Advice on training DVD needed

[sourcearun]

Hi Guys! I got PADI OW certified last week. I would now like to buy some DVDs
on the topic. I intend to take up Advanced OW in about a months time. ANy good DVD recommendations for me? I am from India and international couriers cost nothing less than $33 or so. Therefore would like buy just one or two DVDs that are comprehensive and good enough for a long time - till I finish Advanced OW atleast... Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[PvtStash]

of what you seek , ie. a comprehensive long-term training DVD...


Because there's no money in that (or not enough). No, what you have to do is continue to pay for Individual "specializations" (wreck, navigation, deep, stress/rescue, etc. etc. ad infinitum) where you will then be allowed to see a Piece of that comprehensive DVD you spoke of in a DVD all of its own...

A much cheaper alternative is to continually scan Ebay for castoff manual/training DvDs/VHS's. I've been able to acquire a few different pieces of instructional video this way (books/manuals easier to come by than video).

Otherwise no, no such DvD to be had.

 

[kwinter]

Try this one.
Scuba On DVD

Stunning HD video and great detailed instruction.

 

[sourcearun]

of what you seek , ie. a comprehensive long-term training DVD...


Because there's no money in that (or not enough). No, what you have to do is continue to pay for Individual "specializations" (wreck, navigation, deep, stress/rescue, etc. etc. ad infinitum) where you will then be allowed to see a Piece of that comprehensive DVD you spoke of in a DVD all of its own...

A much cheaper alternative is to continually scan Ebay for castoff manual/training DvDs/VHS's. I've been able to acquire a few different pieces of instructional video this way (books/manuals easier to come by than video).

Otherwise no, no such DvD to be had.

Thank you, your reply does clear up the scenario. So, now that I am OW certified, I should be looking for Advanced OW DVD/book/manual..and so on for every stage. Is that right?

 

[sourcearun]

Try this one.
Scuba On DVD

Stunning HD video and great detailed instruction.

Hey, thanks a ton! I just checked out the site and they also have international courier.
Just one thing, can you tell me what is the run time in minutes for the first DVD - Pool Skills Step-By-Step ? I guess teh second DVD on sciences can be replaced by an excellent book that I have.

Arun

 

[TSandM]

I would highly recommend buying the Essentials DVD from UTD diving. Yes, it's not the style of diving you were taught, but you will see videoed exampled of superb buoyancy control, excellent horizontal trim, and some propulsion techniques that will minimize your impact on the reef. There is a powerpoint presentation on the DVD as well, with a lot of good information on it. Some of the specific skills shown will be different if you are diving a different gear configuration, but for example, switching from your primary regulator to your octo is something you should know how to do, even if you don't have your regs configured as the example on the DVD does.

 

[kwinter]

Hey, thanks a ton! I just checked out the site and they also have international courier.
Just one thing, can you tell me what is the run time in minutes for the first DVD - Pool Skills Step-By-Step ? I guess teh second DVD on sciences can be replaced by an excellent book that I have.

Arun

Both lessons are on 1 DVD, so it's not a matter of just buying 1 or 2. You get them both. I don't know what the total run time is. The pool skills section has 15 chapters and the dive sciences section has 7 chapters. I was most impressed with the graphics in the dive science section and how simple he made the explanations. It makes it very easy for students and new divers.

My buddies and I met the guy who filmed it while we were in Cozumel. You will see a lot of underwater tropical footage he shot while there. We are in some of the footage because the dive shop manager paired us with him since we are all advanced divers with decent skills. I'm the guy diving the rebreather you might see briefly.

He also put together a promotional video for the dive shop that's on youtube or you can see it on the shop's website at Deep Blue - Scuba Diving in Cozumel. We're in a lot of that footage too, but it will give you an idea of the quality of his work.

The answer to your other question is NO, you should not necessarily be looking for videos on advanced open water. What you should be looking for is bottom time. Videos and books may prepare you to get an AOW certification. But that does not make you an advanced diver. Only experience can do that. You may learn some advanced skills or theory, but there is nothing like a few hundred dives to make you a better diver.

Ken

 

[sourcearun]

Both lessons are on 1 DVD, so it's not a matter of just buying 1 or 2. You get them both. I don't know what the total run time is. The pool skills section has 15 chapters and the dive sciences section has 7 chapters. I was most impressed with the graphics in the dive science section and how simple he made the explanations. It makes it very easy for students and new divers.....

..... there is nothing like a few hundred dives to make you a better diver.

Ken

Thanks again. Their site mentions the following:
Pool Skills Step-By-Step DVD $39.95
Dive Sciences DVD $39.95
Both Pool Skills Step-By-Step and Dive Sciences on ONE DVD $59.95

For the Dive Sciences I already have a great book - Diving Science by Michael Strauss MD.

So I thought just the first DVD should suffice. And yes, I will definitely get atleast 50 more dives or so before I go in for Advance OW

 

[Garrobo]

I doubt that a person could learn much about diving by looking at a film. You need time below the water line to really learn anything. I mean, how complicated is it?

 

[sourcearun]

I doubt that a person could learn much about diving by looking at a film. You need time below the water line to really learn anything. I mean, how complicated is it?

Quoting from a Senior Diver's words " DVDs can give you a visual image of what a properly performed skill is. We can talk all day about proper kicks, but if you have never seen them, it's hard to get them right. We can talk about good buoyancy and trim, but if you've never seen those, it's hard to get there by yourself. The DVDs can give you the visual representations of well-performed skills underwater."

This is all the more true when you dont have logistic support for actual diving - like in my case, I live in Bombay, India and the nearest dive spot is about 580 Kms away by Road! So I can only do occasional dives every two months or so but in the meanwhile, would like to atleast watch n learn