Getting back into diving...

[SalannB]

So, after a several year hiatus, I want to get back into diving.

I kept my equipment serviced, and stored it well, so it should be okay.

I'll call my local dive shop and see if I can get pool time to splash in and re-acquaint myself with my equipment. I'll also have a few check-out dives to work on buoyancy control.

What else? Any suggestions welcome...thanks!

Sal

 

[rhwestfall]

Welcome back!

You registered here in 2011, when did you start, and how long have you been away? What level were you diving at when you took leave? How confident are you in what you learned? I'd gloss back over the book(s) from OW as a minimum. Can you answer the questions in it without too much effort? Playing in the pool is good too. Have someone critique you. Perhaps a refresher....

I actually took an advanced class (Rescue) upon my return after an 8 year surface interval, and then progressed through an MSD (NAUI) program.

 

[SalannB]

Great questions!

I've logged more than 50 dives and certified in 1999. Hadn't taken the AOW, but should have. Wanted to get Nitrox-cert but didn't. Was a DAN O2 provider, as well as Dive First Aid. I've been on surface interval for more than 6 years.

I like the idea of a critique and looking over my book. Feel free to chime in, everyone!

Thanks so much!

 

[Malpaso]

See if your LDS has an OW check out dive scheduled that you can tag along. Not to be part of the class, but just to have someone in the area if you have questions. It would be that much better than a pool dive.

 

[BVickery]

My hiatus isn't as long, but my LDS has a refresher pool dive for skills for like $100 single, and like $75 if you go when they have an OW session going (you basically swim with some DMCs in the deep area getting used to being UW and at the end you spend some time with the instructor. If I go this route I'm just gonna talk to the guy I'm getting AOW with and see if my first dive can be a refresher dive (already have some dives towards AOW already).

 

[Pin83]

Some shops run a specific program for this, usually most popular at the beginning of summer. Here it's usually called a "rusty diver program". I think it is half a day of refreshing skills in the pool, plus an OW dive with an Instructor.
I think the idea of doing AOW is a good one. It's almost like a refresher, plus adding a bit more knowledge and a few more skills in...

Dave.

 

[billt4sf]

I've logged more than 50 dives and certified in 1999. I've been on surface interval for more than 6 years.

If it were me, and I had 50 dives and a break for 6 years, I would be thinking "refresher" at a minimum -- maybe even another OW class. Another option would be to hire an instructor for a personal refresher. I have 50 dives now, and I know for sure I would learn something useful from an OW class.

Diving seems so easy when it goes right -- but forgetting something can lead to really unfortunate consequences if the situation is right -- er, wrong. When I have gotten into trouble, (I am not speaking just of diving) it's when I had done something well for awhile, and then took a hiatus, then re-started.

- Bill

 

[boat sju]

Sal,

I think I've taken two refreshers over the past 30 years now and things really haven't changed a whole lot. Ascent rates changed from 60 to 30 fpm and the tables got more conservative. There's much more emphasis on trim now than when I was certified in 1982. I'm sure you will pick up a few pointers and reminders in a refresher course but, in my opinion, the water skills part of the class is what makes it worthwhile. Since it's summer and you're within reach of some quarries, I would suggest that's where you take a refresher class. Messing around in a pool is a good idea, and a good place to get reacquainted with your equipment, but not worth much more than a $5 entry fee.

boat

 

[spectrum]

Certified in 1999, 50 dives and a 6 year break. Last dive in 2007? That's roughly 50 dives in 8 years or 6 per year if evenly distributed. At that rate you were perpetually refeshing and after 7 years I agree that a formal refresher with an open water dive component would be minimal.

Pete

 

[mr_cc]

Hi Sal,

I did something similar this year. I learnt to dive in 2003 and did ~20 dives during that summer, but didnt do any diving after that until this year.

I was contemplating starting from the beginning again doing OW, but decided to do a PADI refresher with my local shop, to evaluate if this was necessary. I did a lot of reading up of the current padi OW manual before hand, and went through the skills "dry" at home. Padi refresher involved doing the written test, talking through some theory with the instructor, then doing all skills taught in the OW course in a pool. This went much better than I expected, and I decided not to do the full OW course. Refresher cost £100

That said - when I actually came to dive in OW in the maldives, I found my confidence wanst there (even before I entered the water!) so I had the operator at our resort do another refresher, missing out the theory but doing a couple of dives doing 1 on 1 skills in the open water. This helped more than anything, and let me know that there wasnt anything wrong with my skills, I just needed to get out there and do it under decent supervision. This cost $85

I did 9 dives on this trip, and for the first couple asked the DM to supervise me a little closer, but after the second dive, he felt I was doing fine and didnt need close supervision. I did buddy up with a much more experienced diver, and found this very reassuring.

My (humble) advice is to do a refresher, they are good and not too expensive - it helped me no end. Your skills are probably fine, and the refresher will confirm this. Do it in open water if this option is available, I found the pool session too easy, and the open water much more valuable.