Certification Dives question

[radioactivenerd]

Hi folks,
I'm planning on wrapping up my classroom training this weekend, and then doing my OW certification dives in the Florida Keys around the end of May. I'm aware that you arent ever supposed to dive alone - what is the rule around the certification dives though?

I'm planning on travelling by myself, so would this be a problem for me to get my certification dives out of the way, or are those always with the instructor? Do I need to find a buddy just for those as well?

Any help is appreciated, and sorry if its a stupid question!

--Anuraag

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Don't worry about finding a buddy. Let the instructor worry about that for the certification dives.

For OW certification dives with multiple students in a class, the instructor will pair everyone up into 2-man buddy teams. The odd man out will be buddied up with a DM or the instructor.

If you plan on doing some diving after you get the certification, then you'll need to find a dive buddy.

 

[fisheater]

In my cert class, I was the only student. (Everyone else was scared off by the driving rainstorm.) So, my instructor was my buddy.

You'll have no problem on that account.

 

[mjatkins]

As long as you are still a student (ie. on your certification dives) you should always be under the direct supervision of your instructor, or a certified assistant. Finding a buddy should not be your concern. Have fun.

 

[captndale]

The instructor dives alone. The students dive with the instructor.

 

[The Chairman]

Your dives will always be with an instructor until you are actually certified. Don't consider diving solo until you have a hundred dives or so, and take the class.

 

[CamG]

Greetings radioactivenerd and welcome to Scuba Board. I am assuming that you have completed your confined water dives, "pool dives" but until you have completed training you have no worries bout dive buddies. The instructor will take care of that for you and you have no worries my friend. This allows you to focus on the training and master your skills. It is very important to take the time you need to gain a mastery of these 18 basic skills for they are the foundation for diving safely and managing the risk of the underwater environment.
Just enjoy and absorb the training. Ask questions and by all means interact in the process. Your instructor would be a good one to ask about Solo diving because it is a whole topic unto itself. Solo diving requires a very elevated level of awareness and training. Not one to be undertaken lightly or without advanced training.
There are a whole series of skills that build upon your 18 basic skills to be able to dive Solo safely. That is why it is important to gain mastery level of skills, they need to become automatic, or like reflex so that in a split second you Stop, Think, then Act in a correct manor to solve the issue.
My advice is to take it easy one step at a time and do not be in a hurry. Relax and enjoy your OW experience. Get involved with a local dive club and seek out a mentor to help you develop safe diving practices in your local environment. This could me your instructor or another seasoned diver.
Good luck and have fun it is a amazing journey that you have just began.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[radioactivenerd]

fantastic - thank you for all the help folks - really appreciate it!