Fast Certification

[Xanthro]

I'm traveling to Hawaii at the end of the month, first trip, and I've always wanted to scuba Maui.

Since I had so little time for certification, it's going to be a private one on one lesson, and compressed into one week.

I've finished the book work, which was easy.

However, I'm a bit concerned about the pace of the course.

There will be three pool sessions over three consecutive days.

08/10/2004 - 11:00 to 16:00
08/11/2004 - 09:00 to 13:00
08/12/2004 - 19:00 to 21:00

Then three boat dives on Saturday 08/14/2004, followed by three more boat dives on Wednesday 08/18/2004, and a beach dive on Saturday 08/21/2004.

I’m 40 years old, and it good shape, but I don’t want to either completely over stress myself, or not master the skills needed to be a safe diver.

25 years ago I was a registered confined water lifeguard, but my ocean experience is limited. I have no trouble being underwater, having once same over 200 meters submerged without taking a breath, and have snorkeled in both poll and ocean conditions with no problem.

I ordered the Orion BCD from Triple-L based on comments on this board. I feel it important to train on equipment you will use in the field. So far, I have everything but a regulator, octo, gauges, computer and tank.

Is there much difference in the training that applies to the regulators? As I posted, I prefer to be proficient on the equipment I’m going to use. If I rent in Hawaii, I want to ensure my OW training applies.

If there is a major difference in regulators, what would be a good novice regulator that will last a couple of years of diving as I grow in skill?

Are there any tips and pitfall warnings for an accelerated training?

Should I take an additional two tank boat dive on Sunday, after I am certified?

Any additional tips the vastly more experienced can lend to a novice?

Thank you,

Xanthro

 

[gfisher4792]

Hi Xanthro,

And welcome to the board. As far as accelerated learning, it works for some, doesn't for others, no surprise there. I guess I would advise you to be ready for a bit of fatigue (both physical and mental). It's good that you already feel comfortable in the water and feel that you're physically fit. You'll be processing a lot of new, unfamiliar info in a short amount of time, so I would say that when out of class, just relax (i.e., let your brain just rest). Actually, relaxing is good advice when you're actually diving as well.

Don't worry about mastering all the skills right now; that all takes practice, especially mastering buoyancy.

Doing on search on this board (or just reading through the "New to Scuba" forum) will help immensely, as others have written what they found difficult, what they learned is important, etc.

Overall, keep in mind while diving, if you find your stress level rising, just pause, concentrate on your breathing, and relax. You'll get the hang of it. Good luck.

 

[pammyk]

I'm traveling to Hawaii at the end of the month, first trip, and I've always wanted to scuba Maui.

Since I had so little time for certification, it's going to be a private one on one lesson, and compressed into one week.

I've finished the book work, which was easy.

However, I'm a bit concerned about the pace of the course.

There will be three pool sessions over three consecutive days.

08/10/2004 - 11:00 to 16:00
08/11/2004 - 09:00 to 13:00
08/12/2004 - 19:00 to 21:00

Then three boat dives on Saturday 08/14/2004, followed by three more boat dives on Wednesday 08/18/2004, and a beach dive on Saturday 08/21/2004.

I’m 40 years old, and it good shape, but I don’t want to either completely over stress myself, or not master the skills needed to be a safe diver.

25 years ago I was a registered confined water lifeguard, but my ocean experience is limited. I have no trouble being underwater, having once same over 200 meters submerged without taking a breath, and have snorkeled in both poll and ocean conditions with no problem.

I ordered the Orion BCD from Triple-L based on comments on this board. I feel it important to train on equipment you will use in the field. So far, I have everything but a regulator, octo, gauges, computer and tank.

Is there much difference in the training that applies to the regulators? As I posted, I prefer to be proficient on the equipment I’m going to use. If I rent in Hawaii, I want to ensure my OW training applies.

If there is a major difference in regulators, what would be a good novice regulator that will last a couple of years of diving as I grow in skill?

Are there any tips and pitfall warnings for an accelerated training?

Should I take an additional two tank boat dive on Sunday, after I am certified?

Any additional tips the vastly more experienced can lend to a novice?

Thank you,

Xanthro

Hi Xanthro...I'm recently certified. I did a quick PADI class...it was a sat and sun. Pool and classroom each day. I didn't feel prepared after that but my buddy and i were able to go to the pool 4 more times. After that I felt very comfortable and was able to do my open water exam. It seems like you were more water comfortable than I was to begin with so you'll probably be fine. Don't worry about it...just try to go with the flow as much as you can. As far as regulators go, I bought the Aqualung Titan LX. It is a great regulator...comfortable breather even at 100 ft. I paid $365 and it had a $75 rebate when I bought it the end of June. Check it out. Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Safe Diving to you.

Pam

 

[rjchandler]

Yes you should dive on Sunday -- because diving is fun :dazzler1: It sounds like you are already in a good course if you are getting that much open water experience as part of it.

as far as training is concerned - all regs are the same. As far as buying - a good rule of thumb is buy the best you can afford that can be serviced locally.They last a long time. There is little point in buying a "novice" one with the idea of replacing it in a couple years.

 

[DandyDon]

Are we being Trolled...?

...having once same over 200 meters submerged without taking a breath...

Can Tarzan swim that far...??

 

[mccabejc]

I think what he forgot to mention that, at the time, he was hanging on to a jetski doing 30 mph.

200meters goes by pretty quick....

 

[Iruka]

I'm thinking he meant 200 feet? I could do 3 lengths of a pool (75 yards) back in college, which is 225', but 200 meters/660 feet can't be right...........

Anyhow, that sounds like plenty of training to begin diving...a lot of people get only 3 days (1 academic + 2 days diving) when they take an OW course here in Guam. It's not ideal, but Japanese (the majority of our tourists) usually get very short vacations and that's all the time they have. One difference (in general) between Japanese & American or European divers, is that Japanese usually expect & are willing to pay for a guide/DM, even when they have hundreds of dives.....so the DM can "catch" a lot of problems which might be more hazardous if they were diving without one.

 

[NorthernMelody]

My opinion is buy once, buy right. Due to the fact that scuba gear is considered life sustaining equiptment, there really isn't any BAD...equiptment out there. There are different levels of gijits and gagits, but realistically it's almost all similar. You need to consider where you will be diving...where you are going on your trip, your won't need a cold water equipt reg, but if you want to start diving in your local area, you may need to have a cold water kit installed....you can have the kit and it won't affect warm water diving. I've just recently went through what you're going through...I know you don't have a lot of time...but you don't HAVE to buy now...The best way to find the reg for you, it to try various types...rent different types/styles, etc you'll find out what's comfortable....I settled on an Apex 50 reg. it's wasn't cheap, but I like the way it felt and I like the warrenty on it. Best of luck...the intensive courses are tough on the body...but I found it beneficial and so did the 2 teens I mentor who took the course with me. Have fun!!!

 

[DandyDon]

Okay, Xanthro - so maybe you are for real. Please forgive my distrust in humanity.

I survived a 100 foot dive on an Intro to Scuba in the Caribbean, but that is not something I would suggest; I just didn't know better.

Your training program sounds great - a lot more than what I did get when I did Certify. That should get you a good start.

 

[Xanthro]

Are we being Trolled...?



Can Tarzan swim that far...??

No, not trolling. Just mistyping. It's 100 meters. The length of an Olympic sized swimming pool there and back.

Also, I didn't start in the water, I was allowed to jump from the starting board, this plus the turn at 50 meters, gives you a good bit of distance with less effort being spent underwater.

The saddest part is someone actually beat me, by turning again at the 100 meter mark. I could have done that, but since nobody had made it 50 meters underwater, I didn't bother. I didn't want to attempt another try, since 100 meters wasn't exactly easy, and two attempts in one day could have been fatal.

Xanthro