Just completed PADI Open Water but still don't feel ready?

[Diver0001]

One of these days we should meet up....for a beer/coffee, or even a dive. Do you ever come west to Belgium?

-Z

Not often but I'm not opposed to the idea

R..

 

[Landau]

How about taking the PADI Advanced course? This gives you 5 more dives each a little different with an instructor. A Deep dive, Navigation, plus 3 others (my shop usuallly does Night, Buoyancy and Wreck)

In total it more than doubles your ocean dive experience. A good instructor will tailor the dives to what you need. We tend to throw bouyancy drills into most of the dives. "while staying exactly level with a spot on the hull of the wreck point out hazards to avoid'

Also look at guided dives in a small group of 1 - 3 diver with a DM or instructor.

Good Luck and don't give up!

 

[drbill]

Being aware that you are not quite ready is a good sign. Given today's weekend wonder certification programs, I might have felt the same back in the 60s when I started diving. Mine was a three week course with shore and boat dives. It also involved skills that are now a part of the rescue diver cert.

Others have suggested gaining more dive experience by diving with a dive club and that is good advice. You may find a more experienced diver in the group who is willing to dive with and offer suggestions to a new diver.

 

[Darcimus]

If you need to rent gear, find an LDS that has pool nights. Keep track of the gear you wear (sizes, etc.) and ask for the same gear each time. Spend as much time in the pool as you can practicing skills you learned in OW. Taking the AOW course might be a mistake as some places may lean less on the skills assessment before heading out. Plus, if you're not ready for 40 feet in the day time, you're probably not going to enjoy the deep dive or the night dive. Better to practice as much as possible as get the hang of buoyancy and trim and just get more used to being in the water. I was in your shoes not that long ago, and tons of time in the pool worked wonders for me.

If you already have your own gear, the blowing bubbles sessions should be cheaper. Plus, you'll have the added experience of getting used to our own gear.

 

[Darcimus]

Also, I second the dive club idea. You may find someone who's in the same boat as you are, or you may be lucky enough to get paired up with a senior member who'll take you under their wing and guide you on the open water dives. That also worked well for me.

 

[runsongas]

you should let padi know about the poor quality of your open water course

PADI Course Evaluation Questionnaire

 

[Scott]

I just completed my PADI Open Water certification, which tells me I'm now allowed to go dive up to 18 meters anywhere, but I still don't feel remotely ready. In particular, I still struggle to control my position and the angle that I'm facing while underwater. I also don't feel like I'd have any ability to cope with any current at all. I feel like it would be dangerous for me to jump straight into actual diving without having someone quite senior very close by.

Is this normal to feel like this? What can I do to combat it? Am I ready and just need practice, and if so, what can I look for that would allow me to get this practice? Are there things such as 'beginner dive trips', where everyone is certified but noone is very good yet and an instructor hangs around and keeps a closer eye than usual?

Feeling quite conflicted about this. Thanks for you help!

In actuality your certification allows you dive in conditions similar to those you were trained in. If you never experienced current during your course it would be wise to have some guidance from someone prior to diving that location. Take our location. There are no currents in fresh water lakes. So when we travel to places with current we have some additional training to conduct for those on that trip. Same goes for dives where surge may be present.

 

[Marivan377]

I was in your same position in December. I received my ow in October and couldn’t wait to get in the water again. I was in Florida for Christmas and had planned to do some dives. Didn’t know anything about boat diving or what kind of buddy I’d end up with. I got on sb a month before my trip. I put out feelers to see if I could find a buddy. That was my biggest issue I had. I came across a good guy who had plenty of dives under his belt and we would chat 2-3 times a week. Made me feel very comfortable going to the dive. Dive day comes and the nerves were on the rise. I was doing a drift dive in a reef. 65’ bottom. The first dive I just kept telling my self breathe relax. I ran thru my Al80 in 20 min. Most amazing experience ever from the leap off the boat to the moment I surfaced. Dive two was a piece of cake. Was more relaxed that dive was 35min as now I was more comfortable with everything. Your not alone in dealing with nerves get past them and get wet. It gets easier every dive.

 

[60plus]

I think most people are a bit more nervous on their first dive after OW. I was. A bit strange not having anyone looking after you. My first dive after OW was a wall to 22m from a boat. I had a touch of OCD before rolling off the boat, repeatedly checking my regs worked, cylinder valve was turned on and BCD inflated.

 

[TMHeimer]

All good advice given. Use a pool to get your trim correct--weights in place to get you horizontal swimming. Maybe you'll need help with this. Currents will not be your problem since they are all different and really, you adapt to each as you go. So if in OW, stay clear of them until you're fundamentals are OK.
Actually, there can be some current in freshwater lakes due to the rivers that enter and exit them....
Mr. Nitpicky.