So it's coming up to that time of year again where I plan my scuba holidays for calm, blue and warm waters.

As a few of you know, I started diving in April 08 in Mexico doing my PADI OW, then the next year did my AOW and Nitrox course, both of which I'm really glad of doing.

I was wondering if anyone has done any further courses they would recommend?

I've got a passing interest in underwater photography/videography, but not enough to invest just yet in any fancy gear.

I'm wondering if there's any courses that will help me get more out of my diving, or if I should just rock with what I've got and enjoy my diving?

Well the whole point is to get out there and dive

which adventure dives did you do? did any appeal to do more?

Have you got any specific interests or any sites you want to go to that have specific requirements?

I've got SMB as a one recommended for UK diving and a few other sites I am looking at. Dry suit is always good for UK too.

E.g. If you want to do wrecks you may want to do wreck and deep..

I did, deep, navigation, wreck and drift dives. I do kind of like the exploration of wreck diving. Apparently, that's a "British" thing I was told. All brits love diving wrecks, haha.

The Thistlegorm is really on my hitlist as it's in range now!

I did my advanced to get to thistlegorm next month too.

I'm going to go on and do deep and wreck specs as I do like the thought of doing some more old military wrecks. If nothing else they will keep me diving between those sunny holiday dives

You thinking of doing wrecks of the UK coast then?

yes, I want to do some wreck dives off the south coast and the Mrs wants to do some dives up north looking for seal.

There are some good fossil beds to dive off the south coast that are on the list too.

Do you not want to do any UK sea diving?

Missed your reply, hope it's not too late.

I keep toying with the idea, but I hate diving in a drysuit, find the buoyancy a bit tougher. I'm also a bit sore that I did my drysuit course and the scuba shop I did it with went bust before they signed me off. So I'd need to fork out again to do a drysuit course before anyone will let me dive in one.

I got to admit I'd much rather be diving in a 3mm shorty than a dry suit, but not possible in the UK lol.

Bloody annoying about that dive shop closing on you, but if you have to do it again atleast you should breeze through it now. Have you still got you book? that could save a bit of time and money if you do it again.

I think dry suits are one of those things that grows on you. Most people I know that own dry suits rave about them and even use them in warm water..

If you are wanting to do something before the water warms up enough for wet suits you could always look at a non diving spec like equipment. I found it quite interesting to see the insides of 1st/ 2nd stages.

Oh and as you are interested in wrecks, they are putting another wreck into stoney. A trawler called MV Belinda is going in at 20m. They have put there prices up at stoney now though

Wookie wrote:
yes, I want to do some wreck dives off the south coast and the Mrs wants to do some dives up north looking for seal.

There are some good fossil beds to dive off the south coast that are on the list too.

Do you not want to do any UK sea diving?

Which region along the south coast?

UK diving is great but cold, you could always invest in a thick wet-suit which will be ideal for summer. Or even a semi-dry suit. Then you can dive on your holiday and dive when you get back!

I have a good 5mm semi-dry that has seen me through PPB at stoney last summer (16C) and to Egypt (23C). They are good, but personally 16C was pushing it. Think I will end up with my own dry suit though. I've learnt with other stuff that if you get something that fits well and is comfty, it makes things much easier and better than making do with something not quite right.

I've been looking to dive anywhere between Brighton and Dorset. Dive club is off to Brighton to do the Pentrych soon which would have been tempting, but I need to get my UK sea dives experience up (or atleast have one under my belt lol). The Mrs dad has a boat in Dorset that I'm hoping to make use of next year

Oh, where abouts in Dorset? I live in Bournemouth lol, I haven't had a chance to dive in the sea here yet, but I do know there are meant to be a few good wrecks. Since being home from uni, the only diving I have done is Vobster! Inland is always warmer than the sea!

The boat is at Lyme Regis, I have a book around somewhere with details of dive spots in the area complete with co-ordinates. I think the first few dive will be shallow fossil hunting where others can't get to them Want to get a bit more diving under my belt, SMB, Nav and search & recovery first (need to be able to get those goodies back). The Mrs found a fossil in stoney so she's bound to find something where there are suppose to be loads.

May be heading over to Vobster for a change from stoney at some point soon too. Will be interesting to compare the two.

If you ever go deeper than your qualification i.e. 30m while on holiday your insurance is invalid for the holiday. If you went to 31m the insurance can use it as a get out clause and if you need recompression treatment it'll cost you a lot. A good option is the Deep Diver course, it'll qualify you to 40m, you won't be allowed there abroad but you could end up at 31m by accident. The other option is use DAN insurance which'll insure you down to 130m whatever you quals.

Otherwise just dive until there is something you want to dive that is beyond your quals, then choose the course.

Re:- diving in the UK

For best vis you need to be remote i.e. Skye, Shetland etc. or around Cornwall, west of the Lizard up to Lundy. For best temps I did a shore dive last year that was 21 degrees, normal temps are 16 degrees though. Warmest in the U.K. That's why I live in Cornwall