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Is there a time limit and number of stops? I am presently doing 1000 meters 3 times a week, but I do it in an hour (need my arms for work the next day). I believe my best 500 was 20 minutes, swimming costume only.
LOL that sounds awesomeEasy... Sheesa pipe on the poolside, hose attached to snorkel... as long as someone keeps charcoal going all is good. You just need to be creative in your problem solving
Very sound advice. Although the PADI standard dictates that exchanging weights is not a requirement, my instructor insisted that we do it. If required, the key here is for both participants to remove their weight belts and hold on to them and then exchange them over to one another simultaneously, so that neither becomes unweighted and begins to float. I also found it helpful to not be trying to don gear simultaneously. This creates additional complexity and task loading. It is not a timed event. We found it to be smoothest to have only one person donning gear at a time and to do the donning during the period when not breathing from the regulator. Like all task loading or stressful situations, the key is to stop, think and then act. RELAX@Birddog1911
If you check your instructor manual (its full of useful information), page 110, equipment exchange, it states that it's all scuba equipment with the exception of exposure suit and weights.
We were in board shorts and rashvests. The water here is very warm and the sun very hot and strong.
I did note on some video's online candidates weren't wearing a snorkel. I guess to make the mask swap easier, but given you're supposed to wear it at all times....
If I were to had to change the weight belt, my procedure would have been to remove the BCD, hold it between my knees then remove the weight belt and exchange.
For my exchange we used my regs for the air share as I have 40" hoses and swivel elbows which makes everything that much easier.
One issue I faced, was that my feet are bigger than all of the other staff (I'm the only DMC at the moment). My solution was to suggest that we started with each others fins, and exchanged them first. That got me points for thinking through a solution to a problem.
At the end of the day don't over think this exercise. Add a little extra weight to your belt to stop you from being floaty and adding additional stress. Remember you may have slightly evevated breathing and thus might be more buoyant
Chill out and enjoy it
- Agree the order with your buddy I chose fins (one at a time), BCD, Mask
- Before you exchange anything, just air share for a few breaths to settle down. Signal with a finger, breath 1 then with 2 fingers breath 2.
- Give an OK before you start. Don't rush, make each exchange smoothly. Used clear movements as though you were demonstrating that skill to a student. Wait for your buddy to be ready before you pass each item.
- After each exchange pause with a breath each and give the OK for the next item.
- If you see a problem correct it. Pay special attention to the Hose twisting on the shared reg. Just calmly run it through your fingers to untwist.
- Make sure at all times you have bubbles coming from your mouth if no reg in...
no - you don't -
