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You are absolutely right, Neilwood. I will neither descend or ascend impatiently in the future and I will equalize more frequently to avoid discomfort or injuries.

I got my card! I ended up at Vortex Springs and the Scubapro 5 mm was warm enough. I also got a Scubapro hat that just covers the skull and it worked very well. The skills all went well. My dive instructor did a great job and was patient and thorough. I learned a couple of things from him...

I appreciate all of the good advice everyone. Thanks for helping the new guy! I'm really excited about learning how to dive and enjoy the water from the other side.

I was snorkeling and watching my son catch minnows in the jetty pools, plus it was a few years ago. It probably just seemed deep to me, versus actually being deep.

My goal this trip is to get my card but I'll be back to dive more when it's warmer with better conditions. I've been going down there for years and I'm excited about getting to see it all from below.

I'll definitely take those first few deep breathes, flyboy08. I can't wait to take my first breaths underwater with my new reg! This is going to be awesome!

That sounds like a great idea. I'm bald, too. I want to lose as little heat as possible. I want to think about what I'm experiencing and not think about being cold.

I've been down there many times in winter visiting my brother and the seas can get pretty rough due to the wind. We are planning on boat dives but there is a protected area of clear water in the state park. It's right next to a jetty and a pass but is protected from the currents of the pass...

CuzzA, I don't tolerate cold very well. I was thinking it would be more like 70 or 72. I'll contact my dive instructor down there to see if I can wear a 7 mm. They carry Scubapro wetsuits, which I imagine would be pricey if I needed to buy one. Hopefully, they'll have one in their rental fleet.

I'm doing my checkout dives in Panama City Beach next weekend. My brother lives there so I can stay for free. I think we are wearing 5mm (rental). I have my own regs (Z3 and Z2 octo), Scubapro mask, Scubapro fins/snorkel, and booties. I'll rent the rest down there. I want to do well and...

Thanks, everybody!

That could be possible, Lorenzoid. The other 3 guys didn't seem to be struggling and they were using the same plastic-looking regs. When we were practicing, my buddy's reg seemed a little easier than mine but still not as good as the Scuba Pros (looked newer) we used the day before.

I finished the pool portion of my SSI Open Diver certification yesterday. I had the less-expensive rental regulator and less fancy BC. I don't know the brands. The reg looked plasticky. I labored to breathe all day. The instructor said he wanted us to be used to both a better regulator...