New To CHUM

[DivingDoug]

Ready with my drysuit ;-)

Howdy Divers,

Just moved here from Edmonton, Canada and I'm looking to find some people crazy enough to enjoy breathing underwater

I originally learned to dive in the Pacific Northwest and absolutely love it there. For the past few years though, my company has sent me as far away from the ocean as they can (Wyoming+Alberta) so I've also learned to love any puddle deep enough to dive. I have lots of diving stories to tell (some of which might even be true) but I'll save them for the bar/boat.

Hopefully I'll make it to your meeting on Feb 18th and then maybe, just maybe, you'll let me come diving with you...

Cheers :beer,

Doug

 

[dutch]

Welcome DivingDoug. You have come to the right place! Be sure and get to that meeting! There is only one better way to grab a drink with really active divers, at one of the dive resorts around the world where CHUM happens to be diving on any given day! :chug

 

[Diver_T]

Welcome!

Welcome DivingDoug! We look forward to seeing you Thursday and hearing some of your stories.

Cheers!

 

[JSWeather4d]

Hello Everyone!

I've been reading the board every once in a while for a year or so and just never got around to registering. As I was cruising through posts today, I asked myself why I hadn't registered. My answer was a blank look on my face (I suppose that's a little better than answering myself), so I registered. I was originally certified in 1998, dove for a while and got out of it. In 2011, I talked my wife into a Discover Scuba class on a cruise and we decided to get certified/re-certify. I've been fairly active since.
Jeff

 

[Siren]

Welcome, Jeff....or should I say, glad you are now official and public. . You and your wife should try and make it to a meeting. This group always loves new dive buddies and drinking friends. That is, if you like to partake in adult beverages.

 

[Txdiver]

Just got open water certified. Looking for good advice on dive equipment (only had to buy mask and snorkel for class). Looking forward to meeting others and seeking dive opportunities.

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[Heidi Ho]

Welcome to you both - we're glad to have you here. One thing we are FULL of is opinions so feel free to ask. The other thing we are full of is adult beverages but I think Siren covered that. :beer

We do have a forum specific to gear so that may be a good place to start your hunt.

Hope to see you at a meeting or a dive soon.

 

[Diver_T]

Welcome! Hope to see you at the meeting.

 

[Txdiver]

What time is the next meeting. May 19th is correct. But what time.

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[ReefHound]

PMs are sent out to everyone within a week of the meeting that have a little info about who is speaker, confirming location/time, and any special news.

Unless advised differently, you can find this info in the FAQ link in the top navigation bar. Here is what it says about meetings.

Once a month, we have a meeting with a speaker or program of some sort. We meet on the third Thursday of the month, except December. Our home is now Jake's Sports Bar at 2944 Chimney Rock. Please park next door in Balfour's parking lot. We'll be in the back/left room - eating, drinking and chatting. Join us!

Everyone's welcome - members, guests, family, friends, and even that guy who gave you an o-ring last time you were diving.

The "official" part of the meeting starts at 7:30 pm, but people usually trickle in about 6:30 - 7:00 to chat with people and get their orders in for food and beverages.

Exact start time is subject to getting the hooligans in order. :sadeyepatch:

 

[Sushi Boy]

You don't need to park in Balfour's though. They're ok with us parking in the main lot now.

 

[sp8102]

The New Guy

I am not certified yet but i finish the open water course tomorrow. I am taking Open water at the blue lagoon. What would be some good beginner dive places to go in the Houston area that i could do in one day?

 

[ReefHound]

I am not certified yet but i finish the open water course tomorrow. I am taking Open water at the blue lagoon. What would be some good beginner dive places to go in the Houston area that i could do in one day?

There are several scuba parks in the Houston area. One of them is Blue Lagoon in huntsville and there is a group of CHUM going there next weekend. See this thread.

Don't judge it by your experience this weekend. Members reported last weekend that the viz was the worst they have ever seen it and with the continued rains I doubt it has improved much. We have been there on days with 30-40' viz and you can see from one boat to the next. Typical is 10-15'.

 

[sp8102]

There are several scuba parks in the Houston area. One of them is Blue Lagoon in huntsville and there is a group of CHUM going there next weekend. See this thread.

Don't judge it by your experience this weekend. Members reported last weekend that the viz was the worst they have ever seen it and with the continued rains I doubt it has improved much. We have been there on days with 30-40' viz and you can see from one boat to the next. Typical is 10-15'.

Yeah the visibility was pretty bad... which was expected with all the rain. I would like to go back once in clears up a bit. Are there any trips off shore that would be good for a beginner?

 

[ReefHound]

Yeah the visibility was pretty bad... which was expected with all the rain. I would like to go back once in clears up a bit. Are there any trips off shore that would be good for a beginner?

There are calm days offshore that would be suitable but they are rare and unexpected.

 

[Heidi Ho]

Welcome to CHUM and the wonderful world of diving....

Yes, you can go offshore as a new diver but I'm not sure it's the best idea. There are basically two ways you can get in the Gulf - a day trip through an operator out of Freeport or a weekend trip on the Fling. For me, the Gulf can be a bit too unpredictable for a new diver; there can be waves on the surface and current at depth. Or it can be glass.

That being said, not all new divers are the same; some are naturals and some are not. You are the best judge if you're a natural or not. I speak from experience; I'm not a natural diver but that doesn't mean I don't love it any less, it just means I'm much more aware of what I need to do before I get in the water with a group.

Hope this is helpful - I'm sure others have some input as well.

 

[mtuaaron]

New to Houston Area

Hi All,

Looks like my wife and I will be moving to the Houston Area in the next 2 months. We have been in Germany for the last 2 years, and diving our butts off over here. All the way from Shipwrecks in Norway to high mountain lakes in Austria. We are originally from Metro-Detroit, and cut our SCUBA "teeth" on Ice diving and Shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.

Once we have more information about our exact location, hopefully we can join one of the regular meetings, and also do some diving.

You can read some more about us on our blog www.submergedoaks.com

I hear that I don't need my drysuit for Houston diving

 

[Heidi Ho]

Welcome - we're glad you're here and by all means, when you get settled, come find us at a meeting or event.

I hear that I don't need my drysuit for Houston diving

Ummmm, talk to our DAM divers who dive once a month and ask them how they dive in Jan & Feb

 

[KMunson]

Looking forward to getting wet again!

Hey Y'all,

I'm originally from Oregon and got my PADI open water and advanced while at Oregon State. Since then I've added Nitrox, Altitude, and DPV to the list. I've been in Houston for about 6 years but haven't been diving as my time's been consumed by the kids, hunting, and motocross. In Oregon my diving was all cold water dry suit diving either on the Oregon coast, the Puget Sound, or local lakes. Current, cold, and murky but still way better than not diving! The only "warmer water" diving I've done was in Hawaii and also California's Channel Islands. Can't wait to get wet with y'all and do some diving with good vis, warmer water temps, etc.

 

[Heidi Ho]

Welcome! For someone from Oregon, you certainly have the y'all down pat! Glad you found us and hope to see you at a meeting or CHUM event soon.