Scuba Certification Recommendations Near Hood River

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1840 Posts XTreme Poster

Finally going to get this done. Looks like closet shop is Adventure Sports in Troutdale (SDI not PADI). Any recommendations? 6/ 1/2 doz the other?

Thanks,
Eric
HR

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4909 Posts Portland Unstrapped

no scuba free dive Laughing

another option for no wind days - better stealth for spearfishing

my bro Dan Semrad runs this shop

http://www.oregonfreediving.com/

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2588 Posts The 503 METAL

Same question for Portland. (for my kid)

I think PADI is generally preferred?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1840 Posts XTreme Poster

My sense is for a recreational diver, perhaps beyond too, it really does not matter. I think SDI is actually $100 cheaper. In my case it's more convenient as SDI is in Troutdale = closer to HR.

It's really hard to know asking shops as I am sure there are incentives, costs and so forth for each on the shop end. I have asked dive friends of mine, they all say PADI, but also mention that it is mostly because "that's what everyone does."

Eric

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

1: Serious about this one: Always exhale when ascending. Air under pressure expands when there is less pressure. . ."Pop goes your lungs."

2: When you see the Land Lord or any of his/her cousins (aka Great White et all), stab your dive-buddy and quickly swim the other way. Laughing

I haven't done it for decades when I was diving on/in the Great Barrier Reef, but I love it. It can be so peaceful!

Enjoy Eric!

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1840 Posts XTreme Poster

^^^

Yeah. The first time I dove was in Bonaire. Did a "Learn to dive deal" with an instructor. Loved it so much as soon as the dive was over I asked if we could do another class right then and there. It was at the start of the 2008 crash--a lot of stress ABOVE the surface. Below? Not so much. Just beautiful fish and coral going about their business of life.

Looking for more of that!

Eric

it's_over_there · Since 12 Apr 2021 15 Posts

Having gone through this over the last few years as a family in Portland, that also travels to dive spots in the Caribbean and Thailand, I have a couple of recommendations. For reference, my wife has her advanced open water cert, I have my open water cert, and my 13 year old has his advanced cert now, but got his open water cert at 10. My 9 year old will be getting his cert next time we travel after he turns 10. We all have between 25-75 dives each.

1. If you are going on a trip where diving is part of the trip (likely somewhere warm?), I would highly recommend just doing your cert at your travel destination. PADI initial training (as of late) switched to online classes that takes about 6-8hrs of study. You then have your in person learning, pool practice sessions, then open water sessions after you complete the online stuff. You can complete the online learning ahead of your travels. It is so much more relaxing and enjoyable to do your cert in a warm location with good water clarity.

2. We have found it is often cheaper to do the courses at your place of travel. Even in places like the Caribbean where you might expect it to be pricier, it wasn't.

3. Be weary of shops that tell you that you have to buy all your own gear. Almost all places you go diving, you will end up going through a dive outfit, and they will have gear for you. This is somewhat place dependent, but we have never traveled with gear, and never had a problem. Shops that do certs, have an incentive to sell you stuff.

4. #1 rule of diving, keep breathing.

If you want some more specific recommendations on portland places or other countries if you are traveling (or you want to know our own bad experience with starting a cert locally in pdx) PM me.

Cheers,
Dan

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Ho-Toe · Wed Mar 02, 22 4:53 pm +1

it's_over_there · Since 12 Apr 2021 15 Posts

Oops, my bad. I should have specified buying a mask in my speedily written other post, and this is inline with what everyone else is saying. A mask is the one thing really worth purchasing and traveling with. Snorkel-up to you, mask-definitely. My whole family owns masks, and it is the thing we travel with.

Cheers
Dan

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

I got my Open Water cert with NAUI and then did Dive Master with PADI, I don't think it matters too much but when you travel you'll find much more PADI.

The biggest thing I would tell you is that SCUBA diving is pretty much two different sports:
- Warm water diving
- Cold water diving

If you plan on doing cold water diving, then do your cert in cold water. Cold water diving is 2x to 10x harder than warm water diving. I did all my certs cold and have assisted on many warm certs and it's night and day the difference.

After working as a dive guide in Thailand for a while I pretty much gave up cold water diving. While it can be amazing the effort required is substantial.

If you are interested in cold water diving it might be worth the drive up to Puget Sound. I'm not very familiar with Oregon diving but I don't imagine there are too many great spots.

When buying a mask consider a low volume mask if you plan on doing any freediving. Always best to try masks on before buying, not every mask fits every face.

Beyond a mask and snorkel a good Suunto dive watch would be a very worthwhile investment.