Scuba diving qualifications

I got my PADI Open Water last year in Crete: you do the theory online and then the practicals when you get there, I think it was 3 dives on three different days. Visibility was good and we saw a lion fish and a small octopus. Loved it, and I wish I had done it earlier, as I'm 57 now and not as fit as when I was 30 😂

I've done PADI Open Water (Thailand), Advanced (Phillippines) and Rescue Diver (Thailand). 

In all 3 cases, I decided to do the course while travelling and so did the theory element alongside the practical on location. 24 years ago when I did the first one, that was pretty standard. However, you are right - many people now do the theory elements at home in advance so they don't need to spend a couple/few  days of holiday studying and cramming. 

It's also correct that you could just get certified in the UK before heading off to the tropics and getting straight onto some "fun dives" e.g week in Thailand with a package of 6 dives from a dive school of 3 days with 2 dives each, for example.

For the Open Water the first stages can be done in a pool, so I think it's just maybe the last dive or 2 that you'd be in cold UK waters (or a quarry, I believe).

In any case, am sure you won't regret it. From your snorkeling I guess you already know this!

You've reminded me that I really must get around to diving a wreck off the north Norfolk coast. Quite a departure from the tropics, but something I want to experience for the contrast. 

Oh, and training is free as by trained volunteers 

Did my PADI Open water on the Barrier Reef, Advance in Bodrum Turkey and Rescue Diver in Dhabi Sinai. I was thinking of taking a Dive Master qualification but decided against it due to age. I also had difficulties taking the theory exams because of the way the questions were phrased. For me I found them somewhat ambiguous (I knew the answers for either way the question was interpreted). I actually caught the examiner out with one of the questions he said I had got wrong but he came out with the same answer as me when we did a rerun.
My advice is to just do the open water and stay within 20m dives where you see all fish activity and the splendour of the fishes. 

The Muff Diving Club in Donegal teaches divers how to deal with hairy experiences you might encounter.

I'd also recommend the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC).  Did my training in the UK and on some of the CLub's organsied trips to Egypt. Some pretty adventurous diving available on the South coast. The training is pretty thorough. My Kids have also trained under ESA when in Italy and they were very good.  Depends where you are living now, but there are BSAC clubs in most areas. Relatively cheap (if anything in SCUBA is) and operated by volunteers.  I was a member of CLIDIVE BSAC 410 on City Road. Really good athmosphere. The cost of raising 3 kids put paid to my adventurous holidays though. Have also spent a lot of time in Donegal and highly rate Muff.

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for,  for a course to be kosher?

Thanks Canters.
I'm a little restricted as im going to Jamaica on Monday but will check out the setup out there go from there. 

cantersaddick said:

I never came back to say thanks for the advice. 

I did my PADI open water in Mauritius recently and absolutely loved it. Incredible experience loved the feeling of being underwater, saw lionfish, turtles, octopus and incredible reefs. Dive shop was great and much much cheaper than in Europe. Probably gonna do my advanced sometime next year in Europe and then assuming I'm still enjoying it and wanting to invest time and money in will likely join a BSAC club and see if I can stomach cold water dives.

I went for my first UK dive in Portmellon, Cornwall, this August. It was a shore dive and quite good value, ~£60 with all equipment included, very good wetsuit, tank, mask, gloves, etc.

Nowhere near as cold as I imagined, and visibility was ok, saw huddles of catshark/fish (they seem to curl up in groups of 3 or 4 at the bottom of the sea), a wrasse, and one or two other species of fish. Also surprising was how attractive the kelp and other sea plants are underwater.

I would definitely do it again and experience more of the biodiversity that UK waters offer.

WHAddick said:

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for,  for a course to be kosher?

Did my PADI open water back in September last year whilst travelling in Koh Tao, it’s really quite simple if you have the time. A couple of days in the class room (few hours at a time, usually very early in the morning) and then straight into the water. 

If it has good reviews on Google, then you'll be fine. 

Went to Hurghada, Egypt, with my wife (then girlfriend) in 2003 and did a 4-day Open Water course. It was an incredible experience. From memory, the first day was theory in the morning, followed by some diving in a swimming pool in the afternoon. The next day, we dived from the beach. Once you got past the swirling sand, you suddenly saw the most beautiful scenery of colourful fish.

The third and fourth days took place on a boat, where we went out and did proper dives. Truly one of the best experiences of my life.

The following year, my wife went with a friend to do the Advanced Open Water course. She had to do a night dive and said it was rather scary to sail out for an hour, then jump in and sit in total darkness at 13 metres, waiting for the instructor to join her.

Great pictures!

Thanks for all the advice/comments from everyone