Deep diving class - equipment requirement.

[fisherdvm]

So, costing a bit more than just a weekend of diving, I was thinking about signing up for the PADI deep diving class. Sounds a little scary with the Gilboa event.

Should I use my sherwood magnum II, and sherwood octo, or should I rent something else that is more free flow proof.

Based on what I've read, it seems that a pony is definitely a plus, if not mandatory. Why should it be difficult to deploy such a device? Isn't it just another octo on your neck or arm? Shouldn't you just leave the pony reg turned on anyhow??

I wonder if this is an issue talked about seriously in the PADI deep diver course?

I guess these are the questions I should pose to the instructor of the course. But like to get advice from you guys.

 

[Archangel]

Not to be flippant, common sense! You dont need a course, or another merit badge, you need a mentoring/senior diver/team mate that you can trust.

As an example, what is the depth that if you had to pull your reg out of your mouth and polaris to the surface. . . . what would that be. . . 20 fsw, 30 fsw, 40 fsw?

That is the max depth you have any business at ( insert common sense here).

Now when you have a divebuddy/team mate that you trust, that wont make you a solo diver, that will stay found. When you have a team mate that you have practiced tons of OOA drills with, can do deep stops with, and have spot on bouyancy. . . S/he becomes your surface. . .then you are ready to go deep.

Common sense!

 

[TSandM]

None of the topics you pose were addressed in my PADI Deep specialty, but then again, we don't dive in freezing water.

 

[SparticleBrane]

None of the topics you pose were addressed in my PADI Deep specialty, but then again, we don't dive in freezing water.

Something tells me that not a lot was addressed in your PADI Deep specialty class...

 

[spectrum]

Should I use my Sherwood magnum II, and sherwood octo, or should I rent something else that is more free flow proof.

Aside from the Brut all modern Sherwood's share the same first stage for from the first stage perspective you are probably in very good company. Sherwood's Blizzard (and Maximus) have a hand full of cold water second stage enhancements. How old is your rig? Magnum II does not sound like one I remember except from Ebay but I'm a relative newbie.

I wonder if this is an issue talked about seriously in the PADI deep diver course?

Not in any syllabus I have seen. However you are getting into a lot of the content in an ice diver class.

You have probably read more here in the last 4 days than you will find in any recreational textbook. The first trick is filtering the fact from the opinion. Once you convert that to understanding find someone who is accustomed to diving in those conditions and ask to buddy with them.

Pete

 

[in_cavediver]

So, costing a bit more than just a weekend of diving, I was thinking about signing up for the PADI deep diving class. Sounds a little scary with the Gilboa event.

Should I use my sherwood magnum II, and sherwood octo, or should I rent something else that is more free flow proof.

Based on what I've read, it seems that a pony is definitely a plus, if not mandatory. Why should it be difficult to deploy such a device? Isn't it just another octo on your neck or arm? Shouldn't you just leave the pony reg turned on anyhow??

I wonder if this is an issue talked about seriously in the PADI deep diver course?

I guess these are the questions I should pose to the instructor of the course. But like to get advice from you guys.

I don't want to seem like agency bashing but I have seen both the PADI standards and the IANTD standards for the deep class. My opinion, skip PADI if you want to actually learn to dive deeper safer. The content simply isn't in the standards and isn't in the materials when compared to the IANTD course. Also think about combining with Advanced nitrox. (not required but a nice compliment).

I can't speak for other agencies rec deep classes since I haven't seen their standards. They might also compare nicely or they might not.

Now for gear - Use what is comfortable to you. Deep isn't a good place to try new gear. Your sherwood will likely serve you just fine.

If you are concerned about issues/problems, practice your responses to the basic issues underwater shallow. Most all can be practiced readily and easily. The other good part to this is that if your basic dive skills are sqaured away, you can concentrate in a class learning the new skills rather than struggling with basic diving.

 

[plot]

By deep diving, I'm guessing you mean diving down to a 100 feet? (130 feet?) on a single tank of air, without going into deco.

All of your normal equipment should work fine for it... you don't need a pony, just a buddy. If you have an equipment malfunction doing this type of diving, signal your buddy, share air, get the situation under control, and surface. It's the same as diving at 60 feet... only a little farthur down.

Depending on where you're diving at, you might want to get a thicker wetsuit and a hood, as it can get quite a bit colder. Especially in fresh water. You might want to carry a light too.

 

[fisherdvm]

I have dove to 90 to 93 ft several times in warm weather. It doesn't seem like going to 100 ft would be much different, except in Michigan, where it is alot colder. My concern here is the increased probability of freeflow. I would not be surprised if this class will also be at Gilboa. I'll call them sometime this week and find out.

You guys might be right. Focus more on buddy skill, and basic skill, and the deep diving might not be more than adding 10 more feet to my maximum depth.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I don't want to seem like agency bashing but I have seen both the PADI standards and the IANTD standards for the deep class. My opinion, skip PADI if you want to actually learn to dive deeper safer. The content simply isn't in the standards and isn't in the materials when compared to the IANTD course. Also think about combining with Advanced nitrox. (not required but a nice compliment).

Just because PADI standards don't have the content doesn't mean that you won't learn anything in a course taught by a PADI instructor. I hate to chime in with this, but it's not the agency, it's the instructor can play true sometimes.

 

[johnny_bravo]

You can't beat experience...other than learning why a reg free flows in cold water and getting one that doesn't do it...why take that class? Get some experience in cold water with the right equipment...hell you can learn to deploy a pony bottle yourself in a pool environment.

I could see the need to take an advanced nitrox/extended range/deco procedures class for some real deep diving but not to go to 130' under recreational type profiles (with the right gear).

Cheers.

-J.-