OK. Here goes the quick report.
We started Thursday morning. First - theory and setting the gear. After that - our first dive. Then during next 4 days we were practicing (with better or worse result) such skills as:
guide line, v-drill, s-drill, OOA, stages - sharing (1-0 - 2- 1) - both divers have one stage, then one diver has two (while the other has none), then again both have one, then the second has two while the first one has none and back to "normal" - one stage per each. Propulsion techniques - frog kick, modified one, modified flutter, back kick, helicopter turns. Then changing the gas, alert marker and of course keeping the run time. Some of these exercise we did with "black mask" - to simulate the situation of no visibility. All exercises were done along the guide line that had a shape of triangle starting at 6 meters down to 13 meters.
As the theory we did theory of decompression, finally I know how the Haldanes and Buhlmans models are build, what conservative factor and gradient factor (low and high) are, how the deco planning programs are working (including decoplanner). And the theory of deep stops as well as rock bottom. Retio deco and Ratio 1:1 all tricks needed to seriously plan a dive.
So I passed theory (87% which is A) but I still have to practice some of the skills. My major problem was that during this course I dove in the dry suit for the third time in my life and had doubles on my back for the 4th time. The combination of both in fact ruined my buoyancy. And I was scared so Thursday dive was a total disaster I was stressed, refused to do some of the exercises because I was too scared and so on. Honestly the only thing I was proud of was the fact that I did not give up. Most of the time I wanted to quit the dive and go home. And to give up diving for ever.
Slowly dive after dive when I already knew there is no chance Ill pass the exam I was more relaxed so during the last dive I did most of the things.
One of my buoyancy problems was a result of old habits. Im used to dive in the wet suit with one tank so getting neutral simple meant a small dose of air to the jacket and everything was OK. While with 2x12 liters tanks plus a 7 liter stage I have to neutralized something like 4 kilos of equipment at the depth of 30 meters. One small push of the inflator is not enough.
So my plans now are practicing buoyancy with all this gear on my back, practicing skills Im not good at.
My quick thoughts after the course for those of us who dont have an easy access to DIR F this is an excellent course to do if you want to upgrade your skills and knowledge. I dont have to do wreck penetration for hours or caves but certainly this course makes me a safer and a better diver (once Ill learn everything).
Some of the skills we first practiced dry you can see the pictures of OOA and frog kick
Then there is checking the run time with my partner Im the one with open wet notes as you can see the vis was not great and BTW water temp - +3 Centigrade. And the last picture is me after the dive when finally I did something well
Mania
