Check out dive question.

[miskatonic]

Hi all. New to diving and new to posting but I have been lurking for a while.

My question is what exactly should I expect when I do a checkout OW dive?

 

[skeet]

You will be doing all that you learned in the pool out in the OW. Expect to have fun and adventure.

 

[DBailey]

You will repeat most (not all) of the same skills that you did in the pool. Except for navigation skills, there is nothing new that will be thrown at you.

Other than that, look at the fish and enjoy the scenery.

 

[scubapolly]

Hi all. New to diving and new to posting but I have been lurking for a while.

My question is what exactly should I expect when I do a checkout OW dive?

Like the others have been saying just what you have been doing in your confined water training all along.

Your experience will vary depending on where you are doing your open waters at:
Shore/boat entries
current, surge, low vis
increased buoyancy due to thermal protection or salt water
animal encounters

Also realize if you are doing a referal rather than following through with the same instructor, there might be some differences in the hand signals they use, so you will want to be sure to review that with him/her prior to the dives. Also if you are using rental gear that is different than what you learned on in the pool, you will want to farmiliarize yourself with that prior to the dives as well.

No matter where you are doing the dives, be sure to stay well hydrated, and wear sun screen- especially on your face- I recomend the ultra waterproof version that you put on like chap stick from Banna boat. You will be spending a decent amount of time on the surface, and the suns rays are reflected off the water and can lead to a really nasty burn.

Good luck, and have fun on the dives.

Polly

 

[Shae]

I know my certification dive was something that a lot of my classmates were a little worried about, but as long as you are comfortable with your skills and confident that you can complete them, you'll do just fine. No worries.

Since I did all my OW work in the ocean (we did not have a pool to do confined work), the test was very similar to all of our normal skill dives. My buddy and I went to depth where we demonstrated buddy breathing. Then, once we were both breathing off of our own tanks, the instructor tested us each seperatly. He took the reg out of my mouth, and while I was retrieveing and clearing, he let water into my mask. Then as I had my hands up to clear my mask he released my weight belt. As I adjusted that, he took the reg out again...and so forth and so on. It only took a couple of minutes...kind of like a grand-finale when watching fireworks. I actually really enjoyed my test. When both my buddy and I had finished, the instructor shook both our hands and told us to come back to the cove when we were out of air. It was a good day.

 

[TennInstr]

Just the same skills as in Cofined water a little bit deeper plus some simple navigation. Enjoy yourself and breath slow and easy. Start fine tuning your bouyancy once you get comfortable. Good luck.

 

[OWSI176288]

Hi all. New to diving and new to posting but I have been lurking for a while.

My question is what exactly should I expect when I do a checkout OW dive?

Training Dive 1: Performance Requirements
1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.
2. Prepare, and with a buddy, don and adjust scuba equipment with minimal instructor /
staff assistance.
3. Enter the water in a manner determined during the briefing.
4. Adjust weights so that you float at eye level, with an empty BCD, while holding a
normal breath.
5. Descend in a controlled manner using a descent line or bottom contour for
reference.
6. Under direct instructor supervision, explore underwater to gain experience.
7. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.
8. Attend the instructor's debriefing.
9. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Training Dive 2: Performance Requirements
1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.
2. Prepare, and with a buddy, don and adjust scuba equipment with minimal instructor /
staff assistance.
3. With a buddy, perform the pre-dive safety check.
4. Enter the water in a manner determined during the briefing.
5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level, with an empty BCD, while
holding a normal breath.
6. Using the five-point method, descend in a controlled manner using a descent line or
bottom contour for reference to a depth not greater than 40 feet.
7. Achieve neutral buoyancy by inflating the BCD with the low-pressure inflator and,
through lung volume change while breathing, pivot on the fin tips or if appropriate,
another body contact point.
8. Clear a mask that has been partially flooded.
9. Clear a mask that has been fully flooded.
10. Recover and clear a regulator at depth.
11. In a stationary position, secure and breathe from an alternate air source supplied by
another diver. Students should alternate roles and act as both donor and receiver.
12. Ascend properly using an alternate air source as either the donor or receiver and
establish positive buoyancy at the surface.
13. Explore underwater to gain experience.
14. Using the five-point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 60 feet per minute, while
maintaining buddy contact.
15. Establish buoyancy at the surface by removing weights using the quick release
mechanism of the weight system.
16. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.
17. Attend the instructor's debriefing.
18. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Training Dive 3: Performance Requirements
1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.
2. Prepare, and with a buddy, don and adjust scuba equipment with minimal instructor /
staff assistance.
3. With a buddy, perform the pre-dive safety check.
4. Enter the water in a manner determined during the briefing.
5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level, with an empty BCD, while
holding a normal breath.
6. Using the five-point method, descend in a controlled manner to 20-30 feet using a
visual reference only.
7. Achieve neutral buoyancy by inflating the BCD (orally) and through lung volume
change while breathing, pivot on the fin tips or if appropriate, another body contact
point.
8. Clear a mask that has been fully flooded.
9. Explore underwater to gain experience.
10. Using the five-point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 60 feet per minute, while
maintaining buddy contact.
11. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.
12. Attend the instructor's debriefing.
13. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Training Dive 4: Performance Requirements
1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.
2. Prepare, and with a buddy, don and adjust scuba equipment with minimal instructor /
staff assistance.
3. With a buddy, perform the pre-dive safety check.
4. Enter the water in a manner determined during the briefing.
5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level, with an empty BCD, while
holding a normal breath.
6. Using the five-point method, perform a descent with no visual reference to a depth
no greater than 60 feet.
7. Achieve neutral buoyancy and hover in mid-water using only buoyancy control and
without swimming, sculling or using fins.
8. Remove, replace and clear a mask while underwater.
9. Explore underwater to gain experience.
10. Using the five-point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 60 feet per minute, while
maintaining buddy contact.
11. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.
12. Attend the instructor's debriefing.
13. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Dive Flexible Skills: A flexible dive skills which is conducted at the surface can be on on any of the four training dives. A flexible dive skills which is conducted underwater can only on dives two through four.
1. Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA)
2. Cramp Removal
3. Tired Diver Tow
4. 50 metre / yard straight line surface swim with compass
5. Snorkel / regulator exchange
6. Remove / replace weight system and scuba unit at surface
7. Underwater navigation with compass

 

[miskatonic]

Thanks everybody! OWSI176288 is a god that was more or less exactly what I was looking for.

The weekend is getting closer. I am very excited about all this. :dazzler1:

 

[Kriterian]

Hi all. New to diving and new to posting but I have been lurking for a while.

My question is what exactly should I expect when I do a checkout OW dive?

Alot of waiting on the underwater platform for the instructor to bring back the divers that got lost in the murkiness.

Other than that, you'll do the same skills that you did in the pool, but probably at a slightly deeper depth. Some things we did during open water were new, such as tired diver tow/pushes etc. There was also a nice tour at the end of all the stuff in the quarry. Also I believe the OOA swimming ascent was done only in the quarry too.