Beginner diver wanting more advanced safety training

[ls1dreams]

Hi all,

I did my open water cert in 2013, and then just did my AOW on a liveboard, hitting around 17 dives.

Of course, in no way do I consider myself advanced, though do feel like I have better buoyancy control now.

Safety is very important to me, as in my limited # of dives I've already seen quite a few things go wrong (regulator failure, a rapid ascent, a buddy who started bleeding profusely from his nose, etc).

I'm wondering if there are any additional courses, or individuals who could REALLY hammer some additional safety training into me with some pool/water time over the most common scenarios so I can get really good at handling situations that go wrong.

i.e.

- more practice around gear failure
- dealing with down currents
- more practice in strong current situations
- what to do if I accidentally go into deco/etc

I have not been impressed with any of my PADI courses. I've of course gone through regulator retrieval, mask flooding, and the rules around emergency ascents, but it doesn't feel like enough to me.

What kind of additional safety training to divemasters/navy divers/etc get?

 

[Resqdivemedic]

I would look into a Rescue Diver course as well as some of the courses from Divers Alert Network. You could also talk to your instructor for additional safety related pointers. When I took Divemaster we expanded on what was learned in the Rescue Diver program.

 

[C Dub]

GUE Fundies.

 

[tbone1004]

GUE fundies

other than that, just dive more and find a more experienced mentor, that will go a long way.

 

[ls1dreams]

Looking into GUE fundies... anyone know rough costs for it? Also a little confused on how they have fundamentals, fundamentals I, and fundamentals 2.

 

[tbone1004]

@ls1dreams not cheap. Usually $600-$700 for everything IIRC if your instructor is local. I know it's a bit of a hike, but I know MER is doing a fundies course down in Raleigh this summer. There are usually a few up in Dutch Springs as well, but aren't scheduled.

Fundies 1 and fundies 2 are a break down of the fundies class into two chunks. I think it's a day longer than full fundies, but if you aren't familiar with GUE style diving, it's probably the way to go. I.e. dive a normal jacket bc, split fins, practice the golden triangle instead of primary donate, etc etc. It adds a day of what used to be a Primer and that gets you a bit more eased into the GUE style of diving and what not.

I am not sure how MER is breaking up that course, so I would contact her
Contact | Wet Rocks Diving

 

[The Chairman]

Training is great... but there's nothing like get some experience. After all, you only have 17 dives. Don't let your training dives exceed your fun dives. Ever. Go get some experience. There is no training for down drafts, as they are hard to find to practice in. Experience is your only preparation. You don't need to go deeper. You don't need to go longer. You just need to dive, dive, dive.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have had a few people come to me for classes from the DC area and farther south. It sounds like you want specific training in a more wide-reaching arc related to overall dive safety. Rather than take you through a series of courses that have a rigid structure, I'd tailor a detailed and extended workshop just for you. It could include aspects of regulator repair and testing, rescue skills, situational awareness exercises, and anything else you wanted to target. Such as buoyancy and trim. I'm a regulator tech instructor, recreational and technical scuba instructor, and teach currently through two different agencies. Give me a call at the number in my signature line. If you want a good look into my training philosophies and methods pick up a copy of my book dealing with advanced level training.
One of the best things you can get out of any class is judgment. Some pass this on better than others.
The most important aspect of that is to realize your limitations, don't let anyone talk you into going beyond them recklessly, and realize that sometimes the dive you learn the most from is the one you don't do.
BTW Emergency Deco Procedures is something I teach in my OW class. All SEI instructors cover this. It's on our tables.

 

[elgoog]

I am a HUGE fan of GUE training and would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their diving. Having said that, I agree with @NetDoc and believe that 17 dives is a little low to do Fundies. Of course, there are different schools of thought here - do it as early as possible so you don't have to unlearn "bad" habits vs get some baseline level of comfort in the water before you do the training. After my experience in Fundies 1, I fall in the latter category. Every diver is different, and I was certainly below average before I did Fundies, so your assessment and experience may be different.

So far, I've done Fundies 1, a drysuit clinic and am doing a doubles clinic in 3 days with a GUE instructor. I can think of very few reasons to not continue with them for my future training but an important factor to keep in mind is that it's a significant commitment. Not just financially (training costs as well as equipment costs) but also in terms of time you put in during the training as well as after it in your own fun diving. Personally, I feel like it's difficult to decide stuff like this so early on in your dive career. I was lucky enough to have a large GUE community where I live and dive and I got to experience the system with them before I signed up for the training or spent any significant amount of money on gear. I would encourage you to do the same as well if you're considering this path.
Do you already have your own equipment? GUE and some other tech agencies have specific requirements and this may be a deciding factor as well.

You mention learning how to deal with accidental deco - good training at this level is about dive planning, situational awareness and keeping track of your dive so you don't end up there.

As @Jim Lapenta mentioned, customized training in the form of a workshop as opposed to a certification is also a great option.

 

[RainPilot]

@mer has a GUE Rec 1 course going at the moment that needs another member. It is equivalent to OW so might seem like a step back but I assure you it will be of great value. It appears that you feel like your OW course left you a bit unprepared, not an uncommon feeling. A lot of what it appears you are looking for will be covered in the course without being quite as steep as Fundies.

My 2 bar worth.