I'm finally certified!

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:37 am

Last weekend I finally got certified. This is after a couple "discover scuba" dives in sunny Hawaii. Dammed that Puget sound water is cold when you first dunk your face in. Anyway - I think I'm officially addicted and look forward to finding some great buddies on this site!

Cheers
-Matt

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:22 am

Congratualtions Matt. We'll see you around the sound then! $\:D/$

Jake

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:51 am

Way to go! :wav:

Our cold, green, gloomy diving rocks!!

See you in the water!

Are you in the South or North end or elsewhere? Lots of good folks willing to take new divers along on this board...

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:07 pm

Thanks! I am in the downtown Seattle area - so neither North or South. ;-)

Hopefully. I'm counting on this to be a substitute for the gym. haha.

GillyWeed · Post by **GillyWeed** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:17 pm

Hey Matt,

Welcome... Diving is my substitue for the gym.. Course I try to dive at least 2 times a week, but I have lost 7# since I started diving and I am not dieting at all..

Hope to see you in our beautiful Puget Sound.. Warm water is for baths anyway!

Cheers,

Holly

luv2scuba · Post by **luv2scuba** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:55 pm

Congratulations and welcome aboard!

See you in the water!

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:56 pm

Hmmmm.... I have had the opposite experience. I've substituted diving for the gym and have gained 20lbs! Wait, maybe it has to do with the fact that I'm also at the computer for 12 hours per day ](*,)

Congratulations Matt, I work close to downtown too and it's pretty quick to shoot down 99 and over to W. Seattle for an after work dive at Alki. I hope to see you in the water soon!

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:01 pm

Wow Calvin, you're probably close! I'm right by Safeco field. hmmm - maybe I could convince you to take me diving at Alki one of these evenings coming up. I'd try out the night dive but:

a) I don't have dive lights... yet (Friday) and...
b) might not be the best first dive with no instructor. ;-)

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:45 pm

enigmatic wrote:I'm counting on this to be a substitute for the gym. haha.

I wouldn't count on it too much, at least the actual diving part! ](*,) When I'm doing it right, diving is relaxing, I'm slowing my breathing WAY down, and not exerting lots of energy. I find myself telling lots of divers to slow down and enjoy the reason they started diving! If they want to swim laps the pool is much better!

Now, if you're talking schlepping 100 pounds of gear to and from the dive sites and tromping in and out of the water, up and down hill with said gear, then YES it is work!!!

I can give you names of a few sites where just getting in and out of the water is a big enough challenge to really get your heart rate going! $\:D/$

GillyWeed · Post by **GillyWeed** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:58 pm

Now, if you're talking schlepping 100 pounds of gear to and from the dive sites and tromping in and out of the water, up and down hill with said gear, then YES it is work!!!

That's what gets me...

can give you names of a few sites where just getting in and out of the water is a big enough challenge to really get your heart rate going!

hmm let's see, Les Davis & 3 tree.. How about doing a Boat charter.. That's always fun taking gear up and down the ramps to the boats...

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:02 pm

enigmatic wrote:Wow Calvin, you're probably close! I'm right by Safeco field. hmmm - maybe I could convince you to take me diving at Alki one of these evenings coming up. I'd try out the night dive but:

a) I don't have dive lights... yet (Friday) and...
b) might not be the best first dive with no instructor. ;-)

I'm actually in the P-I building, so a little ways North of you. We can do a dive at Alki, perhaps next week or so after you get your lights (we usually stick to the Wednesday evening schedule). Depending on how comfortable you are in the water at this point, I'm capable of taking you diving in a low light environment (divemaster & night diver certs), dusk or night. Alternatively, maybe we can get together (or pair you up with another diver) on one of the upcoming weekends during the daylight hours. I'll be out of town this coming weekend, but am free the following one.

I'm glad to hear some consideration though, I'd way rather dive with a new cautious diver than a gung ho one!

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:07 pm

Tom - how about Edmonds? We lost some weight that day! I was wishing I had nitrox at the surface after that surface swim and current!!!

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:33 pm

Sounder wrote:Tom - how about Edmonds? We lost some weight that day! I was wishing I had nitrox at the surface after that surface swim and current!!!

No kidding!

Sunrise is another... I want to dive that site so bad, but unless I'm doing it from a boat the "getting to the water" description keeps scaring me off or running me to another slightly easier site.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:43 pm

I did Sunrise as one of my OW dives and it was great. Saw my first wolf eel who was like a puppy dog. We did it from the boat and when I saw the HIKE

I knew why people do it via boat. I'm sure there are some hardcores out there who will hike it, but I'm just not into starting the dive sucking air from the hike.

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:46 pm

I'm actually in the P-I building, so a little ways North of you. We can do a dive at Alki, perhaps next week or so after you get your lights (we usually stick to the Wednesday evening schedule). Depending on how comfortable you are in the water at this point, I'm capable of taking you diving in a low light environment (divemaster & night diver certs), dusk or night. Alternatively, maybe we can get together (or pair you up with another diver) on one of the upcoming weekends during the daylight hours. I'll be out of town this coming weekend, but am free the following one.

That'd be awesome!

I'm doing a couple more dives this weekend with a buddy in Mukilteo to get just a little better. I'd definately be up for a dusk or night dive next week... I plan to try and make the Wednesday evening thing - and I'm also free Thursday and Friday after 6.

jeff98208 · Post by **jeff98208** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:52 pm

congrats and welcome to the board. some you in the water some time enigmatic. later!

good day!
jeff

Sasquatch · Post by **Sasquatch** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:29 pm

Howdy!

Glad you found us.

Sea ya!

BASSMAN · Post by **BASSMAN** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:50 am

Welcome Matt!
See you at a dive soon! If you ever feel the need to come towards the South end, we have several fun sites to explore.
Congrats on getting certified

!
As soon as you get enough "Scuba Units" you can go for a drysuit.
FYI - 1 scuba Unit = $100.00
"10 scuba units sounds better / easier than $1000.00."
Or maybe you have the drysuit all ready?

when or if you are buying new gear this is a great site to ask questions on.

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:59 am

Welcome Matt!
See you at a dive soon! If you ever feel the need to come towards the South end, we have several fun sites to explore.
Congrats on getting certified !
As soon as you get enough "Scuba Units" you can go for a drysuit.
FYI - 1 scuba Unit = $100.00
"10 scuba units sounds better / easier than $1000.00."
Or maybe you have the drysuit all ready?

when or if you are buying new gear this is a great site to ask questions on.

I think the drysuits gonna have to wait for a bit. Dive lights are the next purchase followed by two tanks and a wetsuit. A drysuit is just soooo expensive!

BASSMAN · Post by **BASSMAN** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:20 am

the C8 e-led is a good and affordable light.

do you know which tanks you are going to buy yet?

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:11 am

I agree with Bassman, the C8 eLED is a terrific light that is relatively inexpensive and can take a beating. It's not anywhere as bright as a Light Cannon or a canister, but if you tend to knock things around like me you'll appreciate it.

More here.

enigmatic · Post by **enigmatic** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:33 am

Yeah. I was going to get the C8 eLED along with a backup smaller UK light.

For tanks... I've been thinking HP 100's or 120's. I think I should try diving with one before I make up my mind though. They're just so doggone expensive.

Calvin - you're avatar scares me.

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:09 pm

In response to the earlier quote about Sunrise being a difficult beach entry...
I had been hearing the same thing for a long time. When I actually went to the site I found that it was not difficult at all. The walk down the trail takes maybe a minute or two. The grade of the trail isn't so steep that walking back up is much trouble either. This is my favorie dive in the south end, although I've never done Day Island wall.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:16 pm

Perhaps a visit to see what the real hike actually consists of is in order! From the boat (and from listening to other divers who'd done it), it appeared tough... then again, it's easy to say how tough the shore entry is when you're on a boat. But then again... "it rains all the time in Seattle" too (looking out over sparkling Lake Washington without a cloud in sight).

Tangfish · Post by **Tangfish** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:24 pm

My avatar scares me as well

Have you considered using Low Pressure tanks? I love my LP95s, I wouldn't trade em for anything. We (my buddies and I) affectionately call them Berthas.

Northwest Dive Club

I'm finally certified!

I'm finally certified!

Congrats!

welcome