somewhere to learn to dive in the sunshine

[goldblum]

spikeyhead said:

goldblum said:

Are you sure? The Red Sea is one of the worlds top dive destinations,nowhere in Europe even comes close.

Why not check out some dive forums?...http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/matrix/

Who knows what the situation will be politically out there by then. If I'm going to book somewhere then I don't want to be making last minute changes due to the unwashed causing unrest.

so you're right, that rules out driving through France

Lol.

You can dive far enough south in Egypt that there is no town,people,infrastructure ie Hamata.BIG pelagics,if you're lucky.

Also Oman,7 hrs flying,Pilot whales,Whale sharks etc and politically stable.If there is such a thing in that part of the world.

There's a singles holiday going there in May..lots of people learning to dive..http://www.spiceuk.com/bookit/bkiteventwriteup.asp?eventno=001528

[spikeyhead]

goldblum said:

There's a singles holiday going there in May..lots of people learning to dive..http://www.spiceuk.com/bookit/bkiteventwriteup.asp?eventno=001528

Should I send the girlfroend on that whilst I freeze my knackers off in Wooky Hole?

[goldblum]

spikeyhead said:

goldblum said:

There's a singles holiday going there in May..lots of people learning to dive..http://www.spiceuk.com/bookit/bkiteventwriteup.asp?eventno=001528

Should I send the girlfroend on that whilst I freeze my knackers off in Wooky Hole?

Is the thread title "somewhere to learn to dive in the sunshine for my girlfriend?

Edited by goldblum on Friday 11th March 01:06

[spikeyhead]

I'm back, suntanned and am now certified PADI open water diver. Gozo, the island next to Malta is a lovely place to learn to dive. Spending the final night in Valetta, Malta's capital was educational, lots of interesting museums, I've seen the George Cross awarded to the island, and I've also learnt that I still don't like strolling round Mediteranean cities when its 35+ degrees hot.

I've enjoyed it thoroughly, as has the gf and we're now condsidering the advanced open water diver certification**

So what to do next? the Advanced open water qualification is the obvious choice, but to do this in Egypt, Malta or Stoney Cove?

I can think of pros and cons for all, but would appreciate guidance from those who have gone before.

[Stu R]

Haven't done any certification there, but I've done a few dives in Malta (been a while) and loved it. Egypt I've done 3 times, and each time I've come back with a 'hate the place, love the diving' viewpoint. Won't be going back there anytime in the near future.

[aircooler]

I've done the following, all in Malta & Gozo:

Open Water
Advanced Open Water
Wreck Specialist
Deep Specialist

There's so much great diving on the islands that there's always something new to do. Also, the factthere's so much more to do than just diving makes the place perfect to combine interests.

[carl carlson]

Do your advanced in the UK and get your dry suit cert. Then you will be used to UK dive conditions. There is some superb dive locations around the UK. There is the seal colonies up at seahouses. Then you have the German high fleet which was scuttled at Scapa. Oh and the countless wrecks around the south coast. If that doesn't float your boat then go scallop diving somewhere, grab a bag, stick scallops in it and then have a lovely dinner when you get home. hmmm...scallops.

Just don't go spidging please.

[spikeyhead]

I've now got a week off next month.

Is Egypt the best place to go in February? Can anyone recommend anywhere specific?

[Ganglandboss]

For a holiday or to do your AOW?

[swiftpete]

I went to the Philippines this summer and it was absolutely awesome. The diving there is the best any of us had done and between us we'd dived in various dive locations around the world. Certainly worth bearing in mind.
Thailand can also be good if you go somewhere that hasn't been rinsed out by excessive tourism, which has buggerated the coral. Scenery is nice too when you're out of the water. This is a place in Ko Chang, which we used as a base on a diving holiday I went on a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZqXeVV70ts&con...

[spikeyhead]

Ganglandboss said:

For a holiday or to do your AOW?

Both, though if we jsut dived without teh AOW it could still be fun at the right place.

[goldblum]

Southern Egypt,Marsa Alam,is good diving and you might encounter some pelagics if you wait a bit.I did both my AOW and Nitrox certs there.