Fast Certification

[DiveMaven]

Xanthro, what about the boat dives are you worried about? IMO they are so much more enjoyable than beach dives since you don't have to swim out to the reef/wreck, etc., and you don't have to lug your equipment up and down the beach. Boat diving is a piece of cake. Getting off the boat is simple, but listen to your DM or instructor about how to get back on the boat and do what they say. You'll do great!

 

[Xanthro]

Xanthro, what about the boat dives are you worried about? IMO they are so much more enjoyable than beach dives since you don't have to swim out to the reef/wreck, etc., and you don't have to lug your equipment up and down the beach. Boat diving is a piece of cake. Getting off the boat is simple, but listen to your DM or instructor about how to get back on the boat and do what they say. You'll do great!

I've been in the water off beaches or shores many times, so I know what to expect and how to react.

I've been snorkelling off a boat once. The sea water not that choppy, and I was pretty tired after 90 minutes of swimming, and helping the wife. She's not nearly as comfortable in the water.

Many people couldn't get back into the boat, and I had to help them. I was okay after a 20 minute rest, but don't think I could have done that 2 more times and been okay.

I think I'm more concerned because I'm mixing two new things, open water scuba, and getting back into the boat. I'm always more apprehensive when I'm doing more than one new thing at a time.

Xanthro

 

[fun2chase]

Hiya!

Guess as far as fast certification goes, I earned my OW, Nitrox, and AOW in 8 days. Boy was it fun! Just study the book material to where it is second nature. Then with your prior swim experience and comfort level in the water; just take it easy and try each skill as your instructor presents it. Mine was also one on one for the pool, which gave me a good chance to work those basic skills and get them down before moving on. Concentrate on buoyancy control and swimming with your mask off (then replacing it and clearing it). As opposed to swimming, remember NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH!

After getting your skills down, the boat dive will be fun. Remember to clear your ears immediately and often as you descend, inflate your BC as you descend for buoyancy, and check your gages often. When you get out of the water watch the waves and the steps to make sure they don't knock you. Pay attention to the boat and not so much the people around you.

As far as DAN is concerned, from friends that have been diving remember to call them whenever you suspect there is a problem. They are there to give advice. One of my friends did not call them and was sent home from the emergency room only to find himself back in the hospital and in & out of deco chambers for several days where an immediate trip may have saved him the additional 4! If you get the additional insurance they cover the deductible and any co-pays that your regular insurance may not. It is worth the little extra to not have any headaches later if you ever need it. I also think it includes theft/lost or something with your equipment. A little bonus!

Good luck and let us know how it went,
-stacy

 

[RonDawg]

I've been in the water off beaches or shores many times, so I know what to expect and how to react.

I've been snorkelling off a boat once. The sea water not that choppy, and I was pretty tired after 90 minutes of swimming, and helping the wife. She's not nearly as comfortable in the water.

Many people couldn't get back into the boat, and I had to help them. I was okay after a 20 minute rest, but don't think I could have done that 2 more times and been okay.

I think I'm more concerned because I'm mixing two new things, open water scuba, and getting back into the boat. I'm always more apprehensive when I'm doing more than one new thing at a time.

Actually, I prefer boat dives to shore diving. For one there's no long, and sometimes steep and/or treacherous, walk to the edge of the water as you're trying to keep your balance on the sand and trying to avoid all the little kids that inevitably are attracted to you out of curiosity. You put on your gear (and have a bench to sit on, often a luxury on beach dives), do your BWRAF check with your buddy, walk to the edge of the platform, put on your fins/mask/reg, then jump in!

Also, the boat can put you right on top of where you want to dive, without the long surface swims that sometimes accompany beach dives. You'll also not get beat up by the surf during entry and especially exit, when you're tired from the dive and you have to contend with heavy and awkward scuba gear and now the ocean is trying to tip you over!.

Exiting the water and going back onto the boat shouldn't be a problem. At least the boats that I've been on, there's been a divemaster to assist you.

The advantages of a beach dive over a boat are, of course price (just gas and maybe parking) and you get to dive on your schedule (dive conditions permitting) rather than the boat's.

 

[Xanthro]

Just finished my first confined water day, and the last day of working for working on buoyancy has been cancelled.

I passed every test on the first attempt, with no problems. Studying the manual over and over really helped. I tried to visualize every test, and most were as I had anticipated.

I only felt uncomfortable on the breath with your mask removed, because I had to look at the instructor, and the regulator exhaled right in front of my face. This meant the bubbles kept hitting my nose, and this tickled and made me want to sneeze and hold my breath.

I thought breathing from the free-flowing reg would be difficult, and that was actually very fun. Like sipping air from the fountain of life.

I did horizontal emergency ascent three times. I passed the first try, but wasn’t 100% pleased with myself, and wanted to do them again.

I even got the fin pivot down the first try.

Only real problem was hovering, though this was the most fun I had. My legs want to roll over my head, and this causes me to tumble. I had to do this quite a bit, I could maintain a standing hover, but not a sitting one.

I’m working on buoyancy control all day tomorrow.

Oddly enough, the hardest part was the 200 meter swim. This was at the end of the day, and I was more tired than I thought. First 50 meters no problem, then my legs started to tire. Still finished, but my former swim couch would have been appalled.

Definitely hooked, floating weightless in the water was like being cradled by the hand of God.

My instructor was very nice, said I’m the best student he’s had, I think we was being polite, and I was like a minnow in water.

My new mask kept fogging, despite anti-fog being put on numerous times. This simply gave me a reason to practice mask clearing. I must have done that 50 or more times today.

Only problems were I got a rubber cut under my nail putting my equipment away, so every can laugh now, and my ears wouldn’t clear sometimes on the ascent. I have to swallow to clear my ears on an ascent, and when trying to hover, sometimes I’d raise to high.

I’ve noticed I have a HUGE amount of leeway in my breath control. I can constrict my chest to around 36” and inflate it to 42”. I could sit at the bottom, increase my lung intact to around 80% max, then breath at that level and float to the top, then go back to more normal breathing, and sink to the bottom.

I just need to learn, WHEN, to change how much air I hold in. I tended to over compensate.

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice. Today was a great day and looking forward to many more.

Xanthro

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi Xan
Sounds like the first phase is coming on to you. I assure you there's more to learn and it will make you so so tired.. The boat dives are draining even for me now. I just got my DM paperwork all cleared on Wed.

Your body would be in a highly stressed state striving to cope with the new skills and the new environment. One thing is i am not pouring cold water on you whatsoever. I'm honestly trying to give you a honest insight i went through myself..
Your body will struggle to perform the tasks under different situations. Then you jump off the boat, the currents come over your face.

Now, helpful hints that r useful.. Don't take your regulator out of your mouth regardless till you board the boat. Or use the snorkel.. When you ascend from the bottom, don't inflate your bcd so much. If you are correctly weighed for buoyancy, you should ascend using your fins with min inflation. Try to control your descent using relazed calm manner, or alternative use the exhaled air from your reg. and put in your bdc while descending. It helps to keep you neutral buoyant while descending. Hope this helps..

 

[Xanthro]

Thanks Sleepyhead.

Just finished all the pool work today. Actually, we finished everything yesterday it seems, but he wanted to review everything again after a night’s rest.

I used my own equipment this time, and the BCD was much more comfortable.

I know what you mean about body struggling with the new skills. Because my body hasn’t memorized where everything is, nothing is quite second nature yet.

I had a very hard time with the underwater BCD removal and replacement, because it’s an weight integrated BCD, and I had to cling on to it to keep from shooting to the top (was wearing a 7mm wetsuit). I actually ripped out the velcro a attached lumber support, not a problem it is removable, when trying to find my waist strap. I thought the two ends had velcroed back together.

It’s not the skills as much as my body knowing all the equipment. Since I can’t just find everything automatically, it’s harder than it should be. I’ll be practicing that on Saturday, and making some small changes to the BCD setup.

I’m really looking forward to the boat on Saturday, but man do I have to get up early.

BTW, I either always have the snorkel or regulator in my mouth at the surface. Only time I don’t, is if I have to speak, or I’m in water deep enough to stand up. Even if I’m just listening to the instructor, regulator comes out, snorkel goes in.

Xanthro

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Hi Xanthro,

Since you're a little worried about the boat dives I thought I'd share my experience.

I did the class room and pool work in Sacramento and then did the OW dives in Hawaii through PADI. You don't have to do all with one shop, if you're using a common agency. You get the exercises signed off as you go, and get a refferal to another shop. Then I took a hop over to Kona for some more diving.

Just thought that if you keep this in mind it might take some of the pressure off of your boat dives. If for some reason you can't complete your cert, keep in mind that you can finish it in HI, then do your pleasure dives.

 

[geraldp]

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?

There are some differences in the "feel" of a regulator... you may get a rental that exhausts air differently than others, which might be disconcerting. Some regs breath easier than others whilst inverted or at depth. Also how you stow your octo could be different... hopefully that should be the same as the way you're using for your class, though. For this time around I think you'll be OK with a rental regulator - especially if you already own a BC that you're used to.

A computer, on the other hand, may take a bit of studying to understand its use. The manual for mine is quite thick, and after reading it several times I still don't understand all it's intricacies. You may want to look at purchasing one before your trip (if you have the means).

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

Absolutely. The first dive after getting your OW cert is an important one. You'll be diving for the first time without your instructor hovering over you. Doing that in familiar waters is a nice thing, without the stress of being somewhere brand new.

Jerry

 

[baltimoron]

Hey Xantho, glad to meet another new diver!

my experiences were about the same as yours..... the second night in the pool my instructor showed us how to do equip removal with a weight integrated BC- jesus it was tough. i shot up to the top of the pool like a cork! in the quarry i had a hard time too even with a wieght belt!