Aloha Joe
Contributor
(Edit: If anyone has dive planning suggestions/tips for new divers at the Catalina Diver Park, please share!!)
Some of you know already, but I decided to get scuba certified for my birthday (which is Wednesday - I got my OW last weekend), and it's turning into a dive week! I have a new friend who dives and also has a birthday this weekend, so we're doing a 3-day trip to Catalina with a boat dive on Saturday. My original plan was to just rent gear and go through the class to say I did it, then it was a day trip to Catalina, and now I've got my own fancy rig and am going on a mini dive vacation with a new friend! Pretty cool birthday gift!!
I'm the kind of guy that likes to learn and continuously improve. I started to think about what I can work on, but then realized I should just enjoy my first dives as a certified diver - obviously diving safely within my limits and using the skills I've learned, but also enjoying myself and soaking in my surroundings (oh no, the puns!) and building time and confidence underwater. But I know myself, and I know I'll be figuring out how to perfect my buoyancy using my OPV (dump), and will be paying attention to kicking (finning?) and stuff.
I'm actually looking forward to the planning and pre-dive preparation/communication with my buddy, and carrying out our dives as planned. That's kind of funny since I generally hate planning, and had this crazy idea that scuba was going to be about independence and spontaneity! Obviously that perspective has changed! And of course I'm looking forward to seeing all kinds of new wildlife underwater - hopefully I'll get to see some seals and dolphins this weekend!!
I also would like to say Thank You to everyone who makes this forum what it is. I've learned a lot in a very short amount of time (like, 4 weeks??) particularly about my equipment, and am really happy with the rig I put together, with parts that even came from some of you.
Some of you know already, but I decided to get scuba certified for my birthday (which is Wednesday - I got my OW last weekend), and it's turning into a dive week! I have a new friend who dives and also has a birthday this weekend, so we're doing a 3-day trip to Catalina with a boat dive on Saturday. My original plan was to just rent gear and go through the class to say I did it, then it was a day trip to Catalina, and now I've got my own fancy rig and am going on a mini dive vacation with a new friend! Pretty cool birthday gift!!
I'm the kind of guy that likes to learn and continuously improve. I started to think about what I can work on, but then realized I should just enjoy my first dives as a certified diver - obviously diving safely within my limits and using the skills I've learned, but also enjoying myself and soaking in my surroundings (oh no, the puns!) and building time and confidence underwater. But I know myself, and I know I'll be figuring out how to perfect my buoyancy using my OPV (dump), and will be paying attention to kicking (finning?) and stuff.
I'm actually looking forward to the planning and pre-dive preparation/communication with my buddy, and carrying out our dives as planned. That's kind of funny since I generally hate planning, and had this crazy idea that scuba was going to be about independence and spontaneity! Obviously that perspective has changed! And of course I'm looking forward to seeing all kinds of new wildlife underwater - hopefully I'll get to see some seals and dolphins this weekend!!
I also would like to say Thank You to everyone who makes this forum what it is. I've learned a lot in a very short amount of time (like, 4 weeks??) particularly about my equipment, and am really happy with the rig I put together, with parts that even came from some of you.
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