Need a couple of people to go diving with...

Peace

Hi,

So recently i've been trying to get booked in on a boat that operates near Rathlin Island and can't seem to manage it. Bascially i'm stuck depending on other people booking the boat first and then myself and dive buddy can book in. Its not economical for the dive operator to take just 2 divers out, we'd need at least 4.

We did have the boat booked for this weekend but with 24hours i got the call that the other group of divers that had pulled out and that yet again we couldn't go diving because there was just 2 of us.

The boat: Hard boat that sleeps 8 people throughout 2 bunk rooms. Has full toilet facilities including shower. Galley and eating area with TV/DVD/CD player. Compressor onboard. Nitrox/Trimix fills (assuming you're qualified!). And to top it all off a hydraulic lift that plucks you out of the water at the end of a dive...mmmmm.
The weekend is basically a B&B plus diving except its all on the boat.

The skipper: Really nice guy by the name of David Carson. Himself and the wife (Nicky) have converted and old trawler into a reasonably comfortable liveaboard. In my opinion its the best boat i've dived from in Ireland.

The diving: Around rathlin island is meant to be pretty good. I've been on the boat and dived in the malin head area. In Malin you're talking about the Arco Delos/Laurentic/William Mannell/Castle Eden and other great dives. In rathlin area i've heard that the Lough Gary (troop transport) is mean to be a superb dive with the option of pentrating the wreck if you are so inclined.

Price is 65stg (i think! ) but it includes 3 square meal a day, accomodation onboard and your diving so altough it sounds expensive its not.

There's no webpage that i'm aware of but i know its on the way.

bigfeller

Would be interested but all my weekends seem to be consumed with birthdays/weddings/"special time" (not that I mind the last one at all ). Looks like I'll be waiting till the club trip to Sligo at the end of the month.

Sounds good though....

Scubachick

Are you two in a CFT club? If so, you can do a certain amount of guest dives with each club. Once you have paid your CFT membership fees you will be covered by insurance. Normally you only have to pay the usual boat/ air fill fees like other club members. This means that you don't need a buddy as such, just contact the club to let them know you are coming.

I am in Kilkee Sub Aqua Club. As Kilkee is basically a holiday resort we quite often have guest divers. It helps if you already know someone, or if your DO gives you a letter of introduction. This is just so that we know your level of diving competancy. Our DO, Noel, is diving for quiet a few decades, so he tends to know all the other DOs!

If you fancy visiting us let me know: scubachick(at)o2.ie (Just wrote that to try to prevent the address crawlers from spamming me :mad: ! You know where to put the @)

Optikus

Hi i did 2 30min dives in Gran Canaria last year .. i was going to do some PADI course for around 300 euros but moved back to ireland... TBH it was the best thing i ever did i really enjoyed it and basically am wondering is there anywhere in the midlands anyone knows of where could go to learn how to dive..if so how much will it be.. would i need to purchase/rent any equipment and how much would that cost.

Scubachick

Hi,
All the CFT clubs will be starting their winter training around about now. Athlone, Roscommon and Longford all have clubs. Try www.scubaireland.com for the club details.

As a PADI diver you may have to start your training again. I am a PADI instructor and I had to start again! It is really up to the Training Officer. However, most club members go into the pool once a week over the winter - just to keep up thier fitness and keep the gear oiled!

To join a club you will initially need a snorkel, mask, fins and boots. Most clubs have pool gear for the new members use. Some will even help them with the first few open water dives. However you should be looking to get your own suit, gloves and hood by April.

If you would like to continue your training with PADI I beleive that all the Irish schools are on the coast, rather than the midlands. Many schools close for the winter, as the diving is so weather dependant.

Hope this helps,

Scubachick

Optikus

Excellant advice thanks alot.. just one more quick question.. how long did it take you to become an instructor.. this is something i could quite possibly be interested in as the reason i got into it is i met someone who was doing the instrutors course in GC.. and now he is in Australia doing it.. just seems like the kinda job you can do all over the world.

Evil Phil

I believe with PADI its possible to become qualified in 6 months. Its a lot of hard work though and I don't think operators will give you a job without experience. Most instructors I've known qualified as a Dive Master and got work at that level. Then they moved there way up as they ticked up experience, usually in warm sunny places.

Look at PADI's website for further details on becoming a professional with them. I don't know about CFT, Scubachick I feel has that info.

Peace

Scubachick, i'm not really interested in joining a CFT club. I enjoy the roaming aspect of my diving...

Evil_Phil, welcome back dude. I heard you were in town recently on the beer ... i have spies everywhere.

Optikus, check out the sticky's... lots of helpfull links in there to get you sorted on training and gear. Oh... and get your own thread.

NordicDiver

Scubachick wrote:

I am a PADI instructor and I had to start again!

Scubachick

If some stuck up CFT guy said that to me, I would ask him to go to a VERY bad place!!

Scubachick

Peace, you can roam equally well with CFT. My hubby had no problems in Tenerife this year with his CFT qualifications in a PADI school. YOu can also similtaniously be a PADI diver and a CFT diver.

Octikus, you can do your PADI instructors ticket from scratch within 6 months. But this is basically diving/ training for 8 hours a day throughout. Some OZ dive operators offer a package deal with accommodation/ training. You can also work as an Intern while learning, which will reduce the cost but make the course longer. Your are right, you can travel worldwide with a PADI instructor accreditation. However, the money isn't great and the work is very physicially tough. Often food/ board/ cheap gear is in lieu of full pay. It can be tough earning enough money for the flight to the next place! I have also found that it cost me a lot of money to get as far as instructor level, but I have not made any return!

NordicDiver, CFT will cross over PADI divers who are up to advanced level, but after that the links are broken and CFT seem not to really know how to handle a more qualified diver! They don't want me to instruct CFT courses as I have never been on a course (fair enough). However, instead of making me sit a test to see what I do or don't know, they are asking me to sit on each and every CFT course (basically start my training again). In addition, I have to do the CFT boat handling course and their rescue/ CPR training. The fact that I am also a National Ambulance Training School First Aid instructor counts for nothing. Same deal with my RYA powerboating qualifications. This is my third CFT club and the first time I have been given a CFT qualification (diver 2*!!) Pain in the tanks, but atleast I just get to go fun diving instead of my usual role of "weapons" control officer! My DO is really mad, as the club badly needs instructors/ boat handlers but legally he cannot allow me to do that role.