geogator
Contributor
I've recently signed up for an OW class (PADI) but will not be taking it until May due to scheduling issues. I have a lot of snorkeling experience & have wanted to learn to dive since my teens so I'm really stoked about finally getting to do it all these years later.
In the meantime, I have received my books/study materials and have my mask/snorkel/booties/fins, a wetsuit and will have my weights/belt and dive watch by early next month. I've started reading/studying my book materials & have been trying out my new gear over the past 2 weeks, as time permits, in both my own backyard pool (w/wetsuit since it's still ~72deg) and at my local YMCA's 82deg indoor pool (minus wetsuit of course). So far I've been practicing the following basic skills (some of which I already knew how to do):
- my 200 yard swim w/o equip., which I was able to complete at the Y's pool (but boy that was further than I thought!
). I didn't realize how tired I'd be so that's now my "warmup" routing when I get there;
- my 10 minute float (no problem) (it's the next item in the swim routine);
Also:
- clearing my mask underwater;
- diving down & donning my mask/snorkel, clearing the mask & coming up & clearing snorkel, continue snorkeling;
- snorkeling without my mask (both w/ & w/o fins), including diving down to the bottom, clearing after coming up & continuing to snorkel. (I saw elsewhere on this board that someone suggested doing this to help acclimate yourself to breathing underwater w/o a mask with your mouth only which I thought was a great idea. (It's harder than it looks at first & does take practice, esp. getting used to having water up your nostrils a bit.)) I think a lot of 1st timers are apprehensive about that so I'm aiming to not have that issue come May.
With all of this said, my question is what type of other skills can I be doing to help get me a bit ahead of the game when I actually get to class? My class is the typical 4 day (2 full weekends) deal which is shorter than I'd like but it's the only one available so it is what it is. However, I recently asked & the shop has offered to let me tag along with their other future OW classes any time to let me log more time with them as long as I provide my own gear (which they've offered to rent to me at a disc. price) & any park entrance fees & I plan to take them up on it.
Thanks for any advice that you can give me & any other helpful tips. I'm really impressed with the wealth of knowledge available on this board & how nice/patient most folks have been with all of us newbies' "dumb questions". I believe there's no such thing as a dumb question - only a dumb person for not speaking up and asking it.
In the meantime, I have received my books/study materials and have my mask/snorkel/booties/fins, a wetsuit and will have my weights/belt and dive watch by early next month. I've started reading/studying my book materials & have been trying out my new gear over the past 2 weeks, as time permits, in both my own backyard pool (w/wetsuit since it's still ~72deg) and at my local YMCA's 82deg indoor pool (minus wetsuit of course). So far I've been practicing the following basic skills (some of which I already knew how to do):
- my 200 yard swim w/o equip., which I was able to complete at the Y's pool (but boy that was further than I thought!
). I didn't realize how tired I'd be so that's now my "warmup" routing when I get there;- my 10 minute float (no problem) (it's the next item in the swim routine);
Also:
- clearing my mask underwater;
- diving down & donning my mask/snorkel, clearing the mask & coming up & clearing snorkel, continue snorkeling;
- snorkeling without my mask (both w/ & w/o fins), including diving down to the bottom, clearing after coming up & continuing to snorkel. (I saw elsewhere on this board that someone suggested doing this to help acclimate yourself to breathing underwater w/o a mask with your mouth only which I thought was a great idea. (It's harder than it looks at first & does take practice, esp. getting used to having water up your nostrils a bit.)) I think a lot of 1st timers are apprehensive about that so I'm aiming to not have that issue come May.
With all of this said, my question is what type of other skills can I be doing to help get me a bit ahead of the game when I actually get to class? My class is the typical 4 day (2 full weekends) deal which is shorter than I'd like but it's the only one available so it is what it is. However, I recently asked & the shop has offered to let me tag along with their other future OW classes any time to let me log more time with them as long as I provide my own gear (which they've offered to rent to me at a disc. price) & any park entrance fees & I plan to take them up on it.
Thanks for any advice that you can give me & any other helpful tips. I'm really impressed with the wealth of knowledge available on this board & how nice/patient most folks have been with all of us newbies' "dumb questions". I believe there's no such thing as a dumb question - only a dumb person for not speaking up and asking it.
