I won't make this post as long as what I posted in the Mid-west muckdivers forum, but the bottom line is I passed my certification this past weekend (at Haigh Quarry).
Things I need to work on:
1. Buoyancy control....especially finding that rear dump valve on the BC if you start ascending when you don't want to.
2. Staying close to my buddy. I checked his position often, and I think I was just a bit too far away at times as I swam faster than he did.
For those of you getting certed in cold water, our instructor told us to make sure we got our faces wet so the cold wasn't so shocking when we did our mask clearing skills. Prior to the first descent, the anxiety level was very high and I never have anxiety type issues; perhaps it was due to such a big change from being in deep cold water as compared to the pool. But once I got down there and was breathing air, the nerves disappeared. I also managed to become a guy that makes it into an instructor's storybook of diver training..."One time, we had this guy that..." For details, check out the midwest muck diver forum.
Can't wait to get wet again
Things I need to work on:
1. Buoyancy control....especially finding that rear dump valve on the BC if you start ascending when you don't want to.
2. Staying close to my buddy. I checked his position often, and I think I was just a bit too far away at times as I swam faster than he did.
For those of you getting certed in cold water, our instructor told us to make sure we got our faces wet so the cold wasn't so shocking when we did our mask clearing skills. Prior to the first descent, the anxiety level was very high and I never have anxiety type issues; perhaps it was due to such a big change from being in deep cold water as compared to the pool. But once I got down there and was breathing air, the nerves disappeared. I also managed to become a guy that makes it into an instructor's storybook of diver training..."One time, we had this guy that..." For details, check out the midwest muck diver forum.
Can't wait to get wet again
