sunbound unsound beach party

[Pieface]

Does that mean you could teach me? I'll get flippers! Are you week one?

 

[treefrog]

Yep, week one. I'll probably be taking 2 sets of gear anyway (going to teach the better half as well). Will probably go on a recce on the first day to find a suitable shore with interesting beasties in it!

 

[EastEnder]

I'd like to snorkel - not that I really know what I'm doing but I like to look at stuff in the sea.

You'll be needing these....

 

[girasol]

been snorkelling since I was knee-high to a jellyfish and got my PADI open water last summer. Probably in more for the snorkelling TBH, diving gear is a heavy thing to lug down to Italy!

I did the BSAC Sub Aqua course a few years ago, but couldn't finish it because the water was too cold and I couldn't breath properly!

I think if I tried again I'd probably connect everything the wrong way!

 

[treefrog]

PADI is better IME, more emphasis on the diving than classroom theory. Need to do some UK diving, but I'm too poor

 

[girasol]

PADI is better IME, more emphasis on the diving than classroom theory. Need to do some UK diving, but I'm too poor

Well, the instructor kept having a dig at PADI, there seemed to be a lot of competition between the two. We did have to do a theory test though and be well versed on the theory of it all. Fat lot of good it did me when it came to diving into a lake and the water was 8 degrees...

I was good at diving in the swimming pool though

 

[treefrog]

Yeah, BSAC and PADI have never seen eye-to-eye. BSAC think PADI are a bunch of joyriding yahoos who only cater to the holiday market and not to the serious diver, PADI think BSAC are a bunch of stuffy killjoys who are more obsessed with tables and lectures than enjoying the ocean and doing fun stuff. Guess which side of the fence I fall down on

 

[girasol]

So, BSAC are the geeks of the diving world!

Although I did my course with BSAC not through choice, but because they run a cheap course in my university, I probably did with the right people!

 

[Pieface]

Cool!

We have a snorkel posse - I'm really excited about doing some of that!

 

[pinkmonkey]

PADI ?

In my case it'll be doggy paddle

 

[Cloo]

Will anyone have spare tent space... I'm needing a holiday (without gsv cos he's spending his holiday money buggering off to a family wedding) so I'd consider coming out for a week (I could do either) if one of you nice people has the space.

 

[ChrisFilter]

ah, the so snorkel crew.. tried snorkelling but it bothers me, I prefer to go au naturelle. not naked though.

 

[treefrog]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water....

 

[Pieface]

...he renders most land unsafe as well

 

[ChrisFilter]

that's a bit mean..

 

[Pieface]

Oh you can take it - go on, take it Mr Filter! Take it!

 

[ChrisFilter]

get off my bum

 

[treefrog]

[pirate] yarrr, this be no desert island!! And that be no x marking the spot either! Back to the ship, lads, this be ChrisFilter's bum![/pirate]

 

[ChrisFilter]

 

[Pieface]

I may also take an eye patch for tomfoolery and mugging opportunities

 

[SubZeroCat]

I may also take an eye patch for tomfoolery and mugging opportunities

I'm taking a balaclava for mugging and odd tanning purposes

 

[TeeJay]

Yeah, BSAC and PADI have never seen eye-to-eye. BSAC think PADI are a bunch of joyriding yahoos who only cater to the holiday market and not to the serious diver, PADI think BSAC are a bunch of stuffy killjoys who are more obsessed with tables and lectures than enjoying the ocean and doing fun stuff. Guess which side of the fence I fall down on

I'm doing my BSAC Ocean Diver & Sports Diver now - which is why I have missed the last few Offlines & Book Clubs (the local scuba club is every Thursday). It is taking far longer than a PADI would but they are *very* safety conscious. BSAC is usually done by joining a local club rather than through a commercial operator - there is a good social side to it at my club and the diving is very cheap. I have also been able to get a load of cheap kit etc. The other difference is that many people do PADI on holiday (where it is warm & clear) whereas BSAC is mainly UK based where the diving can be more dangerous (cold/low visibility/worse weather/more difficult conditions etc). I can't really pass judgement as I am still in training - I hope to do a load of diving this summer once I have finished the courses/training dives.

 

[Hollis]

I did a beginners dive in Dahab in Eygpt acouple years ago.. good fun.. but all the divers looked far too 'cool' for my liking.

 

[EastEnder]

I once had a funny turn in a paddling pool.

 

[Pieface]

I'm taking a balaclava for mugging and odd tanning purposes

Together we will be unstoppable and strangely patchy.....

 

[ChrisFilter]

like The Raccoons, but no way near as cool..

 

[Dante]

I'm taking a balaclava for mugging and odd tanning purposes

i'm taking a harpoon to catch the great white squid. i might also take some clothes...

 

[SubZeroCat]

i'm taking a harpoon to catch the great white squid. i might also take some clothes...

I'm taking my discman so I can listen to a few choons while I'm there.

 

[treefrog]

i'm taking a harpoon to catch the great white squid. i might also take some clothes...

Oi you! No stealing my harpoon!

 

[Dubversion]

anybody know if there's good snorkelling round those parts?

hopefully wolfie and i will have finished PROD IN A Box - a small PC/slide projector-based PROD - that we can get sus to stick through the system at some point.