some basic questions

hi all,

1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
their web site.

2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.

thanks.

m e

On 28 Aug 2006 17:15:16 -0700, jou128@yahoo.com wrote:
> I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.

Damn, I think my gear weighs more than you...

<jou128@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156810516.881790.199890@m73g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
> hi all,
>
> 1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
> L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
> their web site.

any PADI store will do

>
> 2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
> john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.

I prefer a 2 peice (5mm) because I find it more flexible, it is OK for most
winter diving ( with hood if it is really cold for me ) I do and I can
discard the jacket in summer or if I travel north.

"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com.au> wrote in message
news:44f3f3d6$0$10758$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> <jou128@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1156810516.881790.199890@m73g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
>> hi all,
>>
>> 1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
>> L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
>> their web site.
>
> any PADI store will do
>
>>
>> 2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
>> john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.
>
> I prefer a 2 peice (5mm) because I find it more flexible, it is OK for
> most winter diving ( with hood if it is really cold for me ) I do and I
> can discard the jacket in summer or if I travel north.
I thought it wasn't possible to only wear the lower part of a farmer john
cus your feet would float much better than your upper section

Grumman-581wrote

>> I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.

> Damn, I think my gear weighs more than you...

I think it does too. There's a lesson in there somewhere.

Lee

Since I just started this process myself I'd do a little shopping around for
a good training course.

1) How much class time?
2) How much pool time?
3) Can you borrow gear for the closed water sessions (Fins, mask snorkel)
until you can figure out what works best for you? Or try different types of
gear to see what works best, different fins and masks...
4) Are there any discounts for being a student of that location?


<jou128@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156810516.881790.199890@m73g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
> hi all,
>
> 1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
> L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
> their web site.
>
> 2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
> john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.
>
> thanks.
>
> m e
>

207.118.213.18On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:54:24 GMT, "Chris Guynn"
<chris.guynn@gmail.com> wrote:
> How else do you expect to open all of those salvaged wine (or whiskey) bottles?

Oh, that would be via the corkscrew... You're not implying that I
should leave it on the boat also, right?

"Grumman-581" <grumman581@DIE-SPAMMER-SCUM-gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3m79f29hkc82hpvs7dr5gu1nvpnn7m9hnu@4ax.com...
> 207.118.213.18On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:54:24 GMT, "Chris Guynn"
> <chris.guynn@gmail.com> wrote:
> > How else do you expect to open all of those salvaged wine (or whiskey) bottles?
>
> Oh, that would be via the corkscrew... You're not implying that I
> should leave it on the boat also, right?

If you left it on the boat, you couldn't exactly enjoy it at the depth it was meant to be enjoyed
now, could you?

"mike gray" <omgray@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:RzZIg.5189$5i3.2208@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

> I don't know SoCal, but:
>>
>> 1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
>> L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
>> their web site.
>
> The most important thing is the instructor. Ask around for
> recommendations, then talk to the instructors recommended.

I do know SoCal. The most important thing is proximity to the shop.
"L.A./Orange County" is a huge area. Taking the 405 from the north end of
L.A. to the south end of Orange County is about a 4-hour drive with traffic.
I've heard plenty of complaints about Pacific Wilderness, but I don't know
anyone who's actually taken a class from them.

Regardless, they all teach the same thing: RSTC standards. Learn the basics
from anyone who has a card (and insurance) that qualifies them to teach you
and don't buy anything other than mask/snorkel/fins/boots until you're
certified and somewhat experienced. If you survive your certification
dives, as almost everyone does, you'll be overqualified to dive most
warm-water locales.

>> 2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
>> john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.
>
> For yer lessons, borrow or rent. Try both. You may find that diving out
> there is dry suit diving.

Diving out here is drysuit diving. But a rental wetsuit is fine for class
and will help convince you of the need for a drysuit. Or, if you're
comfortable in the wetsuit, you'll know what sort of wetsuit you'll need.
No one requires that you buy a wetsuit before taking a class, or if they do,
find another instructor.

"longshot" <longshot@aol.com> wrote in message
news:kcUIg.4717$p23.174@trnddc04...
>
> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com.au> wrote in message
> news:44f3f3d6$0$10758$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>
>> <jou128@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1156810516.881790.199890@m73g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
>>> hi all,
>>>
>>> 1. I live in SoCal., can anyone recommand some dive class providers in
>>> L.A. and orange county area. pacificwilderness seems pretty good from
>>> their web site.
>>
>> any PADI store will do
>>
>>>
>>> 2. is it a better to get a one-piece full suit or a two-piece farmer
>>> john. I'm about 5' 7 and 120 lb.
>>
>> I prefer a 2 peice (5mm) because I find it more flexible, it is OK for
>> most winter diving ( with hood if it is really cold for me ) I do and I
>> can discard the jacket in summer or if I travel north.
> I thought it wasn't possible to only wear the lower part of a farmer john
> cus your feet would float much better than your upper section

in what I call a Farmer John the bottom piece comes up to chest with straps
over the shoulders and you normally wear a jacket over it. I have never had
any problems just wearing the under section