New diver from Cody Wyoming

Hello everyone!

I am new to all of this including diving. I spent a week in the Caribbean in December and found my new love...diving.

I started this journey later in life and would never have had the opportunity if it wasn't for a divorce.

I'm currently working on my open water and will get my pool dives in on March 18. I plan to start my advanced as soon as I get through my 1st certification.

I plan to make at least two dives per year and joined to have dive partners and socialize with others with the same interests.

I'm a police officer in the day, vacation rental owner by afternoon and work at my friends' restaurant by night because I like to see how my juggling skills are progressing as I age.😊

I'm looking forward to hooking up with the group and learning more skills in diving and enjoying the beauty of the seas.

Hello and welcome aboard Rayna! Wow, you keep a full plate - we are impressed with your determination in getting your SCUBA certification! As mentioned in the Welcome to SingleDivers.com email, our upcoming Bonaire trip May 11-18 is the perfect place to comfortably hone SCUBA fundamentals with Kamala aka WreckWench using our unique Rent a Buddy (more like rent a mentor) Program. In any case, we are stoked you finally found your passion, that it mirrors ours here in the club, and that we have you join us to create fantastic new undersea memories with the camaraderie and fun fellowship we share.

Welcome to SingleDivers.com!!

Can you explain the rent a buddy program?

I might be interested in the bonaire trip if I understand more

Can you explain the rent a buddy program?

I might be interested in the bonaire trip if I understand more

 

Rayna the way Rent a Buddy (RAB) works is for a fee you are paired with a Divemaster or Instructor certified member of the club, typically The Wench herself.   The fee can be daily or a discounted amount for the week (recommended).

 

Your RAB assigned buddy is with you for the entire dive, which gives you the reassurance and confidence to relax a bit and better enjoy yourself. Then at the end of each dive you get prompt and personalized feedback/mentoring to help hone scuba fundies such as buoyancy, gas consumption, efficiency moving through the water, etc. This is a very popular program with newly minted divers like yourself, hopefully some RAB veterans will find this topic and chime in with their endorsement!

 

In addition, Bonaire is a perfect dive environment for new divers and those employing the RAB due to very low current and protection by the land mass from open ocean surge in the marine park. With these distractions removed there is ample opportunity to relax and still practice / develop sound safe scuba skills. Hope this helps!

Ok, Im looking at booking the Bonaire trip. Can you help me figure out the cossts and when you need to be paid?

Ok, Im looking at booking the Bonaire trip. Can you help me figure out the cossts and when you need to be paid?

 

Certainly Rayna! In the Bonaire 2019 Trip Subforum you will see a series of topics with various related subjects about the Bonaire trip specifically and how our trips operate in general. Click
the topic titled "#1 Trip DEALS AND DETAILS: Bonaire May 11-18, 2019" and there you will find not only answers to your question regarding pricing and payments, but lots of other useful information to make your trip planning and bookinig easier. There is a LOT of information so we recommend since this would be your first trip with us to settle in a comfy chair with a pleasant beverage and spend several minutes reviewing the topic from top to bottom. The info here has been gleaned from years answering member questions; you will notice there is also a FAQ topic, that will prove handy fro you also.

 

To save you a little time you may follow THIS LINK to the Bonaire trip subforum. You can also find links to all of our trip information topics under the Home Page "TRIPS" tab and clicking the associated "More Information" link. We are happy to coach you through your first booking process as well - just email trips@singledivers.com with your name, Member name and trip you have questions for i.e. "Rayna aka Mountaindivergirl: Bonaire 2019 Question" (this helps us manage our email traffic and is appreciated!)

Hello Rayna, and welcome to SingleDivers.  I found the group about 10 years ago, and have made numerous trips with Kamala.  To follow up on the Rent A Buddy that Brad mentioned, I have been on several trips where new divers opted to go that route.  Without exception, all commented on how much they learned, and how much their confidence grew during the week.  It is well worth it.  That said, I have made many trips with Single Divers, and many outside the group.  There are a number of differences.  For one, Kamala and her helpers gather information to look for good rooming matches.  The same is done with matching compatible divers in the water.  Those type of things add a lot to the enjoyment level of a trip.  Another wonderful aspect of Single Diver trips is the group of people.  There are not cliques, as are always present on other trips.  No matter the experience level of a diver here, they are happy to help out others.  I have watched some of the experienced divers invite a newer diver to dive with them occasionally, just to try and help them to learn and become more comfortable in the water.  It is a great group of people.

 

Ed

OK,  You guys talked me into it and I am booked for the Bonaire trip (I think).  I can't wait to get in the water, get warm (currently -5 in Cody with a -25 windchill) and have some fun!

 

Any pointers anyone has, let me know such as clothing for Bonaire, special things to bring (I have a 3mm wetsuit) and other things that will help to have a great time!!!

 

Rayna

Bonaire is a great trip.  Warm, clear water, and a lot of fun.  A 3mm suit is probably more than you need.  Brad, or one of the other excellent helpers on the site will give information as the trip nears.  I myself, will actually be in your neck of the woods then.  The East entrance opens May 4.

  Rayna and  to the wonderful world of Singledivers.com!!!  Glad so many chimed in to welcome you,  The rent a buddy program is excellent and will help you get your skills on board.  Bonaire is a great place to start your diving life!!!  Kamala and crew put on the best trips to fabulous destinations.  Hope you are on a trip soon.

Edited by little mermaid, 25 February 2019 - 06:01 AM.

Ed, I own three vacation rentals between Yellowstone and Cody. Right behind the gas station in Wapiti. Look me up while you are here! Im not hard to find...only female cop in Cody 😎

Thank you all! I would be happy to volunteer with anything I can if it can be done from the top of a mountain 😊

I'll be at Creekside for at least 3 weeks.  I usually get there within a day of the gate opening.  I might extend the trip a bit this season, as I want to see if Ras has new cubs this year.  I did catch her and Snow last Spring, about 2 weeks prior to her getting booted out.  I wii try to touch base with you while there, to talk a bit of diving, and answer any SingleDiver questions you may have.  

 

Ed

That's always fun when the bears start emerging. Ras and snow were two of the most photographed bears last season! Seems like all of my guests had photos of them