Wreck Diving Cert

[flw]

Why not simply go diving with other wreck divers and learn the skills over months/years progress as you see fit rather than go on a course - I live very close to Scapa, it is perfectly possible to dive the wrecks there safely and without any penetration skills, or alternatively get yourself jammed inside a narrow opening having done several turns, most folk do something inbetween

 

[Protist]

I always love having the book knowledge first. then practice. Besides, one of the reasons that I love scuba diving, is that its one of the few hobbies that a person can do, where you gain rank that is internationally acknowledged.

 

[Doc Harry]

I use black marker marks, one narrow mark is 10ft, two=20ft, three=30ft, 4=40ft. Then one WIDE mark = 50ft. Next mark is one narrow plus one wide = 60. Continue. 100' = a mark as wide as TWO 50' marks. Sounds more confusing/elaborate than it really is. I have a reel marked to 250' in this way and it's very easy to use/see. The "250ft mark" is only about 1.5" wide and easy to see even on crappy NJ viz days.

Knots. Knots. The only way to go. The whole purpose of a guideline to to find your way out when the **** hits the fan, the lights are out and you're in zero viz.

What good is an ink marking on your guideline in zero viz?

Think it through.

 

[Protist]

Well, just woke up to check my SB. Today is the first day of the class. Very excited.Early day though. Have to meet the instructor at 8 at the dive shop to go over the "review questions". Get our nitrox filled and I gotta buy a clip for my slate. Then we will be on our way for part one of two.

 

[RJP]

Knots. Knots. The only way to go. The whole purpose of a guideline to to find your way out when the **** hits the fan, the lights are out and you're in zero viz.

What good is an ink marking on your guideline in zero viz?

Think it through.

We were talking about using the line to MEASURE stuff. For that, an ink marking system works well, and in many cases superior to knots. ("How many knots was that?" or "How'd all this monofilament/seaweed get all caught up on my line?" )

As I mentioned, if you can't see anything, the measuring is over; and probably the dive. And when the **** hits the fan, do you care how far in you are? NO, because you need to get ALL THE WAY out. For that, the only requirement is that the line is continuous.

Think it through...

 

[flw]

I always love having the book knowledge first. then practice. Besides, one of the reasons that I love scuba diving, is that its one of the few hobbies that a person can do, where you gain rank that is internationally acknowledged.

Hope you had fun today, wrecks are always good funm wherever they are. Just one thing, I notice you've only done bewteen 25-50 dives, assuming your CP is up to date, but within that have done 5 courses ( or will have), whilst training is always good, what is better is to do some training, and then spend time consolidating it and having fun with it - just go diving and enjoy it rather than stress about anything - maybe think about rescue at some point, Somewhere around the 50-100 dives the bouyancy thing tends to slip magically into place, the diving becomes easier and more fun - find some like minded buddies, try out different systems find one that works for you etc etc
And while I guess diving qualifications are internationally recognised, as an instructor while I might insist on a particular certification level for a dive, I'd also want evidence of the experience to back it up - though I do still have my duckling certificate from when I was 7

 

[Protist]

I do agree with you, that just because the person has the certification, doesn't mean they truly know what they are doing...But, Its not always about the amount of experiences,but the quality of each one. By NO means do i consider my self an expert. I know there will be many many years before I will. However, i do believe that my current experience and ability exceeds that of someone else with 20 dive. And i know its not much of a difference, but my log count is 7 from 5o

 

[Waterskier1]

Ditto on the average basic wreck cert. It really does not prep you for any real penetration. Inside the light zone 1st and if it's PADI no more than 130 linear feet with a reel. NO progressive penetration at all. That means if you are at 100 feet you don't go more than 30 feet into the wreck. and again as long as it's in the NATURAL light zone. Even if you are carrying a light and you should have two.

I respectfully disagree with the above. Having assisted in many wreck dive specialty training sessions, I think that is exactly what this course does. It Prepares you for more advanced wreck courses. Over 50% of the students foul the wreck reel/line. Most don't have any idea how to follow a line. Some will let it go way slack, others will use it to "pull" themselves through tighter areas since they don't know proper fin technique. But, after a few tries and some counseling, most end up know what they need to work on, and knowing what they don't know. To me, that is prep for real penetration courses.

I am surprised how many rec divers are excited about being around a wreck. Last month, in Grand Caymans, I was with a group that did the Landing Craft Nicholson. This is an open craft similar to what you might have seen in movies about D-Day. The divers were like a puppy dog with a new toy. They had a blast, even though there was absolutely no penetration, no lines, not what most consider to be a wreck dive, but a dive of a wreck.

So, why dampen the expectations of an excited student diver telling him basically the class is worthless?

I think some of you can't remember what it was like to dive your first wreck, and learn to use the reel (not just when, but also how). I think it is kind of like your first car. Most of us didn't get a brand new Ferrari or Lamborghini, but we still had fun driving.

 

[Waterskier1]

Why not simply go diving with other wreck divers and learn the skills over months/years progress as you see fit rather than go on a course - I live very close to Scapa, it is perfectly possible to dive the wrecks there safely and without any penetration skills, or alternatively get yourself jammed inside a narrow opening having done several turns, most folk do something inbetween

This is great if:

1) you can find other wreck divers
2) Those wreck divers are Good wreck divers (know what they are doing, and how to do it)
3) Are somewhat skillful and patient at communicating that knowledge to you
4) Willing to teach.

I personally have had mentors that were very good, and some that were not so good. Not that they didn't know how to dive the specialty themselves, but they were less proficient in helping communicate that experience to someone who knew far less.

I find it more and more difficult to find Rec divers who meet all the above criteria, along with the desire and time to mentor another Rec diver. I'm contrasting this to Tech Diving. I find many more people willing to share their knowledge. Could it be that all the good mentors for Rec Diving are already Pro's (DMs, AIs or Instructors) who for insurance or whatever reason are more apt to decline mentoring in favor a conducting a income producing class?

 

[Blackwood]

It really does not prep you for any real penetration.

I respectfully disagree with the above... To me, that is prep for real penetration courses.

Seems to me there's a difference.

I could say that my BOW prepared me for my trimix courses, but that is a far cry from saying BOW prepared me for trimix dives.