Thoughts on Scuba diving

[dagibbs]

Last night I was asked when I was going to take up scuba diving. It is a tough question, one of a couple tough questions that were put to me.


Scuba diving sounds like a lot of fun, I think I'd really enjoy it, but I don't know if I have room in my life. There are two main issues, time and money. I've already got more than one moderately expensive and potentially time consuming hobbies in my life. Motorcycling, dance lessons, SF conventions, that I'm actively doing. Also, there's downhill skiing, which I used to do more, but haven't done as much lately (like almost none in the last couple years) and which I also miss. Then, there's owning a home in ongoing renovation, and the costs (and time) associated with that. Oh, and having a girlfriend... and lots of other friends, and doing some gaming. Not to speak of having a job. If I didn't have a job, I'd have so much more time for a hobby.

And it looks like scuba diving would be both fairly expensive: lessons, tanks, gear, contact lenses to start up, then refills and travel once started. (And, I'll bet scuba gear doesn't travel well on a motorcycle, I think it is too big and bulky.) And, fairly time consuming -- though the amount of time would be flexible, I think.

Then, there's lessons in a chlorinated pool -- I don't particularly like chlorine, and it will probably trash my hair. Still, that can be dealt with.

I wonder what the male-female ratio is? (I get the feeling there are more male divers than female.)

I'm really enjoying the dance lessons, and leolac and I are going to continue when this set of lessons runs out.

And, I miss playing bridge, and to some extent Go. Though, I'm playing Go online and that's working out pretty well. And, really, I'm not getting as much reading done as I'd like, either. And there's a MMPOG that I'd been playing in pretty regularly, but now have dropped out of, due to not enough time.

Anyone want to pay me to not work? Or give me a day-extender, to give me 30 hour days?

So, I don't know. What am I willing to give up? Am I willing to give something up to make space in my life, and in my budget, for this? Just how much space in my budget will it need?

Comments

Re: scuba

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but the idea of going to a beach-type resort for a vacation doesn't really appeal to me. Scuba included might make it more interesting, but even so, sun & beach isn't really my type of holiday. Maybe if I was vacationing with someone who also wanted to do that, it might work better. Dunno. And, if I didn't end up with a certification good in Canada, I could dive up here with friends. (And, apparently, those friens do like to dive in frigid northern waters. Strange, hm?)

Re: scuba

[i-and-t.livejournal.com]

sunning myself on a beach somewhere warm in february does appeal to me, especially if there is scuba, and option for day trips to interesting places eg. rainforests and volcanoes one year, havana this last year...etc.Also it has to have good food. these places you can pay extra to have the private tutoring for PADI certification which is good anywhere in the world (including here) but it will cost a few extra bucks. i have been game to go for it in the past but t never was that excited to spent that much time of the vacation doing just scuba, so I decided against it (vacations are one of the few times where we get to spend uninterrupted time together.)
as for diving in frigid northern waters, one of my brothers likes to do it off victoria (brrr!) out here-- what would you look at? silty river/lake bottom? at least in the ocean there would be interesting fish and rocks to look at, and the occational shipwreck ( like in this dive park off victoria my brother goes to)
i.