Diving for first time in Roatan
daffy
island of Roatan in early August and am seriously interested in taking
a one-day beginner SCUBA course, and possibly a PADI open water
certification course if all goes well. Right now Native Sons on the
West End is looking like the best option. As I am a novice diver, I
was wondering if anyone here might have any tips to offer me, either
about diving outfits in Roatan or about SCUBA in general. I am a 35-
year old male in good health and am a decent swimmer.
Thanks,
-d-
Greg Mossman
While English might not be the problem in Roatan that it can be in
other foreign locales, you're still wasting valuable vacation time
doing a certification course on the island when you can do the book
and pool work near home and get a referral just for the open-water
"graduation" dives. If you're already "seriously interested" then do
it right from the start and don't waste time and money on a "discovery
dive" when you already know you're going to love it.
harvey
Roatan can be pretty advanced diving. Suggest you take All the pool
and classroom work available to you in your local Before you go down
there.
Take a few weeks to do all this, so you have '"Sink In" time for all
the equipment handling / bouyancy control / Clearing / decompressin
theory.
Was at Anthonys Key resort in April. Excellent facility, great diving;
great food, great staff, great guests...
- but they do have a chamber there, as well as a medical staff,
and it's doubtless not just for decoration.
It's truly great diving down there, but go down there prepared.
resort courses are great, unless something goes terribly wrong.
Take all the pool / classroom work up here first.
~C~
news.newsguy.com
choice, of course, but if I were you I would get certified before you go on
vacation. You probably wouldn't want to spend your precious paid for
vacation time with your nose in a book. Get everything you can done ahead
of time, and then you can use your whole vacation time for diving. You'll
be able to master some basic skills--buoyancy, clearing your ears, gearing
up, etc.--before hand. I think it would probably help with your confidence
level, too. Some folks will do everything but their last check out dive,
and then arrange to do the check out dive with a dive master at the dive
resort. Good luck to you! Jane
"daffy" <daff...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:40828d8f-1228-4d70...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
Greg Mossman
Oh yeah, and don't get hung up on the PADI emblem. They're the number
one in marketing, that's for sure, but marketing ability doesn't
always correlate with teaching ability. Find a shop you like that's
staffed by people you like, who hopefully will take interest in you as
a person, not just as a wallet-bearer. The certification agency
shouldn't even be a consideration.
daffy
The problem is I'm currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El
Salvador, so doing book and pool work ahead of time and getting a
referral would be tough. And I don't really know if I'll love it or
hate it, only that I'm seriously interested in trying it out.
Greg Mossman
OK, obviously I made the assumption you were posting from the U.S. In
that case, you're probably better off in Roatan than "at home".
Hopefully someone else can provide better info on West End dive ops.
I can only provide info on West End dives (the drinking kind), as I
dove with a resort operation my one trip there. Maybe chilly will
chime in now that's she's returned from her trip.
And if you don't love it, at least from the perspective of the people
here, there's something wrong with you.
lan...@parknicollet.com
My wife and I were just in Roatan in May and had a great time. We are
both relatively new divers with about twenty dives under our belts.
She took a refresher course while there and did very well. We stayed
in West Bay and didn't really spend much time at West End. The is a
great shop in West Bay called Bananarama. We didn't stay there, but
they have some cute rooms that I think are pretty cheap. The location
is great as the reef is only about 50 yards off shore. We did a shore
dive there when my wife did her refresher and we then continued on and
had a wonderful dive. The only take out small groups. Serena, Sofia,
Martin, and Mal were the best. The only guide we weren't crazy about
was the only american there.
Given your circumstances, a resort course may be the easiest way to
go. If you love it, you can go for the full certification.
Supposedly, Utila is one of the cheapest places in the world to get
certified. I'm not sure if that equates the best, though.
I'd be happy to tell you more if you like.
Have fun! We loved Roatan and can't wait to get back!
Jeremy
PS Wear lots of bug spray. We did and didn't have problems with the
bugs.
chilly
"daffy" <daff...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:40828d8f-1228-4d70...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
Native Sons will treat you right. You might also consider Coconut Tree.
Where are you planning on staying?
West End is where it is at. You shouldn't have to worry about language
barriers. The majority of instructors are ex-pats. You don't have to lock
into anything before you get there.
The diving there is pretty darn good, economical and not anywhere near as
tough as many other places.
Best of luck with the weather at that time of year. I'm sure you know what
I mean by that.
Ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer. I've got a 100+ dives off of
Roatan, both in the water and in the dives Greg was referring to. :^)
Dan Bracuk
in:
:Hi, this is my first time posting to this group. I'll be visiting the
My suggestion is to see if you can take some sort of "discover scuba"
before investing time and money into lessons. Any likely
showstoppers, such as being unable to equalize will show up at that
point.
My other suggestion is to go with a dive shop that is close to where
you are staying in Roatan. Chances are the similarities outweigh the
differences between the choices available to you.
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.
----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
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Duane
last trip was 2 weeks in early March of this year. I have always done my
diving with Native Sons and will probably always dive with them in
future trips. They are a good shop with a great crew of instructors and
dive masters. Don't worry about looking for a place with a pool or
trying to do pool work before you go. The "pool" is right across the
road from the shop. It is a nice sand beach with gentle access to the
water and that is where you will do your first dives. The bottom is just
sand and some eel grass for about 300 yards out. West end is THE place
to be and accomodation can be found for a reasonable price. Say hi to
Mark and Andrea at Native Sons for me if you do use them. Have a great trip.
harvey
I do think it's a good idea to At Least go to a local Dive Shop,
see if they have a " Discover SCUBA course
- and see if you can equalize in the pool
rather than do an expensive / Painful / dangerous Ear Drum Bust in
Paradise.
Like I said,
resort courses are really cool.. unless something goes terribly wrong
chilly
"Duane" <ren...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:76wfk.112380$gc5.26563@pd7urf2no...
> Mark and Andrea at Native Sons for me if you do use them. Have a great
trip.
Mark is a very cool guy. You'll really enjoy your dives with him.
Happy to hear he is still with Native Sons.
What about Joanie? You don't happen to know what happened to her? I know
she left Luna Beach and went to, I think it was Bananarama, but perhaps
she's elsewhere now?
chilly
West End is THE place to be.
chilly
> "Duane" <ren...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:76wfk.112380$gc5.26563@pd7urf2no...
> > Mark and Andrea at Native Sons for me if you do use them. Have a great
> trip.
>
Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
She's excellent.
chilly
"harvey" <chandl...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:58f8d4b8-5705-4d9e...@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Roatan can be pretty advanced diving.
Really? Where were you doing all this "pretty advanced diving" off of
Roatan?
(snip)
> - but they do have a chamber there, as well as a medical staff,
>
> and it's doubtless not just for decoration.
No, it isn't. It's for the lobster divers.
:^)
> It's truly great diving down there, but go down there prepared.
>
> resort courses are great, unless something goes terribly wrong.
>
> Take all the pool / classroom work up here first.
Normally, I recommend taking your diving course at home, and as you said (or
someone said) taking the time to let it all sink in (no pun intended).
Scuba is a safe activity if you take your training seriously.
That doesn't mean that if you intend to take a vacation to learn to dive,
that one can't learn to dive on vacation. Seems to me, that if that is a
person's intent, then Roatan is an excellent choice.
harvey
> "harvey" <chandler7...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:58f8d4b8-5705-4d9e...@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Roatan can be pretty advanced diving.
>
of
= Roatan?
My Bad, totally forgot;
Roatan is all 22 feet deep,
flat, sandy bottom
no drift diving,
No currents
no overhead environments
>
> (snip)
>
> > - but they do have a chamber there, as well as a medical staff,
>
> > and it's doubtless not just for decoration.
>
> No, it isn't. It's for the lobster divers.
>
> :^)
JUST ??
( No Comment )
>
> > It's truly great diving down there, but go down there prepared.
>
> > resort courses are great, unless something goes terribly wrong.
>
> > Take all the pool / classroom work up here first.
>
> Normally, I recommend taking your diving course at home, and as you said (or
> someone said) taking the time to let it all sink in (no pun intended).
> Scuba is a safe activity if you take your training seriously.
>
> That doesn't mean that if you intend to take a vacation to learn to dive,
> that one can't learn to dive on vacation. Seems to me, that if that is a
> person's intent, then Roatan is an excellent choice.
Old Diver
Bold Diver
- But not both
Diver Beware . .
Greg Mossman
> > > Roatan can be pretty advanced diving.
>
> = Really? Where were you doing all this "pretty advanced diving" off
> of
> = Roatan?
>
> My Bad, totally forgot;
> Roatan is all 22 feet deep,
> flat, sandy bottom
>
> no drift diving,
> No currents
> no overhead environments
So your point is that all drift diving, or any diving with currents
for that matter, is advanced? Any diving without a flat sandy bottom
at 22 feet? That pretty much includes all ocean diving. Even the
shallow dead reefs of the frickin' Florida Keys are subjected to
currents. Not everyone is "fortunate" enough to be certified in a
lake or quarry.
As for overhead environments, most people here would assume those to
be more than advanced, i.e. requiring cavern or other penetration
training, suitable redundant gear, etc. But you're not talking about
real overhead environments, are you? Swimthroughs and open wrecks
don't count. They're hardly advanced.
daffy
>
>
> OK, obviously I made the assumption you were posting from the U.S. In
> that case, you're probably better off in Roatan than "at home".
> Hopefully someone else can provide better info on West End dive ops.
> I can only provide info on West End dives (the drinking kind), as I
> dove with a resort operation my one trip there. Maybe chilly will
> chime in now that's she's returned from her trip.
>
> And if you don't love it, at least from the perspective of the people
> here, there's something wrong with you.
Yeah, if I want to learn how to SCUBA dive right here and now, Roatan
is probably my only realistic option. I have a ton of vacation days
that I have to use up before mid-September, so I'm not too concerned
about burning valuable vacation time with my nose in a book; heck, I'd
probably spend that time lying on the beach with my nose in a
paperback novel otherwise. A more important question is, Given my
complete lack of experience--I've never touched SCUBA equipment, and
all I really know about the sport is what I've been able to glean from
the Web--if I study my *ss off, would it be possible, and/or
advisable, to try and learn SCUBA in just four days through a PADI
open water certification course?
daffy
> "daffy" <daffy1...@excite.com> wrote in message
>
> news:40828d8f-1228-4d70...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Hi, this is my first time posting to this group. I'll be visiting the
> > island of Roatan in early August and am seriously interested in taking
> > a one-day beginner SCUBA course, and possibly a PADI open water
> > certification course if all goes well. Right now Native Sons on the
> > West End is looking like the best option. As I am a novice diver, I
> > was wondering if anyone here might have any tips to offer me, either
> > about diving outfits in Roatan or about SCUBA in general. I am a 35-
> > year old male in good health and am a decent swimmer.
>
> > Thanks,
> > -d-
>
> Native Sons will treat you right. You might also consider Coconut Tree.
>
> Where are you planning on staying?
Probably Chillies; a friend of mine stayed there recently and
recommended it highly. Plus they're run by Native Sons.
>
> Best of luck with the weather at that time of year. I'm sure you know what
> I mean by that.
I assume you're talking about hurricanes?
> Ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer. I've got a 100+ dives off of
> Roatan, both in the water and in the dives Greg was referring to. :^)
OK, here's probably the most important thing I need to know right now:
Having never even touched SCUBA equipment before, Is it realistic to
expect that I can learn the sport over the course of a four-day open
water certification course?
El Stroko Guapo
> "harvey" <chandl...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:58f8d4b8-5705-4d9e...@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>
>>Roatan can be pretty advanced diving.
>
>
> Really? Where were you doing all this "pretty advanced diving" off of
> Roatan?
The best Roatan diving is from about 150' to about 220'. It's been a
long time since I was there, and maybe access to trimix is better now.
My hundred or so dives there were all on air.
On the CocoView side, there is a shelf at about 200' that is really
spectacular. On the Anthony's side there are fantastic lava flows that
swoop down from about 100' to beyond 240', which is where we always
turned around. It would be fun to follow them down another hundred feet
or so, but that would be considered pretty advanced diving.
esg
Greg Mossman
> Yeah, if I want to learn how to SCUBA dive right here and now, Roatan
> is probably my only realistic option. I have a ton of vacation days
> that I have to use up before mid-September, so I'm not too concerned
> about burning valuable vacation time with my nose in a book; heck, I'd
> probably spend that time lying on the beach with my nose in a
> paperback novel otherwise. A more important question is, Given my
> complete lack of experience--I've never touched SCUBA equipment, and
> all I really know about the sport is what I've been able to glean from
> the Web--if I study my *ss off, would it be possible, and/or
> advisable, to try and learn SCUBA in just four days through a PADI
> open water certification course?
Possible, definitely. It's done all the time. I'll make the
assumption that you just finished college before entering the Peace
Corp, which means academic learning and testing are still fresh skills
for you. If you've taken at least basic chemistry and physics, that's
a real plus. The book and classroom learning required of the open
water training won't be the barrier for you.
The main reason why it's advised to take longer classes is that you
have more time to learn the physical skills required of diving and
hopefully enough time for the emergency drills to be ingrained in your
head so that you don't react with panic should something go wrong, but
instead cool-headedly respond as you were trained.
However, since Roatan diving is relatively easy, and you'll be
refining your diving technique as you continue diving each day beyond
your training dives, probably with the same people who trained you, I
say go for it.
daffy
Actually, I graduated from college over 10 years ago. But I'm in a
Master's International program, which combines a master's degree
(public administration in my case) with Peace Corps service. I was in
graduate school for a year before joining Peace Corps. So Yes to the
academic learning and testing. As for chemistry and physics, the last
I studied those subjects was in high school, and I was never a
standout in either, though my grades were decent.
In any event, it sounds like learning the sport through a four-day
course is definitely doable. Thanks for the feedback!
-d-
Greg Mossman
> Actually, I graduated from college over 10 years ago. But I'm in a
> Master's International program, which combines a master's degree
> (public administration in my case) with Peace Corps service. I was in
> graduate school for a year before joining Peace Corps. So Yes to the
> academic learning and testing. As for chemistry and physics, the last
> I studied those subjects was in high school, and I was never a
> standout in either, though my grades were decent.
Whatever, my point was the same - everyone who enters the Peace Corp
does it immediately after departing a campus of higher learning.
How's that?
Anyway, what does your master's degree prepare you for? Running a
banana republic? If you ever stage a coup and take over a Caribbean
island, let me know if you need an attorney general. I'll work for
bananas, beer, and free air fills, though I prefer nitrox.
Don't sweat the science stuff, PADI et al. make it easy enough for a
two-year-old to understand, with big pretty pictures and all. The
most important concept is the inverse relationship between pressure
and volume, which basically means that your lungs will explode if you
hold your breath while ascending. Little nitrogen bubbles that
dissolve into your bloodstream at depth do the same thing upon
ascending, i.e. become big nitrogen bubbles. Once you learn not to
hold your breath when ascending, and you learn the basics of
minimizing the adverse effects of nitrogen bubble expansion by
moderating your depth, time, and ascent rate, the rest is just
practice of good fin technique, buoyancy control to achieve that truly
"weightless" feel, and learning how to get water out of your mask if
(when) it leaks.
> In any event, it sounds like learning the sport through a four-day
> course is definitely doable. Thanks for the feedback!
Make sure to post progress reports. You owe us that.
daffy
> On Jul 17, 9:33 am, daffy <daffy1...@excite.com> wrote:
>
> Anyway, what does your master's degree prepare you for? Running a
> banana republic? If you ever stage a coup and take over a Caribbean
> island, let me know if you need an attorney general. I'll work for
> bananas, beer, and free air fills, though I prefer nitrox.
>
The M.P.A. program is mainly designed to prepare people for any type
of a career in the public service, that is, with a government agency
or nonprofit group, so theoretically, I should be well qualified to
set up that banana republic after I'm done. Now I just need to learn
to dive so I can enjoy my reign to the fullest.
>
> Make sure to post progress reports. You owe us that.
You betcha!
Greg Mossman
Fidel Castro was a scuba diver. No one enjoyed his reign to the
fullest more than Castro. I wish you success.
Bonaire seems ripe for a takeover BTW, maybe with help from Hugo
Chavez? All those Dutch are lazy from eating too much cheese and
smoking too much dope. They'll barely even notice.
ben bradlee
"Greg Mossman" <mos...@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:137714f5-e66a-4ff7...@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 17, 9:33 am, daffy <daffy1...@excite.com> wrote:
: Whatever, my point was the same - everyone who enters the
: Peace Corp does it immediately after departing a campus of
: higher learning. How's that?
http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/1011932.html
...completing her nursing degree at the Grady Memorial Hospital School of
Nursing in Atlanta in 1923. In 1966, at the age of 68, Carter applied for
the Peace Corps. After completing a psychiatric evaluation, she received
three months of training and was sent to India where she worked at the
Godrej Colony 30 miles (48 km) from Mumbai where she worked for 21 months
including with lepers.
The above quotes courtesy of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Carter
Greg Mossman
> "Greg Mossman" <moss...@qnet.com> wrote in message
Interesting that they required a psych eval. I could amend my
position to the following: "everyone who enters the Peace Corp does it
immediately after departing a campus of higher learning, or else
they're so nutty that they require a psych eval prior to enlisting."
Still, consider "After three months of training at the University of
Chicago and more than 24 hours of travel, on December 22, 1966, Miss
Lillian...."
Some might consider the University of Chicago a "campus of higher
learning", so my original amended position stands as correct.
How do you think Miss Lillian would do in a 4-day PADI course on
Roatan?
ben bradlee
On Jul 17, 12:05 pm, "ben bradlee" <No...@Way.Bite.Me> wrote:
: How do you think Miss Lillian would do in a 4-day PADI course
: on Roatan?
I think Miss Lillian could pass that course in one day lying down. She
would adapt to water like a sponge. Her air consumption would be very low.
She would need almost no weight. She could go all day with a minimum suit
and feed the fish her entire dive. But, I'm not sure we could get her out
of the water when it's time to call it a day. I wonder if she could get
into Honduras?
RTB
You turned at 240' ??
The lava flows were so incredible at 400' that I thought i was
hallucinating.
Dan Bracuk
in:
:
:Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
You sure you're not a guy?
Dan Bracuk
in:
: A more important question is, Given my
:complete lack of experience--I've never touched SCUBA equipment, and
:all I really know about the sport is what I've been able to glean from
:the Web--if I study my *ss off, would it be possible, and/or
:advisable, to try and learn SCUBA in just four days through a PADI
:open water certification course?
I think it's an excellent plan.
Duane
East Germany originally so she has an accent. But you can't go wrong
with her either. You may be thinking of Michelle.
Greg Mossman
> > Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
> > She's excellent.
>
> Andrea is medium height and not slim, has shorter blond hair and is from
> East Germany originally so she has an accent. But you can't go wrong
> with her either. You may be thinking of Michelle.
I'll take either, or both. How much?
chilly
No, I'm thinking of Andrea.
But the Andrea I was thinking of is Austrian or something like that. She's
tall to me, since I'm only 5'3". Regardless, she's about 5'7" and slim,
probably around 40 years old.
There was another lovely young gal, kinda chunky, almost white blonde hair,
might be 5'4". She'd left the island, but who knows, maybe she came back.
Excellent person, excellent diver, can't go wrong there either.
chilly
"Dan Bracuk" <bra...@pathcom.com> wrote in message
news:a6fv74todobbe8d1b...@4ax.com...
> "chilly" <sla...@shaw.canada> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
> in:
> :
> :Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
>
>
> You sure you're not a guy?
I'm sure. Are you? I thought we were talking about who to dive with.
Didn't realize male or female came into the matter.
chilly
Same price as in town.
chilly
On Jul 17, 2:07 am, "chilly" <slar...@shaw.canada> wrote:
> "harvey" <chandler7...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:58f8d4b8-5705-4d9e...@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Roatan can be pretty advanced diving.
>
= Really? Where were you doing all this "pretty advanced diving" off
of
= Roatan?
>My Bad, totally forgot;
>Roatan is all 22 feet deep,
> flat, sandy bottom
Wow, you did some really lousy dives off Roatan.
Me, I did all the advanced dives, including a couple of wrecks, Hole in the
Wall and the Bear Cave.
Hmm, let's see . . log book says . . oh wait, I don't keep a log book
anymore. Let's just do the math. 100+ days over a number of trips and
seasons, 3 to 5 dives a day, with a few days off for bad behaviour comes to,
um, well, lessee, that comes to . . . .I've done a few dives off of Roatan.
chilly
I wasn't thinking of Michelle. Is Andrea the gal that ran Luna Beach for a
while?
If so, then that's the Andrea I was thinking of.
Isn't Michelle a young Australian girl? I sent in her PADI instructor
papers for her.
chilly
"daffy" <daff...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:45b4c532-7659-4c27...@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
I'm sorry you only have 4 days. Normally, I wouldn't be an advocate for
that short a training period. Regardless, it can be done and doing it is so
much better than not doing it.
>
> -d-
chilly
> On Jul 16, 5:38 pm, "chilly" <slar...@shaw.canada> wrote:
> >
> > Native Sons will treat you right. You might also consider Coconut Tree.
> >
> > Where are you planning on staying?
>
> Probably Chillies; a friend of mine stayed there recently and
> recommended it highly. Plus they're run by Native Sons.
I've never stayed at Chillies but haven't heard any seriously bad reports.
Native Sons always gets high marks.
> > Best of luck with the weather at that time of year. I'm sure you know
what
> > I mean by that.
>
> I assume you're talking about hurricanes?
Yes, that's what I meant.
> > Ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer. I've got a 100+ dives
off of
> > Roatan, both in the water and in the dives Greg was referring to. :^)
>
> OK, here's probably the most important thing I need to know right now:
> Having never even touched SCUBA equipment before, Is it realistic to
> expect that I can learn the sport over the course of a four-day open
> water certification course?
Well, as I said in another post, I'd normally not recommend 4 days. But it
is doable. And if you only have 4 days, then Roatan is the place . . .
assuming the weather co-operates.
Damn, I'm jonesin' for the island.
Just got back from Belize. For some reason, I just don't feel like I can
*be* here at home.
Greg Mossman
> "Duane" <rena...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
>
> news:jAPfk.9965$nD.9647@pd7urf1no...
>
> > chilly wrote:
> > >> "Duane" <rena...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> > >>news:76wfk.112380$gc5.26563@pd7urf2no...
> > >>> Mark and Andrea at Native Sons for me if you do use them. Have a great
> > >> trip.
>
> > > Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
> > > She's excellent.
>
> > Andrea is medium height and not slim, has shorter blond hair and is from
> > East Germany originally so she has an accent. But you can't go wrong
> > with her either. You may be thinking of Michelle.
>
> I wasn't thinking of Michelle. Is Andrea the gal that ran Luna Beach for a
> while?
>
> If so, then that's the Andrea I was thinking of.
>
> Isn't Michelle a young Australian girl? I sent in her PADI instructor
> papers for her.
It sounds like the Roatan dive staff is comprised solely of women. If
that's the case, maybe I'll rethink my opposition to the island. Now
if I could only find a way to attract the women there as well as I do
the bugs...
Joe English
This really scary, Greg....
I was thinking exactly the same thing!
WHOOAA
Bob
says...
and thus you win "The Laugh of the Day Award"
>
>
>
Duane
crew page. They are all still working there, at least they were in
March. I think Mark's wife is either the dive master or instructor at
Luna Beach. I can't recall her name.
http://www.nativesonsroatan.com/crew.htm
VK
> Andrea is medium height and not slim, has shorter blond hair and is from
> East Germany originally so she has an accent.
Does she hang out with Max Mosley?
V.
VK
> > > Is Andrea a tall slim blonde woman? If so, also, can't go wrong there.
> > > She's excellent.
> > Andrea is medium height and not slim, has shorter blond hair and is from
> > East Germany originally so she has an accent. But you can't go wrong
> > with her either. You may be thinking of Michelle.
> Isn't Michelle a young Australian girl?
Ok, enough of this fruitless guessing. We need pictures. In bikinis
or without. Purely to resolve this confusion. Of course. No other
reason... well, other than helping beginners. We want to help
beginners, dont we?
So, who's got photos?
V.
VK
> Well, as I said in another post, I'd normally not recommend 4 days.
Not to stray from the far more interesting subject of Andrea and
Michelle, but I disagree.
For the vast majority of people that I've encountered, 4 full days is
more than enough.
I'd say about 75% of my students become *very* competent divers after
a 4 day course, with very good buoyancy skills (they may not have the
same level of control as an experienced diver, but they look/are
comfortable and relaxed in the water). An additional 15% have
adequate buoyancy skills (ie, use hands a little, less than perfect
trim but are able to dive safely, maintain depth and do controlled
ascents/descents) - these divers dont need more time in a pool, they
need to do a few more dives to refine their skills.
About 10% of our divers require more than 4 days. About half of
these get done in 5 days - usually b/c they have a problem with one or
two skills (usually hovering or mask clearing). The remaining 5% dont
get certified - these are the ones with serious no-mask or fear-of-
water issues... an additional day or two might help them meet
requirements but will not be enough to help them dive safely. To them
we suggest spending a lot more time snorkeling and generally getting
used to/comfortable in the water.
The belief that learning to dive "at home" is somehow better is just
that - a belief, not fact. There are a few issues I have with this:
- from what I have seen, students dont necessarily spend a lot more
time in actual CW training in an LDS class vs at a tropical
destination. Breaking the same training up over 4 weeks doesnt mean
that they are actually getting more in-water training.
- doing classes once or twice a week is not as good at building muscle
memory, IMO. A lot of the motor skills of diving come with
repetition and practice. Over a 4 day course, I find each day the
student feels more and more comfortable in the water, b/c they are
spending lots of time in the water daily - as opposed to 20-30 min in
the water, twice a week.
Where learning to dive at home is better is:
a) less time in a classroom while on holiday
b) less pressure to complete within a fixed number of days - which is
good for people with serious learning problems
I am, of course, biased but I have not seen any evidence to indicate
that students who have learned at LDSes are any better than students
who have learned at resort locations.
Vandit
chilly
Her name is Joannie and I was told that she'd left Luna Beach and was
working at West Bay . . .Bananarama, I thought.
chilly
> chilly wrote:
> >
> Here is a link to try. It will take you to Native Sons website on the
> crew page. They are all still working there, at least they were in
> March. I think Mark's wife is either the dive master or instructor at
> Luna Beach. I can't recall her name.
> http://www.nativesonsroatan.com/crew.htm
OK, that Andrea looks familiar but I don't know her. Michelle is not the
Michelle I know. Mark has really gone island. Wow.
chilly
"VK" <vandit...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:983a0d42-bcb7-4c94...@s21g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
I can't remember her man's name. But I do believe they were on Koh Tao for
quite a while. Do you know them?
chilly
*I shall bow to your superior experience.
El Stroko Guapo
VK
> I can't remember her man's name. But I do believe they were on Koh Tao for
> quite a while. Do you know them?
Nope. I try to avoid all things "Koh Tao" as much as I can.
Especially the diving.
V.
VK
> Does she dress in Nazi regalia?
Tisk Tisk. Just because Herr Mosley likes yelling "Spank Me" in
German doesnt make it Nazi. In fact, the fact that the NOTW called it
Nazi is the best proof that it wasnt.
Ze woman, she must be ze punished. For a 60+ coot, that guy sure
gets it on. 5 hookers!
V
El Stroko Guapo
would've been those chicks that hold the grid position signs.
chilly
*LOL
VK
> If I had his money, it would have been a dozen! Or a gross. And they all
> would've been those chicks that hold the grid position signs.
Suddenly, pole position takes on a whole new meaning, eh? Those grid
position hotties are indeed snack-worthy.
V.
nitespark
>>
>>Here is a link to try. It will take you to Native Sons website on the
>>crew page. They are all still working there, at least they were in
>>March. I think Mark's wife is either the dive master or instructor at
>>Luna Beach. I can't recall her name.
>>http://www.nativesonsroatan.com/crew.htm
>
>
> Her name is Joannie and I was told that she'd left Luna Beach and was
> working at West Bay . . .Bananarama, I thought.
>
>
You sure it isn't Bandanarama?
nitespark
>
>>
>>Here is a link to try. It will take you to Native Sons website on the
>>crew page. They are all still working there, at least they were in
>>March. I think Mark's wife is either the dive master or instructor at
>>Luna Beach. I can't recall her name.
>>http://www.nativesonsroatan.com/crew.htm
>
>
> Her name is Joannie and I was told that she'd left Luna Beach and was
> working at West Bay . . .Bananarama, I thought.
>
>
You sure it isn't BandanaRama?
chilly
"nitespark" <nite...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:b8sgk.2823$8R1...@newsfe03.iad...
:^)
On top of that, I was either wrong about Joannie having left Luna Beach or
she's returned to work for them.