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I just reread my post and it reads a bit stiff. Don't get me wrong, I am not into preaching to anyone, and to each their own. This experienced guy was nice and friendly and very keen to introduce his friend to his passion of diving, which is great. However, these stories did not sound like they...

Me and my buddy were setting up our gear in a local dive spot. We get approached by a pair of divers who have some questions about the BCD we are using with our doubles. All is good and we explain that it is a BP/W combination, blah blah. It turns out that one of the pair has dived a lot (3k+)...

Thanks for the replies! So, I wonder whether a combination such as PADI DM + GUE fundies + GUE Tech I would be an acceptable entry point, or would there be some need for a "bridge" course? Yes, that seems quite a different take on the DM role. I find it interesting to think of a DM in a...

There does not seem to be a lot of info on UTD DM, although the course does exist on their site. Anybody has information on what is involved? How is it taught (internship?), acceptable equivalent qualifications to UTD's own Rec3, how does it differ from other DM programs, etc.

I thought I throw in some backing for adding some DIR configuration to your current diving. My experience was that the hardest part of fundies is the most basic skills: namely, maintaining trim and bouyancy while task loaded. It is not so much the S-drills,valve drills and bag shooting, but...

Agreed. Nobody should have been in open water if not completely confident they can clear their own mask. But if it happens and the person is incapable of clearing their mask for whatever reason and are near panic, it can be cleared by someone else using a second stage. Again, I am just...

2009: Finished DM Met lots of cool divers Got a tech pass in fundies Got to try cold(ish) water diving in lakes and springs Tryed a drysuit Had fun! 2010: Cave I More experience in the relative cold of TX More experience with drysuit and doubles Have even more fun and try new things!

If you are thinking of doing fundies or similar I would go for the 7' hose. It is easy to stow nicely even without any light, and you will get used to the setup. What I would definitively do is try the new configuration with someone who is familiar with it and can give some direct advice on how...

Another vote for giving a try to the BP/W and see if it is a better fit for you. Since about my 10th dive I have used it in warm tropical water and personally found it much more comfortable than the jacket. This assessment was way before I even contemplated using doubles or any kind of more...

I tend to agree, that's why the question about special techniques/precautions. Although I don't think this village had anything as aggressive as razor wire ... that would be really scary! This village has been under water for around 25-30 years. I guess some of the granite buildings might...

That's what I would be hoping for! If the visibility is good, it should be quite an experience to descend down to the village church tower :) I don't remember what the village looks like in detail, but the setting is exceptional in a valley surrounded by mountains.

The village I am thinking of is Riano, a village in northwestern Spain that was submerged in the 80's to create a reservoir and dam. The population was relocated to a nearby site. I visited as a kid before the dam was closed. I haven't had much luck in finding information about diving in the...

Hi all! I wonder what preparation one would need to dive in a submerged village at recreational depths. Would you treat it like a wreck, or are there special considerations? Are there commonly accessed underwater villages out there? Are they generally worth the visit? I ask this because...

Just thought I would add to the discussion that you can also clear someone else's mask in case of need. There was one occasion when I found this a very useful skill to have.

I have found the Oceanic Mini Shadow to be an excellent fit (my much more expensive atomic mask is now in my pocket on backup duty) and have seen several experienced female divers use them with good results. It comes in clear and black versions. Mine is the clear version and after more than 100...

When we learned the frog kick, the instructor had us try it out of the water. You lay on your belly, bend your knees at about 90 degrees, bend your ankles such that the fins are perpendicular to your legs and try to "clap" with the fins behind you. Watch some videos and record yourself trying it...

When I decided to start diving, my bf literally said to me "I will never do that". A year later, after hearing the stories and meeting the people I regularly went diving with, he took the OW course. We now regularly dive together and it is a blast, we understand each other and feel comfortable...

I find that most UW photographers are definitively "special needs". With many, the situation is that they will have a buddy but you don't, because they almost never look at you, so it is pretty asymmetric. With very inexperienced divers who are taking a camera for the first time it is also...

Regarding the closing of the valve ... If you are already breathing from your buddy, I completely understand. I was just wondering whether it would make sense when you do not have any other air source. I am not familiar with all the acronyms, what is IP? I completely agree on being...

Thanks very much for posting this report, I found it very illustrative. It seems to me that the most important thing is that you did not panic and took a reasonable and decisive, although perhaps not optimal, course of action. It has already been pointed out, but I also found it strange that...