Check dive?

"JamesM" wrote

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Close, but not quite. A check dive is one designed to give the operator a
chance to assess your diving skills first hand, a chance for him to identify
those that need little or no assistance, from those who need some
assistance, from those who should not be allowed to dive only under close
supervision.

> Is the check dive cost usually for a whole single dive (ie. say a single
> shore dive) before you complete xxx day diving, or is it just an extra
> charge imposed for something that is carried out during your first dive of
> the package (i.e you book 3 days of 2tanks dives - 1 of these is the check
> dive - i.e 6 dives total/ or do you get 3 days of 2dive plus an extra
> check dive i.e 7 dives total?)

It varies with the organization doing the check dive. One of the resorts I
use in the Caymans does a check dive, but neither calls it that, nor charges
extra for it. Basically, every new guest goes out on a boat that carries
extra staff and visits nice, but very basic level sites. Divers are
assessed and, on subsequent days, tend to find themselves on boats with
others of like skills, from the basic to more than a little advanced.
Another operator I know of, does a simply confined water check to ensure
their customers can perform the basic skills. It's normally done only a
little before a scheduled boat trip.

Usually, I have no problems with check dives. I do, however, have
considerable trouble with being charged extra for one. All of the benefits
flow to the operator. The cost should be factored in to his normal
operation.

Lee

"JamesM" wrote

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Close, but not quite. A check dive is one designed to give the operator a
chance to assess your diving skills first hand, a chance for him to identify
those that need little or no assistance, from those who need some
assistance, from those who should not be allowed to dive only under close
supervision.

> Is the check dive cost usually for a whole single dive (ie. say a single
> shore dive) before you complete xxx day diving, or is it just an extra
> charge imposed for something that is carried out during your first dive of
> the package (i.e you book 3 days of 2tanks dives - 1 of these is the check
> dive - i.e 6 dives total/ or do you get 3 days of 2dive plus an extra
> check dive i.e 7 dives total?)

It varies with the organization doing the check dive. One of the resorts I
use in the Caymans does a check dive, but neither calls it that, nor charges
extra for it. Basically, every new guest goes out on a boat that carries
extra staff and visits nice, but very basic level sites. Divers are
assessed and, on subsequent days, tend to find themselves on boats with
others of like skills, from the basic to more than a little advanced.
Another operator I know of, does a simply confined water check to ensure
their customers can perform the basic skills. It's normally done only a
little before a scheduled boat trip.

Usually, I have no problems with check dives. I do, however, have
considerable trouble with being charged extra for one. All of the benefits
flow to the operator. The cost should be factored in to his normal
operation.

Lee

"JamesM" wrote

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Close, but not quite. A check dive is one designed to give the operator a
chance to assess your diving skills first hand, a chance for him to identify
those that need little or no assistance, from those who need some
assistance, from those who should not be allowed to dive only under close
supervision.

> Is the check dive cost usually for a whole single dive (ie. say a single
> shore dive) before you complete xxx day diving, or is it just an extra
> charge imposed for something that is carried out during your first dive of
> the package (i.e you book 3 days of 2tanks dives - 1 of these is the check
> dive - i.e 6 dives total/ or do you get 3 days of 2dive plus an extra
> check dive i.e 7 dives total?)

It varies with the organization doing the check dive. One of the resorts I
use in the Caymans does a check dive, but neither calls it that, nor charges
extra for it. Basically, every new guest goes out on a boat that carries
extra staff and visits nice, but very basic level sites. Divers are
assessed and, on subsequent days, tend to find themselves on boats with
others of like skills, from the basic to more than a little advanced.
Another operator I know of, does a simply confined water check to ensure
their customers can perform the basic skills. It's normally done only a
little before a scheduled boat trip.

Usually, I have no problems with check dives. I do, however, have
considerable trouble with being charged extra for one. All of the benefits
flow to the operator. The cost should be factored in to his normal
operation.

Lee

"JamesM" wrote

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Close, but not quite. A check dive is one designed to give the operator a
chance to assess your diving skills first hand, a chance for him to identify
those that need little or no assistance, from those who need some
assistance, from those who should not be allowed to dive only under close
supervision.

> Is the check dive cost usually for a whole single dive (ie. say a single
> shore dive) before you complete xxx day diving, or is it just an extra
> charge imposed for something that is carried out during your first dive of
> the package (i.e you book 3 days of 2tanks dives - 1 of these is the check
> dive - i.e 6 dives total/ or do you get 3 days of 2dive plus an extra
> check dive i.e 7 dives total?)

It varies with the organization doing the check dive. One of the resorts I
use in the Caymans does a check dive, but neither calls it that, nor charges
extra for it. Basically, every new guest goes out on a boat that carries
extra staff and visits nice, but very basic level sites. Divers are
assessed and, on subsequent days, tend to find themselves on boats with
others of like skills, from the basic to more than a little advanced.
Another operator I know of, does a simply confined water check to ensure
their customers can perform the basic skills. It's normally done only a
little before a scheduled boat trip.

Usually, I have no problems with check dives. I do, however, have
considerable trouble with being charged extra for one. All of the benefits
flow to the operator. The cost should be factored in to his normal
operation.

Lee

"JamesM" wrote

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Close, but not quite. A check dive is one designed to give the operator a
chance to assess your diving skills first hand, a chance for him to identify
those that need little or no assistance, from those who need some
assistance, from those who should not be allowed to dive only under close
supervision.

> Is the check dive cost usually for a whole single dive (ie. say a single
> shore dive) before you complete xxx day diving, or is it just an extra
> charge imposed for something that is carried out during your first dive of
> the package (i.e you book 3 days of 2tanks dives - 1 of these is the check
> dive - i.e 6 dives total/ or do you get 3 days of 2dive plus an extra
> check dive i.e 7 dives total?)

It varies with the organization doing the check dive. One of the resorts I
use in the Caymans does a check dive, but neither calls it that, nor charges
extra for it. Basically, every new guest goes out on a boat that carries
extra staff and visits nice, but very basic level sites. Divers are
assessed and, on subsequent days, tend to find themselves on boats with
others of like skills, from the basic to more than a little advanced.
Another operator I know of, does a simply confined water check to ensure
their customers can perform the basic skills. It's normally done only a
little before a scheduled boat trip.

Usually, I have no problems with check dives. I do, however, have
considerable trouble with being charged extra for one. All of the benefits
flow to the operator. The cost should be factored in to his normal
operation.

Lee

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Last year on our liveaboard in the Red Sea we just had a quick talk with the
DM, basically we were a full group on the boat and had probably around half
of us instructors, so he was happy that we'd organise between us to look
after ourselves pretty much. The first dive was on a shallowish reef with a
sandy bottom, but he just let us dive and was just watching for anyone with
any problems - no checking of skills or anything, just that we had some kind
of bouyancy control and didn't die!
If someone tried to charge me, on my holidays, to go in and sit doing mask
clearing then I would *not* be a happy bunny! And they'd definitely never
see me again. I've already paid for someone to teach me to dive, and to
assess that i'm competent to dive, I don't need to do it everytime I go
somewhere new.

David

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Last year on our liveaboard in the Red Sea we just had a quick talk with the
DM, basically we were a full group on the boat and had probably around half
of us instructors, so he was happy that we'd organise between us to look
after ourselves pretty much. The first dive was on a shallowish reef with a
sandy bottom, but he just let us dive and was just watching for anyone with
any problems - no checking of skills or anything, just that we had some kind
of bouyancy control and didn't die!
If someone tried to charge me, on my holidays, to go in and sit doing mask
clearing then I would *not* be a happy bunny! And they'd definitely never
see me again. I've already paid for someone to teach me to dive, and to
assess that i'm competent to dive, I don't need to do it everytime I go
somewhere new.

David

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Last year on our liveaboard in the Red Sea we just had a quick talk with the
DM, basically we were a full group on the boat and had probably around half
of us instructors, so he was happy that we'd organise between us to look
after ourselves pretty much. The first dive was on a shallowish reef with a
sandy bottom, but he just let us dive and was just watching for anyone with
any problems - no checking of skills or anything, just that we had some kind
of bouyancy control and didn't die!
If someone tried to charge me, on my holidays, to go in and sit doing mask
clearing then I would *not* be a happy bunny! And they'd definitely never
see me again. I've already paid for someone to teach me to dive, and to
assess that i'm competent to dive, I don't need to do it everytime I go
somewhere new.

David

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Last year on our liveaboard in the Red Sea we just had a quick talk with the
DM, basically we were a full group on the boat and had probably around half
of us instructors, so he was happy that we'd organise between us to look
after ourselves pretty much. The first dive was on a shallowish reef with a
sandy bottom, but he just let us dive and was just watching for anyone with
any problems - no checking of skills or anything, just that we had some kind
of bouyancy control and didn't die!
If someone tried to charge me, on my holidays, to go in and sit doing mask
clearing then I would *not* be a happy bunny! And they'd definitely never
see me again. I've already paid for someone to teach me to dive, and to
assess that i'm competent to dive, I don't need to do it everytime I go
somewhere new.

David

> Previous you just had a chat with the DM who asked when you last dived,
> what experience etc and chose a easier dive for the first drive. Now many
> of the redsea centres charge extra for a "check dive" - what does this
> entail? Are you doing your open water over again?

Last year on our liveaboard in the Red Sea we just had a quick talk with the
DM, basically we were a full group on the boat and had probably around half
of us instructors, so he was happy that we'd organise between us to look
after ourselves pretty much. The first dive was on a shallowish reef with a
sandy bottom, but he just let us dive and was just watching for anyone with
any problems - no checking of skills or anything, just that we had some kind
of bouyancy control and didn't die!
If someone tried to charge me, on my holidays, to go in and sit doing mask
clearing then I would *not* be a happy bunny! And they'd definitely never
see me again. I've already paid for someone to teach me to dive, and to
assess that i'm competent to dive, I don't need to do it everytime I go
somewhere new.

David