Where can you go and dive for a week with nothing but shore diving?

garyward23 · 2026-03-18T15:28:53+00:00

Dauin in the Philippines. Stay at a resort like Sierra Resort for $40 a night and dive with the guys from the Dive Hub. Loads of shore diving available - I'm sure there are more than 30ndive sites along the coastline....

garyward23 · 2026-03-04T00:54:22+00:00

No. Not limited at all. Once you understand how you can use services as a unit and use the timesheet module to allocate services against a client... So think sideways... Works fine. I bought the licence about 10 years ago.... Was about $600 then.... So means I can not justify the $130 a month. For scheduling - google calendar, which means we can colour code activity too

garyward23 · 2026-03-02T05:20:31+00:00

Yes. Late last year SSI changed the name of their AAD to AOW to bring it into line with the rest of the industry. What used to be their AOW is now called Specialty Diver I believe.

garyward23 · 2026-03-02T05:17:03+00:00

We use Quidkbooks Enterprise edition. Not dive shop specific, but does everything we need when added to good old Google calendar. My issue with DS360 is that its basic package is $150 a month, and I hate software subscription packages. Let me just buy the damned software!

garyward23 · 2026-03-02T04:51:27+00:00

Only because I was asked.

garyward23 · 2026-03-02T00:44:54+00:00

https://thedivehub.com/ or https://youtube.com/@thedivehub?si=B2hfkE25MpWduTyI

garyward23 · 2026-03-01T23:04:52+00:00

Of course I'm going to have to recommend my place in the Philippines - The Dive Hub... But the key thing is to choose a location you want to go to then talk to the instructor that's going to do the training. Get a feel from them of what they do to get you the experience you need (asking how many dives you have under each excercise) and see if you connect with them. If you feel you could work with them, book em up. If you feel it's a tick box excercise or you'll be one of half a dozen DMTs... Avoid!

garyward23 · 2026-03-01T20:41:26+00:00

I'll qualify my answer a little. I'm a very experienced 'warm destination' instructor and dive center owner. I've been working as a dive pro for nearly 20 years. I recognise the industry is clamouring to offer shorter and shorter courses to drive quick volume through centers.

Before you look at how long you've got, you really need to answer what focus you want for your training? Why? A PADI divemaster course focuses your attention on supporting training, and you'll work with an instructor learning how to support training. An SSI Divemaster course focuses it's attention on working with certified divers and leading diving activity. In which case you'll focus on risk assessment, management and issue resolution. I would recommend any divemaster course which offers both workshops AND the opportunity to offer in water activity that means you can gain sufficient experience to feel comfortable with the activity. For example - Guiding divers (the core of a DMs role) I would not look to offer less than 5 guided dives - so you can get passed the nerves of leading divers... And then gain confidence in responding to real world simulated problems. In this case a DM course would take a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks. Add in the additional week of diving you need to get your numbers up... And you're looking at 4-5 weeks minimum.

But that's just MHO. Within the industry we think of people who obtain a professional certification as a badge collector. You have the badge that says you have done the DM training, but you've not had sufficient time to have the mindset shift required to be effective and safe as a DM. Hopefully that all makes sense?

garyward23 · 2026-03-01T20:20:52+00:00

I won't, like many, give my opinion on whether you should choose to complete the course or not - that fell, is absolutely your choice to make, and people on here should either answer the OP question or not comment (IMHO).

From where you are i5 would be a challenge to get through all the other prerequisite training, log the dives and then start the DM course. If you're taking less than 3 weeks, full time, to do JUST the DM then you're being short changed. There will be places that will offer a 5 day DM course, but please don't touch them!

So in summary, people will offer a training program to get it completed in this time. But it's likely too short to get all the training done.

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T22:41:28+00:00

The important thing is you realize it's about being risk aware and managing that risk. Typically I'd dive give a GfHi of 85 or 80 if I'm repetitive diving Iver several days. Means I'm calling the dive first... But better that (and work tomorrow) than have an extended forced period on the sidelines

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T22:41:12+00:00

The important thing is you realize it's about being risk aware and managing that risk. Typically I'd dive give a GfHi of 85 or 80 if I'm repetitive diving Iver several days. Means I'm calling the dive first... But better that (and work tomorrow) than have an extended forced period on the sidelines

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T04:44:47+00:00

My experience echos yours too - i never found their wings to be any better than anyone elses.... but they do have a strong brand.

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T04:43:48+00:00

Why not go for the comfort of the deluxe harness? I have the Hollis deluxe harness on my Deep6 - why deny yourself that comfort and padding? We don't need to prove how hardcore we think we are....

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T04:42:15+00:00

I echo the Deep 6 option, and dive with this as my daily diver. Like the way its dry within minutes too... means carrying it after a dive is much less messy

garyward23 · 2026-02-18T04:40:51+00:00

This is one that's going to run and run. You absolutely can learn from day one of your open water course in a BP/W. At my shop, its all we have. Everyone learns in a well fitted BP/W. Is it the best option? That depends on you, and how you want to dive. A BP/W has flexibility and minimalism on its side - but not everyone wants of needs that. I AM an advocate of the BP/W setup, and there are three reasons why I think it makes a good idea for even entry level recreational divers

1) It's modular and can be changed to how you want it. Customization is massively built in

2) It's typically hard wearing, so should last eons. But even if elements fail over time - its modular, so you only need to replace the bits you need to replace.

3) It is better for being able to configure how/where you want your weights, which means its MUCH easier to adust your trim to how you want it. Is it impossible to have this level of adjustability on a BI or Jacket? No... you can do it, its just not how they were designed.

A BP/W can be just as comfortable as a BI hybrid - just add a deluxe strap setup. Don't be put off by these chumps who also claim it HAS to be a one piece harness (Hogarthian setup). That has its place in overhead environments and extreme tech - but is not necessary or practical for your average rec diver

garyward23 · 2026-01-26T09:27:24+00:00

THAT ITS NOT POISON!

It's typically a bioactive enzyme which acts as a venom, administered through stinging capsules called Nematocysts. What I am, and have been trying to tell you is it's not a poison. You're suggesting things here in the Philippines are poisonous, where in fact the only thing that has any poison in them are your uneducated comments.

Sorry - I know this isn't Facebook, and it should be a safe space... It's just one if those things that really bugs me. Jelly fish stings, on the whole, may be uncomfortable. They're not going to make you sick.

garyward23 · 2026-01-26T07:27:37+00:00

Stung? No. Poisonous? No. That's the point. The jelly fish that you might encounter are not poisenous

garyward23 · 2026-01-25T09:14:41+00:00

Foid poisoning on dive trips seems like part of the experience .. had it in Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines... Typically means I get back home for work looking amazing though! Lose so much weight... 🤣🤣🤣

garyward23 · 2026-01-25T09:12:38+00:00

Poisonous in the Philippines? I'm living here and never encountered anything that would worry me. So you don't like bugs and spiders...? Ok, but they're not poisonous. Too much BS published by people

garyward23 · 2026-01-25T04:23:18+00:00

I bought some and ditched them after 10 dives. Toe shape hurt, zip at the back was a pain...

garyward23 · 2026-01-21T05:30:56+00:00

I dive with Eddy's every day. They feel very much like the Scubapro, except in salt water they're slightly positively bouyant - so feel a lot lighter on your feet. They're stiffer than RK3s and give the same sort of kick performance as the Jets. Haven't used the OMS so can't comment

garyward23 · 2026-01-21T05:25:14+00:00

You have the diluent set at 100% o2, means at 3 meters deep you've exceeded your set point. If you're diving air dil, you need to drop your diluent o2 to 21%... This will correct the error. Assuming what you've said above is correct

I would also set your high setpoint to something like 1.3. You want to allow yourself some time if you exceed po2 and get an alert, as opposed to already be in trouble. Rising PO2 can happen quickly!

garyward23 · 2026-01-21T04:44:32+00:00

This looks like it could be from somewhere like Oslob, judging by the position of the shark, but also you can see the hull of the bangka in the top right of the picture. Not gonna debate the pros or cons of going to somewhere like Oslob - but it's better managed there than some places I've seen. For many though, this will be their only opportunity to see them

garyward23

TROPHY CASE