Coming back after a 12-year layoff. . .

[JohnCollins]

I was certified in 1987 in the Philippines when I was in the Air Force stationed there. Did in the neighborhood of 70 dives over the next 4 years in Philippines, Caymans, and Okinawa. Have PADI Advanced Open Water cert.

I'm a month from being 47, in reasonably good shape (still work out and do karate, although I need to do more cardio :shaking: yuck!). I'm also kind of anal, been restudying all my manuals for weeks. I'm not comfortable unless I know everything cold. My skills were pretty good, including buoyancy control (one of my pet peeves).

I'm suspecting the book review, dive table review (yes I updated my tables to the newer versions) will help, and I'm hoping the physical skills are like riding a bicycle. I'd appreciate any advice from anyone out there who has also come back to diving after a 12-year layoff, though.

It's in my nature to worry about these things, I guess. Don't know what I'm worried about, exactly, but what the heck.

Thanks.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

You might consider doing a refresher course. Just a one day thing. Acutally just a couple of hours. Might do ya a world of good.

Reading is good, but hands on works and I suggest having an instructor around for your first dive back. I took a long layoff and did exactly that. After 5 minutes under I felt very comfortable but it was a safe thing to do.

 

[SubMariner]

I strongly suggest you find a good Instructor and take a refresher course. That way you can get up to snuff in a safe and reliable manner.

Things have changed in the past decade.

Bonne chance,

~SubMariner~

 

[jbd]

with the others about taking a refresher course. Also Al's idea of hiring an instructor to go with you the first dive might be worth considering in addition to the refresher course. Or your LDS may be able to help you meet a more recently experienced diver who wouldn't mind being a mentor after your refresher course.

 

[Ron Brandt]

I am also an instructor.

Hell , I would suggest ,like some of the others , to find a private instructor but also to take a "mini course" and not just a refresher course.

Find a PADI instructor and ask to do the confined and open water dives of the Scuba Dive cerification.

You will be glad you did.

Ron Brandt

 

[JohnCollins]

About things changing, I bought some new books, and I'm very confident in my knowledge level. I'm an extremely disciplined self-learner. I was experienced enough and had enough of a library that I'm not worried about physics, procedures, hand signals, etiquette, that sort of thing.

It's the water skills I want a refresher on. Unfortunately, I don't have time to find an instructor and do anything in the water before my dive, as we leave Sunday (today is Friday).

I am going to CanCun with my (non-diving) wife and was planning on a couple of dives next Tuesday. I was going to identify myself to the dive director as a returning diver after a long layoff hoping for a little extra attention or to get buddied up with an experienced diver who had been at it a couple of days already on that trip. Maybe a private lesson is a better way to go? It sounds like a good idea to me.

Am I likely to be able to arrange a private lesson (or at least a small group, 2-3 divers) johnny-on-the-spot in a place as busy as Cancun? From everything I've read, the number of rec divers has just exploded over the last decade and I'm expecting it to be mobbed there.

 

[JohnCollins]

Just spotted your birthday comment. I'm August 23, 1956, when's yours?

You think I'll be able to arrange a private lesson in Cancun by Tuesday if I trot down to the dive store first thing Monday morning? Failing that, how do you feel about my identifying myself to the dive director and asking for an seasoned buddy. Obviously, I'm going to be looking for easy dives this trip, not deep, no currents, etcetera.

 

[SubMariner]

Ok, so neither of us is named Frank, but wot the heck...

But on a more serious note. Let's be realistic. You have not been in the water for 12 years. There is no "tip toeing" around this fact. And the fact that scuba diving more complicated than riding a bicycle or driving a car. You will be in a hostile environment where a mistake may be deadly.

I am going to CanCun with my (non-diving) wife and was planning on a couple of dives next Tuesday. I was going to identify myself to the dive director as a returning diver after a long layoff hoping for a little extra attention or to get buddied up with an experienced diver who had been at it a couple of days already on that trip. Maybe a private lesson is a better way to go? It sounds like a good idea to me.

Am I likely to be able to arrange a private lesson (or at least a small group, 2-3 divers) johnny-on-the-spot in a place as busy as Cancun? From everything I've read, the number of rec divers has just exploded over the last decade and I'm expecting it to be mobbed there.

Phone around to some local dive operations when you get there & talk to someone about some Instruction. You will NOT be doing ANYONE (especially yourself) any favours if you simply show up to dive and say "Hi there! I need a buddy. I've not been anywhere near the water for 12 years...."

To be blunt, with the exception of going with a dive Instructor or similarly qualified dive professional, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DIVING UNTIL YOU HAVE HAD A REFRESHER COURSE.

Let's put it this way: how confident would you be flying with a pilot who hasn't been near an airplane for 12 years?

BTW, I too an an Instructor.

~SubMariner~

 

[JohnCollins]

Get serious, though, diving is NOT the equivalent of flying an airplane. To also be "frank", you're a way over the top with the walking up and flying an airplane after 12 years thing.

Yes, I've heard the horror stories and I know there are a lot of folks who were not thoroughly trained and who barely floundered through a few dives, don't do it for years, then scare themselves and everyone else around on their first time out again. Having done 70-80 dives in a four-year period, I'm not likely to be that person. Honestly, I get the impression that because there are a few idiots out there doing rec diving, you instructors are afraid all of your students are disasters waiting to happen.

I called my LDS and they said there isn't a specific curriculum for a "refresher course" for certified divers that he's aware of, but he suggested going to the "resort course" with the newbies. He suggested they cover the basic skills and they get to practice clearing their masks, finding their regulators and descending, ascending and buoyancy control, all under "adult" supervision. After that he says I should be good to go with the big people.

That sound like a good way to go? Makes sense to me. Or is there a "refresher" course dive he's just not aware of I should be doing? I don't see one as an offering on either PADI or NAUI's websites, either. Looks like what my guy is referring to is PADI's "Discover Scuba" program?

 

[jbd]

and guess what?? I'm an instructor too(and 47 years old) Given the circumstances at hand I would go with the "Try Scuba" (which is NAUI & SSI) or "Discover Scuba"(which is PADI) when you get there. It will be quite basic for you but it will probably get you a bit more in touch with the essential skills and with close supervision for your first trip back underwater. After that dive you will have to judge for yourself what to do after that while you are in Cancun in regards to diving. Have fun, stay safe and post a trip report when you get back