- Messages
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UGH!
That was some of the most interesting, frustrating, and plain old painful diving I've done in a loooooong time. Diving dry with an 80 single I have my buoyancy dialed in to the point where I can hover within 1 foot of a desired depth -- in steel doubles I'm all over the place, and having trouble not going feet up. Working those clips in a dry suit is something I've never really done before, and while I finished all the skills, I fumbled more than I care to admit.
Doing a simple S-Drill I had a moment of panic and I can't for the life of me figure out why -- I practiced it dozens of times in the pool without issue, and I've never had a problem with not having a reg in my mouth, buddy breathing, whatever. But I got myself under control and finished up just fine.
I think I broke my collar bone (or at least seriously damaged the joint) walking down to the lake with the tanks on my back - it's all swelled up and sore as can be.
But there were some good things too -- I did have moments of solid buoyancy control, and managed to deploy my SMB and hang in near perfect form twice (we won't talk about the other times
). I was the only student who could reach all of my valves and work them correctly the first time. I got big kudos for my awareness of my team mate, and general attention to details, and I was one of two of us (class of 5, with 2 instructors and a DM) who was called out for being able to quickly id which "problem" needed attention first, when they were given to us.
It was a good course, and I really see the appeal. I still feel like I don't know a dang thing about what I'm doing; but, I have an invite to go drop down on a wreck next weekend, and I can't wait to get out and try it.
That was some of the most interesting, frustrating, and plain old painful diving I've done in a loooooong time. Diving dry with an 80 single I have my buoyancy dialed in to the point where I can hover within 1 foot of a desired depth -- in steel doubles I'm all over the place, and having trouble not going feet up. Working those clips in a dry suit is something I've never really done before, and while I finished all the skills, I fumbled more than I care to admit.
Doing a simple S-Drill I had a moment of panic and I can't for the life of me figure out why -- I practiced it dozens of times in the pool without issue, and I've never had a problem with not having a reg in my mouth, buddy breathing, whatever. But I got myself under control and finished up just fine.
I think I broke my collar bone (or at least seriously damaged the joint) walking down to the lake with the tanks on my back - it's all swelled up and sore as can be.
But there were some good things too -- I did have moments of solid buoyancy control, and managed to deploy my SMB and hang in near perfect form twice (we won't talk about the other times
). I was the only student who could reach all of my valves and work them correctly the first time. I got big kudos for my awareness of my team mate, and general attention to details, and I was one of two of us (class of 5, with 2 instructors and a DM) who was called out for being able to quickly id which "problem" needed attention first, when they were given to us. It was a good course, and I really see the appeal. I still feel like I don't know a dang thing about what I'm doing; but, I have an invite to go drop down on a wreck next weekend, and I can't wait to get out and try it.
