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THE WEBMASTER'S DIVE LOG
THE WEBMASTER'S DIVE LOG
Introduction
Hi, my name is Dave Hasney and I live in North Yorkshire in the U.K. For several years now I have built several small websites including my personal website, Castle Hooch, and more recently, the website of The Craven Water Rats Sub-Aqua Club. (This is done as a hobby and an interest, I do not receive any payment for this or any other site I have built).
Kalkan & Dolphin Scuba Team
Kalkan in Turkey, is one of my all time favourite holiday destinations and I have been there several times. I had always wanted to take up scuba diving but never seamed to get around to it, despite my brother being the Diving Officer of a club at home. Having eventually taken up diving, I thought a good way to thank the Dolphin Scuba Team for their training, was to build them a website to help advertise their services.
Diver Training
Although I had snorkelled as a child (and during adult life whilst on holiday), I just never seemed to get around to scuba diving, even though I had always wanted to. It's probably the one thing that I have been envious of about my brother Tim and also respected him for his skill and knowledge. At this point, even though I could offer more praise, I'll stop before I inflate his ego too much! I had made plans in 1999 to take the plunge and do a diving course but they never materialised so, it wasn't until May 2000 when plans came together and it actually happened.
Background
Not ever having been much of an athlete and now, also into that difficult time of life (40+), I wondered if I had left it too late to take up diving. However, after being enthralled by several of the David Jason diving trips on TV (he's older than me) and, reading numerous articles in diving magazines about auntie Alice aged 65 enjoyed her first diving trip... I decided if they can do it, so can I... Like so many other people, I chose to gain my first real experience of scuba diving (and hopefully, a qualification) whilst on holiday. On a previous occasion I had done a one/two hour 'try Dive' session in a pool and in shallow water at the beach but never got around to progressing any further.
Tim, my brother, having a wealth of experience as a diver and also being the club diving officer, offered me his advice and warnings about gaining qualifications whilst on holiday but I had preempted him. In 1999 I was on holiday in Kalkan, at this time I visited Dolphin Scuba Team to see what type of operation it was, without availing myself of their services. They appeared to be very professional but being inexperienced, I decided to find out moor when I got home. However, I did receive some favourable comments from qualified and non qualified divers who were using the outfit during my visit.
On my return to the UK I scoured the travel brochures and surfed the Internet to find any info and feed back. The most useful piece I found was, a well respected and reputable tour operator in the UK recommended and used Dolphin Scuba Team. They had even sent a party of incognito diving instructors out from the UK to test them, they returned happy giving a glowing report. Satisfied, I went through the process of booking a course with them, direct via e-mail & fax to cut down on travel agency and tour operator fees.
Diving Report
In a word, FANTASTIC, everything I had expected and more! Unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet) I did my course in the second week of my two week holiday, if it had been the first week I feel shure I would have purchased further days for diving with pleasure and interest in mind, as opposed to diving with the restraints placed upon a student of underwater skills.
I only wish I had taken up diving a lot earlier in life because I have a lot of catching up to do and, the most important part of the course for me was, obtaining my qualification as a PADI Open Water Diver, in readiness for my planned trips to Goa and The Maldives in the near future.
I am sensible and level minded enough to realise that I still have a lot to learn. Like driving a car, I am only at the stage of the first few days without 'L' plates however, I intend to get back in the water (under supervision) as soon as possible so I can continue to gain experience and further skills, like life itself, you never stop learning...
PS. Thanks to my instructor Alison for the expert tuition!
Dive Report Update
Since the original production of this page I have returned to Kalkan as a qualified diver and dived with the team again. As before, the diving was excellent, the weather was great and the renewal of friendships has made further trips to Kalkan in the future inevitable!
NOTE: If you wish to contact me regarding this site, please e-mail webmaster.dolphinscuba@ukdiver.com. If you have any comments or requests for information about Dolphin Scuba Team, please e-mail them direct at dolphinscuba@superonline.com or contact them by using the information request form.
