DIR-F: March 10-11, erm, March 9-11: Part 1

[BMCG]

Shutting up???

Frankly this debate just started getting productive - we're getting to the stage at which concrete recommendations for improvement are emerging.

GUE could usefully publish a guide to the Fundies experience - be up front and clear with customers that the course moves quickly and that the bias is to evaluation. Perhaps underscoring that decent trim and buoyancy control are essential to passing, e.g: if you can't hold a hover (+/- 2ft) at 6 ft horizontally for 2 minutes then a pass is unlikely.

If you're comfortable with obtaining a provisional, then realise that your experience will still be a rich learning one, albeit intense.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Wah wah wah Lets all shutup and go diving.

It's a discussion board. If you don't want to participate, then feel free to take your own advice ... :mooner:

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Carribeandiver]

In retrospect the course seems to be one of very strict standards. Absolute requisites and skill. It does not instruct you other than showing you proper techniques and the advantage of watching instructors and other students attempt the skills. Yes, it does video and critique performs and I suppose that is instruction. For me it didnt help because I was more concerened with buoyancy and trim (which was not videoed) Watching me swim and listening to details on how to improve a kick was not as important -to me - as establishing stability.
I disagree that it is the most intense and riguous training but I firmly agree it is the highest standards - which I consider a good thing. The intensity comes from within us. It rests in our desire to succeed and excel. It doesnt come from the course. It is not overly strenous or stressful. I freaked out a lot more taking OW than I did taking Fundies.
Before I took the Fundamentals and during the course, I wanted to pass. Now, I dont give a hoot, all I really want is to perform to those standards. Whether someone hands me a grade or not honestly does not matter.
And for the record, I will never pass the course because I will never be able to reach my valves. I workout at the gym, I have muscles and muscles simply do not allow the arms to reach that far back. It took years of lifting iron and I am proud that I look decent. I am 57. no spring chicken and in good shape. I need to workout to look decent. I am not going to get puny to reach my valve(s), it is not important to me. (Now if I ever find myself in a situation where I need to turn off my valve(s) and cant, then I will deeply regret this lack of skill)
Still, I plan on taking the course again, not to pass, but so I can make myself proud in knowing how much I have improved.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

In retrospect the course seems to be one of very strict standards. Absolute requisites and skill. It does not instruct you other than showing you proper techniques and the advantage of watching instructors and other students attempt the skills. Yes, it does video and critique performs and I suppose that is instruction. For me it didnt help because I was more concerened with buoyancy and trim (which was not videoed) Watching me swim and listening to details on how to improve a kick was not as important -to me - as establishing stability.

Sounds to me like you'd benefit more from finding a good mentor, and diving a lot ... in which case, you will find that the Fundamentals class will make you more discerning in terms of what to look for in a mentor.

Before I took the Fundamentals and during the course, I wanted to pass. Now, I dont give a hoot, all I really want is to perform to those standards. Whether someone hands me a grade or not honestly does not matter.

Absolutely ... the class isn't about passing ... it's about getting some tools to improve your skills. When I took it the first time I was an absolute wreck for about three weeks ... till I started learning to relax in the water again. I think a lot of people come out of the class determined to try too hard, and it takes the fun out of diving for them. My mentor (Uncle Pug) finally convinced me to just go diving. We'd spend the end of each dive in the shallows, just working on hovering ... motionless ... and relaxing. In a short time I found that my buoyancy skills improved dramatically ... and diving got to be fun again.

And for the record, I will never pass the course because I will never be able to reach my valves. I workout at the gym, I have muscles and muscles simply do not allow the arms to reach that far back. It took years of lifting iron and I am proud that I look decent. I am 57. no spring chicken and in good shape. I need to workout to look decent. I am not going to get puny to reach my valve(s), it is not important to me. (Now if I ever find myself in a situation where I need to turn off my valve(s) and cant, then I will deeply regret this lack of skill)

Don't be too sure ... check these out. I felt the same ... that I'd never be able to reach my valves. With a few weeks of doing these exercises, I surprised myself. I still have some left post issues, due to the fact that I tore a rotator cuff a couple years back ... but even that's damn close (I can make it sometimes, and not other times) ... it's all a matter of determination and practice.

Still, I plan on taking the course again, not to pass, but so I look make myself proud in knowing how much I have improved.

Good for you ... and best of luck.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TSandM]

Caribbeandiver, I don't know if you took the class in a single tank or in doubles, but I can tell you that I never got anywhere near my valve in Fundies, and six months later, I performed a single tank valve drill easily. It took practice, and it took some experimentation with the location of my tank. My dive buddy was the one who had the final insight -- He moved my tank up about four inches while we were in the water, and presto! There was the valve.

Don't sell yourself short. I'll bet it can be done. I'm a great believer in persistence, because a great many things in diving have seemed unconquerable to me as I've gone along, and so far, enough hard work has conquered most of them.

 

[Carribeandiver]

NWGrateful and TS&M, you both have continuously encouraged me and I appreciate that. NWG, that gas paper sure helped me alot too, I had to read it about 15 times and put it under my pillow for osmosis purposes but finally I almost understand it.
If I could take cold water and Washington state gave reciprocity to the BAR, I would move up there.
Heading to the pool again tomorrow. Anyone for some 88F pool water?

 

[PerroneFord]

Dude, you WILL get neutral, and you WILL hover, and you WILL reach your valves. I pumped iron for many years myself, but the new thing in lifting weights is flexibility. Have you worked with the Hammer Strength stuff at all? Plate loaded machnies that work you OUT, but provide long muscle stretches too. You'll amaze yourself. Generally reaching valves is a matter of stretching those lats...

We'll get you sorted out. Just relax, have fun, and lets dive.

 

[Ben_ca]

CD,
Didn't you also say you just got your BP&W a few days prior? That in itself isn't a good start... you should have at least gotten a few dives just to get the "Feel" of the rig... I think you were just a bit overwhelmed in all the new gear so some of the things the others reported just were not apparent to you.