Hello all,

My name is Wai, a new member here. I learned diving (PADI) 2 years ago in the Philippines and have since dived in other tourist places, but not yet near home (NYC).

I plan to do some local diving this summer but have a very fundamental question... How do I go about diving in NJ?

When I was in SE Asia, I would go to a dive center, pay a fee (usually per dive), rent equipment, and then get on the boat with a dozen strangers plus a dive master (or two) who would dive with us. The dive center could usually buddy me up with someone if I don't already have one.

So, how is it done in the US? Must I join a dive club? Are there dive centers along NJ Shore that operates like the ones I describe above? The only equipment I have is a mask and a 3mm wetsuit. Are equipments available to rent?

Thanks for all the help. Happy diving

waishiu,

Welcome to the forum. Diving in this area is not like diving in a resort. My advice would be to get some training at a local shop that would make you more comfortable diving in northeast condtions. They are not the same as the clear water resorts you are used to. Once you've been in the shop for a while, you will become familiar with the staff, and other regular divers. Hopefully, your shop will have local dives scheduled, and you can sign up with your shop to dive wrecks nearby. If you don't have the gear you need, your local shop would be happy to rent it to you, but you may want to get your own gear eventually. Joining a club is not a bad way to go, but clubs don't usually have gear for you. What they will have is lots of nice people who all like the same thing: diving.

So, the first thing you may want to do is find a local reputable and active shop, and make yourself known to them. Take a few classes, meet a few people. Then go to Dutch Springs or other training facility, and get used to the gear intensive diving you may experience up here. Good luck! If there is anything I can do for you, feel free to ask.

Regards,
Mike