re: Best Scuba Diving books for beginners?

It'll probably all be available at the shops. Call them and see what they carry. Some smaller shops don't carry much. Larger ones have everything you need.

If you're going to be spending a lot of time there, it's worth buying your own gear after getting certified. Often, you will get a gear discount after getting your cert with a shop.

Rescue is supposed to be a really good course, but a lot depends on your instructors. Besides that, don't fall into the card collecting. You don't need advanced open water or deep diver or wreck diver or any of the other courses they offer to get into your pocket. Only exception would be needing an advanced to do some dives. Some shops require it. But if you have a significant dive log, you're probably good to go anyway.

I am PADI certified but I always thought NAUI instruction was better, more detailed, from friends I dove with who went through them. Of course this info is several years old (x2).

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I’m about to be spending a bunch of time in Djibouti

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My man!

Certified diver. It's a once and done (maybe twice) thing as far as I'm concerned. Lots of schooling, 2 checkout dives, tons of expensive (and heavy) equipment to buy and then lug around like a pack mule. Then the cleaning/rinsing salt water etc afterwards......Not worth the effort.
Been there, done that...other than some snorkeling, I'm done with it.

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Certified diver. It's a once and done (maybe twice) thing as far as I'm concerned. Lots of schooling, 2 checkout dives, tons of expensive (and heavy) equipment to buy and then lug around like a pack mule. Then the cleaning/rinsing salt water etc afterwards......Not worth the effort.
Been there, done that...other than some snorkeling, I'm done with it.

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Call me crazy,but I didn't like the fun for the whole family, even grandma can do it, image they tried to present. I wanted something difficult and a little dangerous that not everybody could do. And there are ways to find those niches in diving but the opportunities are relatively few unless you have an unlimited travel budget or want to do it as a profession. Like you, I checked it off my list and moved on.

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Certified diver. It's a once and done (maybe twice) thing as far as I'm concerned. Lots of schooling, 2 checkout dives, tons of expensive (and heavy) equipment to buy and then lug around like a pack mule. Then the cleaning/rinsing salt water etc afterwards......Not worth the effort. Been there, done that...other than some snorkeling, I'm done with it.

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I’ll be working there for the foreseeable future on a two month on two off rotational basis and from what I understand I’ll be working 3-5 days a month while there so I’m trying to find something to do with my time over there. I here it’s great diving. Whale sharks in the winter. I guess there’s a spot where two continental plates meet and a bunch of wrecks.

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NAUI instruction was better, more detailed,

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Half of my family is PADI, the other half (myself included) is NAUI, we all felt we had better instruction with NAUI.

NAUI is a bit more conservative on down time, surface interval, etc…

As other have mentioned, try before you buy. Sometimes the dive shops have used gear as well. Get a good mask and a the best regulator you can afford. Next in priority would be BC. I had a Suunto dive computer that I really liked, and didn’t break the bank.

Best answer. Your cant rent a tank without a scuba openwater license. Go to local dive shop and signup