StanleyFeltcher
New
Hi, new to the boards, definitely a lot to take in!
I've done some reading on various boards and from articles related to different training practices and standards across all organizations (ACUC, PADI, NAUI etc) and I feel the training I have received is quite different... in a good way thankfully.
I am looking for some "old pros" input on the training system and whether it will be more beneficial than the "norm"
In two days we (my friend and I along with our instructor) have spent approx 10 hours in the water with very focused exercises, the first order of business after making sure we could swim was to have us retrieve our masks from the bottom of the pool, put them on and clear them before surfacing, the technique described before doing so as well as in the ACUC OW book we were expected to read before even showing up. As we became proficient in this task, snorkels were introduced and we were sent to retrieve mask, clear mask and snorkel before surfacing. By the end we were retrieving masks, snorkels, flippers and weight belts all of which were being put on underwater and applicable gear cleared before surfacing to be checked!
Only after all this did we get our tanks and BCs, and were let free to explore (the pool
) We of course learned proper BC use, clearing regs etc and then the focus switched to crazy drills the instructor and myself and partner brainstormed.
At the end of day two we had learned buddy breathing off a single reg/tank, three-way buddy breathing off an old double hose regulator (Think GI-Joe style), buddy breathing while switching all gear between each other including wetsuits (even a 7mm one-piece which ALMOST made it off heh), garbage bags in our masks to blind us while we switched all gear between each... again sharing a single regulator, and finally all three of us (trying to with moderate success) share a full face mask which required clearing before a breath could be taken....and without using the purge to boot!
A definite experience, my friend, myself and the instructor sharing that double hose regulator for probably ten minutes just chilling on the bottom of the pool.
I feel very optimistic that these skills have better prepared both myself and my future diving buddy for potential hazards and also feel very thankful to have found a focused instructor who is willing to go "beyond the book" and attempt to challenge us.
Just thought I would post this and see what some other instructors thought about this methodology.
Cannot wait for the check dives in open water!
Thanks!
I've done some reading on various boards and from articles related to different training practices and standards across all organizations (ACUC, PADI, NAUI etc) and I feel the training I have received is quite different... in a good way thankfully.
I am looking for some "old pros" input on the training system and whether it will be more beneficial than the "norm"
In two days we (my friend and I along with our instructor) have spent approx 10 hours in the water with very focused exercises, the first order of business after making sure we could swim was to have us retrieve our masks from the bottom of the pool, put them on and clear them before surfacing, the technique described before doing so as well as in the ACUC OW book we were expected to read before even showing up. As we became proficient in this task, snorkels were introduced and we were sent to retrieve mask, clear mask and snorkel before surfacing. By the end we were retrieving masks, snorkels, flippers and weight belts all of which were being put on underwater and applicable gear cleared before surfacing to be checked!
Only after all this did we get our tanks and BCs, and were let free to explore (the pool
) We of course learned proper BC use, clearing regs etc and then the focus switched to crazy drills the instructor and myself and partner brainstormed.At the end of day two we had learned buddy breathing off a single reg/tank, three-way buddy breathing off an old double hose regulator (Think GI-Joe style), buddy breathing while switching all gear between each other including wetsuits (even a 7mm one-piece which ALMOST made it off heh), garbage bags in our masks to blind us while we switched all gear between each... again sharing a single regulator, and finally all three of us (trying to with moderate success) share a full face mask which required clearing before a breath could be taken....and without using the purge to boot!
A definite experience, my friend, myself and the instructor sharing that double hose regulator for probably ten minutes just chilling on the bottom of the pool.
I feel very optimistic that these skills have better prepared both myself and my future diving buddy for potential hazards and also feel very thankful to have found a focused instructor who is willing to go "beyond the book" and attempt to challenge us.
Just thought I would post this and see what some other instructors thought about this methodology.
Cannot wait for the check dives in open water!
Thanks!
