Finished my Open Water certification today

[tursiops]

Perhaps you should set your target as Master scuba diver (Rescue/ first aid plus 5 completed Specialties.

plus 50 logged dives (at least for PADI)

 

[Hawkwood]

Funny thing about that gear ditching thing... I used to have students complain how they would never need to do that...

I have a friend with significant nerve issues in her neck. She cannot wear the gear at the surface to be able to get into the water. Gear goes in and she follows and puts it on in the water. Many reasons why this is very good to know.

 

[Stoo]

I hear you... My wife had her leg broken in the summer while diving in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It's 80% healed, but we're off to Belize in about 6 weeks where (hopefully) we'll both be diving. It's going to be from a small boat with a back-roll exit. She's a little f*rt and at 98 pounds, humping a tank around is a challenge at the best of times, so I think she'll likely gear-up at the surface as well...

 

[mselenaous]

Yippee! Congrats!
Lots of beautiful diving on SoCal.

Do check out the SoCal forum to meet lots of other Scubaboarders (more dive buddies) local to you.

 

[Neilwood]

I have a friend with significant nerve issues in her neck. She cannot wear the gear at the surface to be able to get into the water. Gear goes in and she follows and puts it on in the water. Many reasons why this is very good to know.

I hear you... My wife had her leg broken in the summer while diving in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It's 80% healed, but we're off to Belize in about 6 weeks where (hopefully) we'll both be diving. It's going to be from a small boat with a back-roll exit. She's a little f*rt and at 98 pounds, humping a tank around is a challenge at the best of times, so I think she'll likely gear-up at the surface as well...

I think these are good examples of how diving can be adapted to help those whit physical issues. So long as a proper gear check has been done (regs checked, bcd checked etc) there should be nothing to stop someone doing this.

I am lucky in that I'm 6'3 and pretty strong but I can see someone half my size having difficulties carrying the same amount of gear especially doing a long walk to a shore entry etc.

 

[htatton]

First congratulations, OW certification is a worthy accomplishment. I started at 70, and so wish I had started earlier. So many dive sites, so little time.

I also really struggled getting the kit off and on the surface. During the pool sessions I could see no need for the struggle. Then... I arrived at the ocean. Wonderful dive shop but the boat was small and the ladder was just a hang over the side affair. No way my old back going to lug all my gear up a rocking ladder that was absolutely vertical. Solution was easy. Swim up to boat, remove and hand up weights, Remove and hand up scuba kit, pull my fins and hand them up. Then haul my fat backside up the darned ladder.

I've since been on much larger boats with stair type ladders. I can climb them with full gear but it is so much easier to doff and hand it up. My back doesn't hurt anywhere near so much. (Just a Note: I arrange this in advance and pay if necessary or tip generously).

Haven't had the need to don the gear in the water but I'm sure some situation will make it necessary, so I go to the pool and practice. I want to have the routine down so when I have to do it in the ocean it will be second nature.

 

[Gareth J]

One of the nice thing about a lot of the UK dive boats, especially on the south coast, is that the boats come with lifts. It makes it a lot easier getting back on.