Dive centres to recommend?

[seankyh]

:bsmilie:

or

Pay And Die Immediately......okay lar kidding

different strokes, different takes...or the otherway round?

Depends on your focus lar.. I wasn't looking for serious diving. I only wanted to do recreational diving. Meaning, I don't like going in too deep and if there is strong currents, I will hang back and not chiong all the way. Didn't want to get to caught up in the tech stuff.

I also did a PADI Advanced Openwater because it allows me to do night dives but again, those are usually in relatively shallow waters.

PADI certification allows me access to almost all dive locations. I have not been disallowed from diving so far with the certification I have.

 

[plsoong]

Depends on your focus lar.. I wasn't looking for serious diving. I only wanted to do recreational diving. Meaning, I don't like going in too deep and if there is strong currents, I will hang back and not chiong all the way. Didn't want to get to caught up in the tech stuff.

I also did a PADI Advanced Openwater because it allows me to do night dives but again, those are usually in relatively shallow waters.

PADI certification allows me access to almost all dive locations. I have not been disallowed from diving so far with the certification I have.

yep...PADI is probably the largest most commercialized diving certification

followed by the rest?



most of the big leagues and recognized ones won't be disallowed anywhere unless its some obscure exotic diving cert from say...Mozambique (maybe even better than NAUI?!?!?!? :bigeyes: )

 

[Gymrat76]

hi plsoong,
Thanks for the info on BS-AC! Think this is more of what I'm looking for.. good emphasis on safety and the fundamentals. Had a friend who did BS-AC who told me about it and didn't recall until you mentioned it.

Saw that there's a Dive Club 854 in Singapore which follows the BS-AC syllabus. Not too expensive also, charges $480 for the Ocean Diver course, excluding equipment, and only local dives (pulau Hantu)

Would like to know more about BS-AC... does it mean that after I complete the Ocean Diver, I will be able to dive with a buddy anywhere? Is BS-AC recognized worldwide? Thanks

 

[drakon09]

PADI, NAUI, BSAC and all that yadda yadda are basically teaching the same thing.

A lot depends on the instructor; how thorough and how much emphasis is placed on safety, how strict is he with the students; his personal intepretation of a person "qualified" to dive.

After that, it is very much personal responsibility; the diver is in charge of his own safety. Dive within your limits, don't try anything funny, don't try to act hero, don't try to show off in front of the girls and you'll be fine.

The worst thing for a DM like me is to have divers try all the above.

 

[seankyh]

PADI, NAUI, BSAC and all that yadda yadda are basically teaching the same thing.

A lot depends on the instructor; how thorough and how much emphasis is placed on safety, how strict is he with the students; his personal intepretation of a person "qualified" to dive.

After that, it is very much personal responsibility; the diver is in charge of his own safety. Dive within your limits, don't try anything funny, don't try to act hero, don't try to show off in front of the girls and you'll be fine.

The worst thing for a DM like me is to have divers try all the above.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: DM love me one. I very kuai kuai one neber try to impress gerrls although they always hold on to me :sweatsm:

 

[drakon09]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: DM love me one. I very kuai kuai one neber try to impress gerrls although they always hold on to me :sweatsm:

Good boy! :bsmilie:

 

[plsoong]

hi plsoong,
Thanks for the info on BS-AC! Think this is more of what I'm looking for.. good emphasis on safety and the fundamentals. Had a friend who did BS-AC who told me about it and didn't recall until you mentioned it.

Saw that there's a Dive Club 854 in Singapore which follows the BS-AC syllabus. Not too expensive also, charges $480 for the Ocean Diver course, excluding equipment, and only local dives (pulau Hantu)

Would like to know more about BS-AC... does it mean that after I complete the Ocean Diver, I will be able to dive with a buddy anywhere? Is BS-AC recognized worldwide? Thanks

Hey no worries,

i used to be in Dive Club 854....even know some of the instructors there

they are a friendly and VERY knowledgeable bunch

BSAC is probably the most recognized (but NOT the largest commercial) certification in the world for safety and quality. IIRC, Sports Diver minimum to dive anywhere. just make sure u do study for it..... coz one of my friends did fail his/her test and had extra lessons LOL!

Pulau Hantu is a very good training ground (contrary to what most people say). The fact is tat the waters are literally like green pea soup that you're forced to hone your basics, SELF DISCIPLINE and spatial awareness to the point that when u go to clearer waters (like in their organized trips) u won't be like other groups which just zoom here zoom there :sweat:

i will not say its THE ONE AND ONLY course...but i'm very confident to say that it will drill u well and good.

 

[antacid]

basic gear like mask, fins, snorkel can cost you anywhere from $150-$500.

Masks usually start from 30+ (cheap, training gear) to 150 or even 300+ for the high-tech ones.

Fins is a prickly topic, because you have to choose between blade fins or split fins, closed heel or open heel (need booties)

Snorkels range from $18-70 as well.

You probably don't need to a get a wetsuit yet if you're diving in Malaysia etc. Can get it from $99 to 300+.

I like to tell my friends that diveshops are like dive equipment. They fulfill the same purpose, so why the great difference in prices? More expensive suggests they're better, but doesn't guarantee it. But somehow, if they can charge that price and people still use that equipment, then its probably not bad. haha

Like I said earlier, there's a very bad price war going on now, hence the big difference in prices. To cut prices, something must be replaced. Even if nothign in the course is taken out, profits must be reduced which means more students per trip is needed, which may affect the level of attention and training you receive.

My advice: Shop around, visit the shops you've listed, and even ask to sit in on one of their classes. Find one that fits your 'style' and you'll be comfortable with, cos you'll probably be diving with them for your leisure trips and other courses!

 

[plsoong]

PADI, NAUI, BSAC and all that yadda yadda are basically teaching the same thing.

A lot depends on the instructor; how thorough and how much emphasis is placed on safety, how strict is he with the students; his personal intepretation of a person "qualified" to dive.

After that, it is very much personal responsibility; the diver is in charge of his own safety. Dive within your limits, don't try anything funny, don't try to act hero, don't try to show off in front of the girls and you'll be fine.

The worst thing for a DM like me is to have divers try all the above.

i beg to differ....maybe the "common" dry stuff like depth guage, chart readings and all that are the same in theory.

like i said, i've attended NAUI's course to open water diver and even though its "BSAC standard of sports diver, a few of us went thru the entire course (with our "student discount back then) for Sports diver AGAIN (!@$#%^&$*&) and thought....wah lau....need to go thru all those crap again?!?!?! so lppl go thru....initially, a couple of us were very sceptical of any much different, but at the end of of it, we realised that although many common stuff are "already covered", there are additional important safety regulations, initial first response, the KNOW HOW are readily shared by various instructors.

u don't have just 1 instructor drilling u all the time as that becomes very biased.

anywayz, i don't work for them, and haven't dived for a long long time liao..... still stuck with my mares fins! :sweat:

 

[antacid]

PADI, NAUI, BSAC and all that yadda yadda are basically teaching the same thing.

A lot depends on the instructor; how thorough and how much emphasis is placed on safety, how strict is he with the students; his personal intepretation of a person "qualified" to dive.

After that, it is very much personal responsibility; the diver is in charge of his own safety. Dive within your limits, don't try anything funny, don't try to act hero, don't try to show off in front of the girls and you'll be fine.

The worst thing for a DM like me is to have divers try all the above.

amen to that!
((=

oh, but i have girls showing off to me...in their bikinis... hahahaha

which other hobby/sport in Singapore lets you hang around with people in swimsuits everyday? maybe should organise diving trips for the CKPs who stake out exhibitions and events!

 

[cityofangels]

I have recently done my refresher course with Waikiki Dive Centre and I have no complains about them. My colleagues did their Open Water & Advance with them too, with no complains.

Good & friendly service. :thumbsup:

You can get more advice at SG Scuba and I am sure one of the many friendly people will advise you on your queries on dive centers, equipment, etc.

 

[drakon09]

Dive Centres in Singapore are really dime a dozen.

For every good comment on the centre, a bad one will be soon to follow.

I've seen instructors pass the most incompetent student divers (and these are the divers that really stress out the DMs); yet I've also worked with instructors that have failed 75% of their students (for their own good of course).

I really cannot comment which centres are "better". There are good and bad DMs/instructors in all of them.

 

[foxwagon]

Any operators to recommend that do this? Thanks

http://www.whitemanta.com/

try this. Zippsy is an instructor/forummer here that blow bubbles in the U/W photo section.

They are not the cheapest but you pay for the comfort. Shop around the different dive schools, go with the one you feel most easy with.

 

[LOTUSfairy]

whose going for beginner class, please PM me..I oso want to join...

 

[Gymrat76]

Hey no worries,

i used to be in Dive Club 854....even know some of the instructors there

they are a friendly and VERY knowledgeable bunch

Just realized their website has not been updated since 2005! Are they even still in existance??

Orpheus dives looks promising, a few good comments on the sgscuba forum, but a bit more pricey. $520 for Open water. Does this include stuff like equipment rental (mask, etc) and transport fees to and from the dive areas?

Is the combo package worth it, $699 for both OPen water and advanced open water at the same time? And which place is nicer for diving, P. Dayang or P. Tioman?

Thanks

 

[antacid]

yup, the price includes all equipment, travel to/from resort from the diveshop, training dives, and PADI materials

in my opinion, the package is great, cos you get your Advanced as well which you probably would anyway in the future because open water only certifies you to 18m, and no night dives. most dive sites go beyond 18m, and night dives are always my favourite!

some people would argue that you should get more experience before doing your advanced. to me it makes no difference. can always get the experience after that. just don't think that you're an advanced diver and be a hero!

think Dayang and Tioman same-same... Tioman is abit more commercialised, with grocery stores and coffeeshops. Dayang is seriously built for diving and nothing else.

My album from Tioman > http://www.colouredshots.com/site/albums/Tioman20Oct06-album/
Album from Dayang > http://www.colouredshots.com/site/albums/DayangJune2006-album/

Disclaimer: If the places look shitty, its because the guy with the camera is damn lousy

 

[Gymrat76]

Thanks antacid,

Good info there, will look at the photos during lunch.

Question though: How is the training offered at Orpheus? Do they have a strong safety culture and stress the fundamentals or the more common, just-get it done with ASAP kind of attitude? Because I really want a place that stresses both these aspects.

I did get a bad comment from a personal friend of mine on Orpheus.. he had organized a trip with his buddy and when they went out, they just asked them to get in and come back in 45minutes, didn't allocate anyone to show them around. He was quite dissatisfied with the service.

Heheh, am I being too overcautious or KS over this? :sweatsm:

 

[drakon09]

Gymrat, there are both good and bad people in all dive centres.

My suggestion is to take a trip down to the various centres, speak to the instructors, listen to them sell their koyok, and make your decision from there. Remember that you'll be under NO obligation to join, so choose prudently.

You could start at the Mohamad Sultan/River Valley area, there are quite a few centres there.

I cannot recommend because it would be unethical for me to do so.

 

[lovells19]

its just like the debate of canon and nikon which is better..

in the end how safe you are is how safe you want to be

 

[drakon09]

Spot on!