Cheers Mr S - I'll try most things so i'm happy to give it a go - just don't want to panic which is why i've never tried it before but the offer cropped up tonight and i'm thinking - Ooooeerrr !!
I'm not comfortable snorkling on the surface no - so I reckon he's gonna have to be patient with me.

Mr_S is right, snorkelling is a completely different ballgame. Just try some 'experience' dives. PADI do 'try' dives that give you the experience of diving without having to do the course (I'm sure many resorts do it as well with varying degree's of legality). This will give you the experience of being able to look up and see the surface whilst being weightless. I love that feeling - it's fantastic. But then I grew up 100m away from one of the best surf beaches in the world ...

My tip for you would be to remember to breath slowly and deeply. Not only does it conserve your oxygen but it will calm you as well.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how easy it all is and how great it can be to be down there with the fish. You'll be doing your advanced open water in no time and sitting on the bottom at 28m tying a knot in a rope to prove you're not narc'd!

:D

Definitely give it a go. Book yourself a try dive where they go through the basics of the equipment and then take you in the pool in water you can stand up in. Once you have your head in the water and start breathing through the regulator you will start to feel more confident. If you still don't like it then you have lost nothing but a few quid. Much better than paying several hundred for an open water course and then dropping out!

Jim

If you are keen to have a go then do, it you wont regret it.
I dived for 20 years and instructed for a lot of that time and have taught people from the cautious such as yourself to the dangerously over confident. If your instructor is good they will listen to your concerns and adapt the training to suit your needs. Basically start off by just having your face in the water breathing from the regulator, progressing to kneeling in the shallow end and so on.
Have faith in your instructor and enjoy it. I have ever only know and handful of people who didn't get hooked.
Just make sure your instructor knows exactly how you feel.
Regards
Allan R

I did the PADI open water diver course last summer, which was ace! A bit of classroom work then pool work - can squeeze it all in in a weekend.
You have to do 4 qualifying dives with an instructor after all that. Sounds like a big effort but it really builds the confidence.

Best thing to do if you're serious is do what i did. Do the classroom and pool tuition here in the UK and complete the course with your qualifying dives on holiday - I went to the Red Sea.

It's truly amazing and so so relaxing.

Hope the info helps.

Thanks peeps for the advice.

You all seem very positive about it :)

A bit nippy
 

Found this old cutting from when I was working in Alaska. -28 and 3 foot thick ice. I had only gone down to watch and ended up getting more involved. A fairly exciting dive with a 70 year old retired Doctor. The crazy old fool was diving in a wet suit.
Allan R

BSAC Sports diver like Mr_S myself,where were you looking to dive,UK or sunnier climes?

Book up to do a Padi Course!

I've no idea what he has in store for me. I'll ask - but I rather hope it's not Alaska :o