Author Topic: Very noob question.. (Read 893 times)

hadiDiver · « **on:** October 01, 2011, 11:34:38 AM »

Hi, i just finish doing my Advanced Open Water. This may sound like a very basic question, but I would like to know what is the best/cheapest way to increase dive experience.

I'm eager to go diving, but every time I look at the packages offered by dive centers or resort, the packages will cost about 400 bucks for 3-4 dives. I'm just curious on how other divers could achieved more than 100 dives if the cost is this pricey.

Would love to hear ur suggestions and ur experiences on the matter! XD

irukandji · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:59:13 PM »

1) Do more dives on a dive trip. The more dives you do, the cheaper 'one dive' will become.
2) Stay at budget motel/resort/shack. Save on stay to dive more.
3) Dive LOB, normally they have unlimited dives. Dive till you drop.
4) Join Project AWARE, Reef check, u/w cleanup and other environmental activity. Sometimes you get good deals on the dives.
5) Get your own equipment if you have intention to do more than 100 dives, rental easily cost RM80 - RM100 per day.

I bet divers with 100 dives don't dive 100 times in a short period. If you spread out 100 dives in a few years that will not seem a lot.
A small note, don't worry too much about the numbers. It's not about how many dives you have, it's how many dives you enjoy!

yeekeong · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:34:36 PM »

i agree with irukandji, it's not the numbers of dives, its the number of QUALITY dives. why chase a number for the sake of a number? i think i logged more than 100 dives, or maybe not....cos i never bothered keeping count. just dive and enjoy diving. go LOB, dive too much also ear pain, body pain....i think 5-6 dives per trip is good enough

run · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:39:40 PM »

My 100th dive takes 3 years. I want to buy my gears take 2 years of saving...how about that

Quite surprise cause you are already at the advance stage, saying the dives are costly, kinda too late.
You should've expected this thing once you signed up as OW?

Go for DM. You invest a lot but then once you are a DM, you get to buy gears at cheaper rate, get free dives as DM for any DC or instructors with students. You try to organize any dive trip, take around 10-15 divers and get free for your dives
Some time there are even imposters/expired license DM/Instructor, just bcoz want to get cheaper price.

hadiDiver · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:24:23 PM »

Yeap, i realised it is an expensive hobby, but I wanted to hear suggestions from other divers on ways minimize the cost for diving. Thanks guys for all the input. Totally agree about the quality over quantity.

It just that it amazes me that people i met during my course have done so much dives at such a young age which got me thinking if there was some other ways to increase my diving that wouldn't cost as much. But yeah, time to save up money! Happy diving people! XD

vash_h · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2011, 11:35:29 AM »

why do you want to achieve 100 dives? i couldn't care how many dives i do.. just that i enjoy every single dive i make..

unless you want to go professional in diving..

toodus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2011, 10:11:32 PM »

When I go Perhentian, I don't stay at resorts/chalets. I set up camp or just a sleeping bag at Teluk Kekek to save money. Quite extreme.

Another way to increase your dives is to find a dive centre with unlimited shore dives. That way, after the 3 mandatory boat dives, you can still go diving with a buddy. And after you've accumulated a wealth of safety experience, you can dive alone (not recommended) if your buddy or DM is tired. My record is 6 dives a day.
1. Dawn dive (Alone)
2. Boat dive
3. Boat dive
4. Boat dive
5. Shore Dive (Alone)
6. Night Dive

Again, diving alone is not recommended unless you know what you're doing.

run · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2011, 10:20:51 PM »

Quote from: toodus on October 04, 2011, 10:11:32 PM

When I go Perhentian, I don't stay at resorts/chalets. I set up camp or just a sleeping bag at Teluk Kekek to save money. Quite extreme.

Another way to increase your dives is to find a dive centre with unlimited shore dives. That way, after the 3 mandatory boat dives, you can still go diving with a buddy. And after you've accumulated a wealth of safety experience, you can dive alone (not recommended) if your buddy or DM is tired. My record is 6 dives a day.
1. Dawn dive (Alone)
2. Boat dive
3. Boat dive
4. Boat dive
5. Shore Dive (Alone)
6. Night Dive

Again, diving alone is not recommended unless you know what you're doing.

toodus..now that you have a dive comp..i wonder if the dive comp will scream at you hhahaha

oldturtle · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2011, 01:12:26 AM »

Hi toodus..if you 'camp' at anytime did you make use on facilty like toilet /shower in any of the resort ? and can you enlightened us on your 6 dives per day adventure. ..especially what pressure group are you in prior to your night dive .? ( assuming your average dives on that day is max.18m and 45min.)

Tks.

toodus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2011, 05:11:28 AM »

I use the facilities at the dive centre like shower/toilet right before I go to camp site. Teluk Kekek has a well, so sometimes I use the well to bath.

The 3 mandatory boat dives are usually at 18m and 45 min. My shore dives like the recent SWV was at 13.5m at 50minutes.
At Celebes Beach Resort, my shore dives were at 16-20m at 40 minutes.

vash_h · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2011, 06:38:59 AM »

once i went diving with a stupid ang moh.. supposed to have 4 dives that day (3 boat and 1 night shore dive), and he did additional dive between dive 1 and 2.. he totally screw up our 2nd dive, because 25 minutes into the dive his dive comp was screaming at him.. so everyone had to surface..

run · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2011, 08:27:32 AM »

Quote from: toodus on October 05, 2011, 05:11:28 AM

I use the facilities at the dive centre like shower/toilet right before I go to camp site. Teluk Kekek has a well, so sometimes I use the well to bath.

kudoooos to you maaaaan!!! hahahaha

nanda666 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2011, 08:59:33 AM »

Diving cheap...????

I honestly think some sports are just not meant to be cheap. Diving, skydiving, skiing, golf, equestrian/horse riding/showjumping, etc, etc just to name a few.

The technology involved, cost of manufacture (Doubt you would trust your life to "el cheapo" dive coms, BCDs or regs, right??

), care, effort and time off required itself is a major obstacle for most "normal" working people.)

How many of us have the luxury of 30 days annual leave or more????

If you do have that amount of leave, you're already at a financial stage in your life where you're not "el cheapo" or at least, don't have to be la..

.

The cheaper dive trips/dive equipment/dive support gets, the more (I fear) will be accidents, incidents and complaints as well.

Have we not heard of:

1. Badly maintained resorts
2. Badly maintained dive boats,tanks, rental equipment, etc.
3. Badly organised trips with hidden cost

Why are all these mainly in Asia??? Not the Bahamas or Cayman Islands? Not in Australia? (Yeah....I miss "el cheapo" diving in Tioman, Perhentian.....but hey...every cloud has a silver lining)

My personnal advise is to save up and go for good equipment and good dive trip with well run establishments.

You can camp on the beach and dive....but do it because you want/like to and not the $$$ saving idea.

You will have a better diving experience. (Trust me....it will be worth it!!!

)

run · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2011, 09:25:57 AM »

nanda666 im sure..with the extra age each year, the diving style will be different. Why only in Asia?? I guess asian are built for toughness. Cheap or stylish. Throw us anywhere, we will survive hehehehe..for toodus...i gotta hand it to him..he is not cheapo but his style is just go for basic necessity hehehe. He should've sign up with marines hehehe.

decimal86 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2011, 10:25:25 AM »

Quote from: nanda666 on October 05, 2011, 08:59:33 AM

Diving cheap...????

I honestly think some sports are just not meant to be cheap. Diving, skydiving, skiing, golf, equestrian/horse riding/showjumping, etc, etc just to name a few.

The technology involved, cost of manufacture (Doubt you would trust your life to "el cheapo" dive coms, BCDs or regs, right?? ), care, effort and time off required itself is a major obstacle for most "normal" working people.)

How many of us have the luxury of 30 days annual leave or more????

If you do have that amount of leave, you're already at a financial stage in your life where you're not "el cheapo" or at least, don't have to be la.. .

The cheaper dive trips/dive equipment/dive support gets, the more (I fear) will be accidents, incidents and complaints as well.

Have we not heard of:

1. Badly maintained resorts
2. Badly maintained dive boats,tanks, rental equipment, etc.
3. Badly organised trips with hidden cost

Why are all these mainly in Asia??? Not the Bahamas or Cayman Islands? Not in Australia? (Yeah....I miss "el cheapo" diving in Tioman, Perhentian.....but hey...every cloud has a silver lining)

My personnal advise is to save up and go for good equipment and good dive trip with well run establishments.

You can camp on the beach and dive....but do it because you want/like to and not the $$$ saving idea.

You will have a better diving experience. (Trust me....it will be worth it!!! )

i second nanda666 on his opinion. if u think you r saving on cheaper resorts, beware, there is a reason why they are so cheap. nobody goes there?

some sports are not meant to be cheap. i think he forgot the insurance bit that DC take out? if they offer unlimited dives, then hey thats a good offer! there's yr 5 dives a day right there.

just think of it..we are voluntarily subjecting ourselves to a known hazard, so equipment, insurance (by DC) and by self ( DAN ) , transport, tips to DM (pls tell me you do tip?) and food and drinks at DC all add up to more than our usual sarabat stall near our offices.

i mean you can eat at the roadside stall in philippines and indon, (or even Tioman/Redang) but will you make it for the afternoon dive or sit on the throne for the next few days?

i have 260 dives over 2 years, no i did not do it for the numbers, but for the pure joy of being with the best in nature-colour, shape, temperament, design, and all that which makes us custodians. saw this DM at SWV let the juvenile eel curl around his bare arms-=way kewl!! they sometimes bite him...a little bit he says.

sometimes 5 dives a day, if i have goofed up my shots.

as the other guys have said, dive for the sake of diving and enjoyment, if u are seeking a carreer out of this then cheers man! you have chosen an enviable career. i oso thinking of taking up. hmm what about cave diving, tech,wreck diving and rescue? more money right?

but hey camping on the beach and just the dive trips i have not tried....scouting days bro'!! muka head..pantai keracut in penang.

oldturtle · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:05:59 AM »

Quote from: toodus on October 05, 2011, 05:11:28 AM

I use the facilities at the dive centre like shower/toilet right before I go to camp site. Teluk Kekek has a well, so sometimes I use the well to bath.

The 3 mandatory boat dives are usually at 18m and 45 min. My shore dives like the recent SWV was at 13.5m at 50minutes.
At Celebes Beach Resort, my shore dives were at 16-20m at 40 minutes.

very tight ptential DCS window ..no way you dive with a divecom did you ? as for sleeping inder the star ..I envy you . ..wanted to..never get to do ir..now if does it..probably my shell couldnt offered more protection nowadys ..

run · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:13:58 AM »

oldturtle...your shell will gugur already if you follow his style hahaha
Toodus mentioned that he just recently got his DComp and lock at SWV. So of coz that 6dives without the dive comp.

toodus · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2011, 01:38:56 PM »

Yeah , after 2 dives, I think I tertekan to Dive Free and it locked after that. Are you saying with my kind of dives (6 dives) and the Suunto is in correct mode, it will "beep" at me?

run · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2011, 02:05:55 PM »

Yeap..and its annoying

but as long as you do not ascend fast, decend too fast, follow deep stops, follow deco level it wont beep.
if you were to be drag by current it will also beep coz you might ascend and descend suddenly.
You can adjust the beep manually, if you want it to beep.

Malxn · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:33:47 PM »

Move near to town that close to Island... like KK or KB..... then you can dive anytime you want....!! Or work at the resort become Resort Manager or staff (Always can dive for free!!!) I met someone like this position in KK recently

Fubar · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2011, 12:21:46 AM »

I've been diving from March 2009...as of today...I hit 68 dives. Another 9 dives next week ^^ and another 9 dives this Dec.
just join more diving trips thats all...but if you are married or attached then either you infect your partner with scuba diving or you prepare to get screamed at.
i bought my gears only after 6 months ..why? cuz i know I am a dive addict and in the long run, I save more by bringing my own gears...eh...RM25 saving a dive leh...sikit sikit lama lama jadi BCD baru....atau regulators baru...atau...camera baru...hahahahahaah
bottomline, just go have fun...dont be obesses with how many dives you going to do or when you going to hit 100 dives.
be obesses on when you going to see whale sharks, hammerhead, mola2, manta, pygmy, blue ring octo, mimic...the list go on and on and on

dp · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2011, 04:02:21 PM »

Quote from: nanda666 on October 05, 2011, 08:59:33 AM

How many of us have the luxury of 30 days annual leave or more????

Nanda666 : No need 30 days annual leave lah. Malaysia already gives out 18-20 public holidays a year

hadiDiver: RM400 for every 3-4 dives is actually pretty reasonable, compared to rates you get diving outside of Malaysia, or the region for that matter. (or course, DMs and other professional sifus enjoy better rates than we do).

While i dont really subscribe to pitching a tent - cos i have too many things to charge overnight

- staying in dorms with your other dive buddies/group can be quite fun too. Looking at the schedules we all keep these days, I would be more than happy if i can squeeze a "quickie weekend" trip every month or two.