After a weekend up at Haigh Quarry, I am now a certified OW diver 
. I performed all the required skills (i.e. clear mask, out-of-air scenario, CESA from 20', compass nav., tired diver swim, etc.., etc...) The things that I was most critical of myself, were buoyancy skills, buddy awareness, and horrendous free throw shooting skills.
As I was rounding a large rock crusher (in ~20') I noticed I was slowly ascending as my BC had too much air and my tank was getting lighter(it was towards the end of the dive). I was fumbling for my rear dump valve while at the same time trying to swim downward, I imagine the sight would've been similar to a sea lion having a stroke.
During the dives, I tended to swim faster than my buddy. I was good at always checking for him, although there were a few times where he was further away than I would've liked at the time I checked. In those instances, I thought to myself, "would he or I be close enough to each other if an OOA occured." At each phase of a particular dive (e.g. at the end of the compass navigation), I checked my air and always asked him how much air he had. But I should've slowed down on my swimming speed to allow him to stay near.
Remember the free-throw shooting comment above? Well, I do have another story that occurred at the start of the first dive of the weekend. On our very first descent down to a 20' platform, we all lined up around the perimeter of the platform. My instructor was being assisted by 3 divemasters. My instructor found a bowling ball just below the platform and he let us toss it around to each other several times. It was kinda cool to watch a heavy bowling ball move in slow motion after i threw it to another student. Then I got to thinkingshakehead). "I'd like to try a longer throw(imagining a longer, slow, graceful arc into the hands of the catcher)." Well, I signal to my intended recipient as well as one of the DMs that was just off to my right about 5' away. Both the DM and fellow student acknowledge my intent and the DM backed away accordingly just to be safe. Well, I learned very quickly that dive gloves just do not afford the same dexterity as bare hands. As I went to throw, the ball slid off the right side of my hand....NOT going towards the person I was throwing too. The ball sure made a longer arc...only towards the DM. BUT, the DM was checking his footing on the platform and looking down....oblivious to a bowling bal moving in slow motion towards him. I can only float there with a terrified "OH @$*&" going through my mind....the trajectory couldn't!....no it won't!....AH SNAP ITS GONNA......THUD:11:. Knocked him right in the noggin. My instructor swam over to make sure he has ok, while I flailed around trying to swim over to see what I could do(as if). The DM was OK, no bruises (other than my ego), nor blood spilt. But I sure felt awful. I tried my best to make an underwater sign for "What an A-hole I am, I am sooooo sorry" But he kinda grinned and gave me the 'ok' sign. I shook my head and thought to myself"Geez, you've been underwater for only 5 minutes and manage to crack someone in the head with a bowling ball!"
I'm ready to get to some diving again....I'll just avoid throwing any large non-buoyant objects.
. I performed all the required skills (i.e. clear mask, out-of-air scenario, CESA from 20', compass nav., tired diver swim, etc.., etc...) The things that I was most critical of myself, were buoyancy skills, buddy awareness, and horrendous free throw shooting skills.As I was rounding a large rock crusher (in ~20') I noticed I was slowly ascending as my BC had too much air and my tank was getting lighter(it was towards the end of the dive). I was fumbling for my rear dump valve while at the same time trying to swim downward, I imagine the sight would've been similar to a sea lion having a stroke.
During the dives, I tended to swim faster than my buddy. I was good at always checking for him, although there were a few times where he was further away than I would've liked at the time I checked. In those instances, I thought to myself, "would he or I be close enough to each other if an OOA occured." At each phase of a particular dive (e.g. at the end of the compass navigation), I checked my air and always asked him how much air he had. But I should've slowed down on my swimming speed to allow him to stay near.
Remember the free-throw shooting comment above? Well, I do have another story that occurred at the start of the first dive of the weekend. On our very first descent down to a 20' platform, we all lined up around the perimeter of the platform. My instructor was being assisted by 3 divemasters. My instructor found a bowling ball just below the platform and he let us toss it around to each other several times. It was kinda cool to watch a heavy bowling ball move in slow motion after i threw it to another student. Then I got to thinking
shakehead). "I'd like to try a longer throw(imagining a longer, slow, graceful arc into the hands of the catcher)." Well, I signal to my intended recipient as well as one of the DMs that was just off to my right about 5' away. Both the DM and fellow student acknowledge my intent and the DM backed away accordingly just to be safe. Well, I learned very quickly that dive gloves just do not afford the same dexterity as bare hands. As I went to throw, the ball slid off the right side of my hand....NOT going towards the person I was throwing too. The ball sure made a longer arc...only towards the DM. BUT, the DM was checking his footing on the platform and looking down....oblivious to a bowling bal moving in slow motion towards him. I can only float there with a terrified "OH @$*&" going through my mind....the trajectory couldn't!....no it won't!....AH SNAP ITS GONNA......THUD:11:. Knocked him right in the noggin. My instructor swam over to make sure he has ok, while I flailed around trying to swim over to see what I could do(as if). The DM was OK, no bruises (other than my ego), nor blood spilt. But I sure felt awful. I tried my best to make an underwater sign for "What an A-hole I am, I am sooooo sorry" But he kinda grinned and gave me the 'ok' sign. I shook my head and thought to myself"Geez, you've been underwater for only 5 minutes and manage to crack someone in the head with a bowling ball!"I'm ready to get to some diving again....I'll just avoid throwing any large non-buoyant objects.
I am still working on how to stay off the bottom. Everyone says it takes time. Remember to practice as much as possible. Look forward to diving with you soon
