The Scuba Diving thread!

mpksuhas · 25th July 2011, 10:00

By restarting a thread which is idle for more than 2 yrs. Anyone in the forum done / keen on doing PADI open water scuba course. Iam located in bangalore and been planning of doing one since long time. Checked with planet scuba over weekend and they quoted 12k for the theory/ swimming pool sessions and 9 K for 4 certification dives at sea. Total 21K.
End of which you get PADI certified. Once that is done you can go to any location on the world.

However, I dont live on a beach. And apart from Andaman and Lakshwadeep I may not go to any place which has great scuba diving spots too. Hence thinking twice if its really needed to go for the certification.

sfilinto · 26th July 2011, 11:02

I did this some months back at netrani island. it was organized by BMC( Bangalore Mountaineering Club - South India's most active adventure club ) and had instructors from divegoa.

you can contact bmc for more details, or send me a pm as i might not check this tread often.

KarthikK · 26th July 2011, 11:16

I have done Scuba diving at Lacadives dive centre, Kadmat island, Lakshadweep. Costs are pretty economical here and the facility is quite good. At Lakshadweep, waters are also unspoilt and pristine since very few tourists actually come here. I would in fact rate the dive quality (ability to see underwater life and scenery) better than maldives/mauritius for this reason. You have to go through SPORTS, lakshadweep for any packages. They operate between october and May and are closed for the monsoon. Only Agatti and Bangaram are open to foreign tourists as far as I know. The other islands are all kind of restricted so they are not polluted in any way.

Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports - Lakshadweep Tourism

If you want to stick to diving in India (to avoid costs of a foreign trip), Lakshadweep is the best place I can think of. Andamans are also good. Goa/Karwar, other places of western coast, etc do not even come close to the beauty and the unspoilt ambience of Lakshadweep/andamans.

You can do scuba diving even if you don't know swimming. We were 3 friends and one of my friends didn't know swimming. Managed quite well. In this case the instructor will tow and/or guide the non-swimmer around underwater. Breathing is anyway done with the help of the artificial appratus, so is sinking / coming to the surface with the help of a buoyancy control device.

PM me if you want any details on costs/packages/details I took for scuba diving or the Lakshadweep trip itself

Maverick79 · 7th December 2011, 13:32

Guys,
Recently did the first two stages of Scuba diving at Lacadives centre in Mumbai.
Planning to get the certification by doing the next two stages coming weekend on 16th Dec,at Tarkarli, around 400 kms from Pune.
Need info on where to buy the dry suites in Pune. Pls help.

Experience at Lacadives was really good in Mumbai. They make you feel very comfortable in water and induce confidence.
Their way of teaching is also superb. Very Interactive.

Fauji · 7th December 2011, 14:54

In India the best places for scuba diving is lakshadweep (Kadmat island by SPORTS) and Andamans (Havelock ) by Barefoot. My frined had an amazing experience with Barefoot few weeks back and loved it. Welcome to the Andaman Islands! Resorts in Havelock Island, PADI scuba diving, dive resort, flights from Bangkok to Port Blair, eco-tours and more in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. Scuba dive andamans, Andaman Nicobar, andamans resort,holidays

Closer home, Check with Jungle Lodges in Devbagh if they arrange in Netrani island off Karwar coast. Here are some details i got from Outlook Traveller on Netrani. Not sure about prices though.

Goa-based Barracuda Diving (0832-6656294, 9822182402, www.barracudadiving.com) organises diving and snorkelling trips off Netrani island in north Karnataka. The outfit operate their diving and snorkelling trips from and to Goa.

Hope this helps.

ramkya1 · 7th December 2011, 15:08

Go through the following thread for more information on Scuba and problems associated with it. We (me and wife) went to Vietnam for a certification, did it for a day and gave up, unfortunately did not work out for us!! But the experience of 25 feet underwater was worth a life time, the world underneath is something out of a dream.

We have not given up, would try it again.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ambodia-3.html

--Ramky
======

Samurai · 7th December 2011, 15:08

My wife and I did scuba diving at Nethrani Island this summer. We went via Turtle Bay in Kundapur. My wife is an expert swimmer, I am so so. But it made no difference. But it is the waiting above water that tires you out.

It is an amazing experience, especially the first time. It was nice to have diving center just 100kms from home. Might do it again.

nanduchitnis · 7th December 2011, 17:47

@Samurai> How was the underwater visibility?

Having dived a lot in my years in the Indian Navy, my preferred choices:

1. Maldives. The # 1 destination for SCUBA Divers.
2. Lakshadweep but not in the shallow waters.
3. A&N> The Baros and Bandos Islands were good.

Samurai · 7th December 2011, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanduchitnis

@Samurai> How was the underwater visibility?

Well, I have no reference point. But good enough for our purpose. I did take some videos and photos under water using the camera provided by them. Sorry about the quality, unfamiliar camera and under water.

Picture 081.avi - YouTube

These were shot 30ft below surface.

phamilyman · 7th December 2011, 18:27

The other option is also DIVEIndia - PADI, SSI & NAUI Scuba Diving Centre in the Andamans, India in the Andamans which have been around in this business for a while.

@Samurai - Jealous of u again - Diving spots just 100km from home? Damn!!

Samurai · 7th December 2011, 18:44

Yeah, yeah... Scuba diving 100kms away & white water rafting 33kms away.

BTW, the Nethrani Island dive is conducted by PADI.

phamilyman · 7th December 2011, 19:05

conducted by PADI or PADI certified?

but still .. WTH! grrrrr...

and you forgot. world class offroad trail in yer backyard!!

Samurai · 7th December 2011, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

conducted by PADI or PADI certified?

Here is their web site. Hmm, just realized our instructor (Rawat) was the owner/founder of the center. They even conduct divemaster course.

Dreamz Diving

nanduchitnis · 7th December 2011, 20:03

Samurai, the visibility is adequate. But the corals are dead and calcified. The next level for Scuba, has to be Maldives.

BikerSG · 29th February 2012, 17:47

There's a new dive centre open in Pondicherry. www.templeadventures.com. They also have a surf school.

I'm thinking of giving it a shot next month (March 2012). I am already AOWD certified from PADI.

25th July 2011, 10:00	#16
mpksuhas Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: KA03/KL11 Posts: 4,149 Thanked: 8,408 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! By restarting a thread which is idle for more than 2 yrs. Anyone in the forum done / keen on doing PADI open water scuba course. Iam located in bangalore and been planning of doing one since long time. Checked with planet scuba over weekend and they quoted 12k for the theory/ swimming pool sessions and 9 K for 4 certification dives at sea. Total 21K. End of which you get PADI certified. Once that is done you can go to any location on the world. However, I dont live on a beach. And apart from Andaman and Lakshwadeep I may not go to any place which has great scuba diving spots too. Hence thinking twice if its really needed to go for the certification.
	() Thanks

26th July 2011, 11:02	#17
sfilinto BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: mostlly bangalore Posts: 101 Thanked: Once	re: The Scuba Diving thread! I did this some months back at netrani island. it was organized by BMC( Bangalore Mountaineering Club - South India's most active adventure club ) and had instructors from divegoa. you can contact bmc for more details, or send me a pm as i might not check this tread often.
	(1) Thanks

26th July 2011, 11:16	#18
KarthikK Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,928 Thanked: 12,788 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! I have done Scuba diving at Lacadives dive centre, Kadmat island, Lakshadweep. Costs are pretty economical here and the facility is quite good. At Lakshadweep, waters are also unspoilt and pristine since very few tourists actually come here. I would in fact rate the dive quality (ability to see underwater life and scenery) better than maldives/mauritius for this reason. You have to go through SPORTS, lakshadweep for any packages. They operate between october and May and are closed for the monsoon. Only Agatti and Bangaram are open to foreign tourists as far as I know. The other islands are all kind of restricted so they are not polluted in any way. Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports - Lakshadweep Tourism If you want to stick to diving in India (to avoid costs of a foreign trip), Lakshadweep is the best place I can think of. Andamans are also good. Goa/Karwar, other places of western coast, etc do not even come close to the beauty and the unspoilt ambience of Lakshadweep/andamans. You can do scuba diving even if you don't know swimming. We were 3 friends and one of my friends didn't know swimming. Managed quite well. In this case the instructor will tow and/or guide the non-swimmer around underwater. Breathing is anyway done with the help of the artificial appratus, so is sinking / coming to the surface with the help of a buoyancy control device. PM me if you want any details on costs/packages/details I took for scuba diving or the Lakshadweep trip itself Last edited by KarthikK : 26th July 2011 at 11:20.
	(1) Thanks

7th December 2011, 13:32	#19
Maverick79 BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 598 Thanked: 610 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! Guys, Recently did the first two stages of Scuba diving at Lacadives centre in Mumbai. Planning to get the certification by doing the next two stages coming weekend on 16th Dec,at Tarkarli, around 400 kms from Pune. Need info on where to buy the dry suites in Pune. Pls help. Experience at Lacadives was really good in Mumbai. They make you feel very comfortable in water and induce confidence. Their way of teaching is also superb. Very Interactive.
	(1) Thanks

7th December 2011, 14:54	#20
Fauji Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,482 Thanked: 1,008 Times	re: The Scuba Diving thread! In India the best places for scuba diving is lakshadweep (Kadmat island by SPORTS) and Andamans (Havelock ) by Barefoot. My frined had an amazing experience with Barefoot few weeks back and loved it. Welcome to the Andaman Islands! Resorts in Havelock Island, PADI scuba diving, dive resort, flights from Bangkok to Port Blair, eco-tours and more in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. Scuba dive andamans, Andaman Nicobar, andamans resort,holidays Closer home, Check with Jungle Lodges in Devbagh if they arrange in Netrani island off Karwar coast. Here are some details i got from Outlook Traveller on Netrani. Not sure about prices though. Goa-based Barracuda Diving (0832-6656294, 9822182402, www.barracudadiving.com) organises diving and snorkelling trips off Netrani island in north Karnataka. The outfit operate their diving and snorkelling trips from and to Goa. Hope this helps. Last edited by Fauji : 7th December 2011 at 14:55.
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 15:08	#21
ramkya1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palakkad, Keral Posts: 1,829 Thanked: 434 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! Go through the following thread for more information on Scuba and problems associated with it. We (me and wife) went to Vietnam for a certification, did it for a day and gave up, unfortunately did not work out for us!! But the experience of 25 feet underwater was worth a life time, the world underneath is something out of a dream. We have not given up, would try it again. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ambodia-3.html --Ramky ====== Last edited by ramkya1 : 7th December 2011 at 15:12.
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 15:08	#22
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,014 Thanked: 50,168 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! My wife and I did scuba diving at Nethrani Island this summer. We went via Turtle Bay in Kundapur. My wife is an expert swimmer, I am so so. But it made no difference. But it is the waiting above water that tires you out. It is an amazing experience, especially the first time. It was nice to have diving center just 100kms from home. Might do it again. Last edited by Samurai : 2nd April 2012 at 11:59.
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 17:47	#23
nanduchitnis BHPian Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 494 Thanked: 301 Times	re: The Scuba Diving thread! @Samurai> How was the underwater visibility? Having dived a lot in my years in the Indian Navy, my preferred choices: 1. Maldives. The # 1 destination for SCUBA Divers. 2. Lakshadweep but not in the shallow waters. 3. A&N> The Baros and Bandos Islands were good.
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 18:27	#25
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,975 Thanked: 4,675 Times	re: The Scuba Diving thread! The other option is also DIVEIndia - PADI, SSI & NAUI Scuba Diving Centre in the Andamans, India in the Andamans which have been around in this business for a while. @Samurai - Jealous of u again - Diving spots just 100km from home? Damn!!
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 18:44	#26
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,014 Thanked: 50,168 Times View My Garage	re: The Scuba Diving thread! Yeah, yeah... Scuba diving 100kms away & white water rafting 33kms away. BTW, the Nethrani Island dive is conducted by PADI.
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 19:05	#27
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,975 Thanked: 4,675 Times	re: The Scuba Diving thread! conducted by PADI or PADI certified? but still .. WTH! grrrrr... and you forgot. world class offroad trail in yer backyard!!
	() Thanks

7th December 2011, 20:03	#29
nanduchitnis BHPian Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 494 Thanked: 301 Times	re: The Scuba Diving thread! Samurai, the visibility is adequate. But the corals are dead and calcified. The next level for Scuba, has to be Maldives.
	() Thanks

29th February 2012, 17:47	#30
BikerSG BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chennai, INDIA Posts: 378 Thanked: 15 Times	There's a new dive centre open in Pondicherry. www.templeadventures.com. They also have a surf school. I'm thinking of giving it a shot next month (March 2012). I am already AOWD certified from PADI.
	() Thanks