty good diving in the farnes and eyemouth suitable for dives up to 20m.
even a dive in a puddle is good for practice if you have been out of the water for a while.
check out the yd trips -there is always something happening.
i don't think i have actually ever been on a club trip.
if you are really stuck for a buddy just pm me -chabces are we can do something.

might even be a good idea to go to the canaries for a week on a cheapy hol and use it as a stepping stone towards uk sea diving.

daryl

[TerryH]

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 :-(

Your max is 18m as PADI OW, but remember your PADI progresson bit?
As long as you dive with a more experinced diver who can take you that
bit further no probs.

As for depths, these are PADI OW/BSAC Ocean depths.
Depths rarely exceed whats stated as that's the deepest based on the
highest tide. Often they will be shallower + that is to the sea bed.
If we need to be shallower still, then what's wrong with top of wreck :-)

If you join us you will be with an experienced diver, so no worries.

Tel.