Hi,
I got my NAUI certification about 10 years ago and have only done about 12-15 dives since then, the last ones about 2 years ago. I'm travelling to Bali (and then Thailand) in mid-October and would like to do some diving, but I'm a bit apprehensive since it's been so long and I fear I've forgotten quite a bit. I will review my manual before I go, but I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is such a thing as a "refresher course" at a dive shop in Bali that would be recommended. I realize NAUI is not so widespread outside of the US (if at all), so I imagine it would be a PADI kind of course. Which is fine, I just would like to get a quick refresher of safety, gear procedures and maybe some help with buoyancy (I never remember how much weight to take). I am very comfortable underwater and have always had positive experiences, but just get a little nervous when I feel my technical knowledge is lacking. Or do you recommend I start over and do a PADI course? I am on a backpacker budget, so would prefer not to do a whole course over, but would appreciate any expert advice from anyone out there.
Also, I should add that I would like to use the Bali diving as a warm-up to some diving in Thailand -- the more I read, it seems a short live-aboard to the Similians is the way to go, but again, would like to get my confidence up before doing that trip since it would be a much more serious dive experience.
Thanks so much for any advice.
Stop in Padang Bai and do a quick refresher with David in the blue lagoon. Its a very nice shallow dive close to town and loaded with fish.
Padang Pai has budget places to stay and good cheap food.
Most dive outfits do refresher courses you will find and are well worth doing. It just goes through the basics and as you are fine underwater should be no problem at all.
No need to go to the expense of doing another course' especially if you read through your manual first.
I think you can do a cross-over course which will convert your qualification into PADI. This is not the same as doing the whole PADI course just the PADI way of doing things.
Some dive schools will also insist you do a 'check out' dive to show them you know what you are doing if you have not dived for several months no matter how many dives in your log book.
You could do the whole course again, but I think there is no need for that. A refresher should be fine, and any shop can help you with that.
What may be a good idea for you: consider doing an advanced open water course, that will give you more flexibility, you'll have a recent certification to show, you gain more experience while being supervised by an instructor, plus: it is a nice course as well without too much theory, not like the open water course.
Taking a whole course again would be overkill, but to do a few less challenging dives to get back in the groove is probably a good idea.
That is why I suggested that shop because they do a lot of one to one diving so if you needed a quick refresher they could clear up any confusion or questions you might have.
There is definitely no need to do an entire course. PADI has a one-dive class called Scuba Review for the practical component and a little self-study booklet called Scuba Tune Up to brush up on theory. During the Scuba Review dive you set up gear, participate in a briefing and once in the water, go over all of the skills required for the open water cert. It is well worth doing as it will give you confidence that you have covered everything, whereas just jumping in to dive at an easy site may only remind you of certain very commonly used skills (like mask clearing). If you want additional help with buoyancy, consider doing a two-dive Peak Performance Buoyancy class. I've never had a student who felt it was a waste of time. It won't matter that you are NAUI certified and do a PADI review; the skills are pretty much the same.
Thanks so much for all the good advice -- this is very helpful. I think I will consult with the dive shop (thanks for the Waterworx suggestion) about either doing a refresher course or the advanced open water course.
Quero -- The Peak Performance Buoyancy class -- is that one that would be available at any PADI dive shop, or only at bigger ones?
Enitsuj, the PPB class is available everywhere, and in fact the first dive of it can be one of your three optional dives if you decide to do the Advanced Open Water cert. I'll send you a recommendation for an excellent Sanur-based shop by PM.
Hi Justine, I dived with Waterworx last year, and they are a great bunch of people. Very patient, very helpful and very good value for money. I also booked my accommodation at "Kerti Inn" and my transfer from Denpasar airport with them. keep blowing bubbles!
I think the suggestion to do your Advanced is a great idea. Although you are on a tight budget, the diving course will be reasonable (although I don't know how much diving is in your home country of Nicaragua).
If you have the time and the inclination, from Bali I would consider flying to Lombok and then going to Gili Trawangan. The flights are cheap ($50 US?) and it's easy to get to the Gili Islands. And then I would recommend Blue Marlin as a good dive operation and a place to take your Advanced.
Gili Islands
Blue Marlin Trawangan
Happy travels.
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