How do you keep your skills current during the winter?

[FirePie]

Hello all!

New diver here. and first post to the forum, I've been lurking for months. I completed my OW check-out dives and a couple more at the end of last may while I was in Key West and got my YMCA C-Card in june.

Ok, I have a confession, and I hope I don't get flamed, but Unforturately, I haven't been able to make any dives since. I live in cental Iowa so there are limited dive sites and I blew all my funds and vacation time on the key west trip, in fact I'm still paying for the key west trip (read 10 days in key west = major credit card debit). I know, I know, not much of an excuse, and there is no question I should have done better over the last few months, but there it is.

I know for sure I will be headed to Key West again in May 2007 (4 day trip), but until then, I'd like to keep up/improve my skills and confidence. So would you suggest pool time, and/or taking another class - if so what?, and/or something else? Funds are still limited.

I wonder what a dive shop is going to say, if I show up next may, and my only dives in the last 12 months is pool time? is that ok?

How do I fix this?


Best Regards

FirePie (I have a wood fired brick pizza oven in my backyard)

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

I snorkel in a pool to keep my legs from going bad, not that they're great to begin with.

Check with your LDS to see if you can tag alone with a pool class and practice assembling equipment, getting in the water and doing skills, etc. No fish, but a lot better than nothing.

Regarding next year's dives: Most dive operations require a refresher course if you have not logged a dive in greater than a year, so you should be OK... however, you can forestall any criticism by hiring a divemaster to buddy up with the first few dives next year. Or sign up for an AOW course right off the bat.

 

[Walter]

How do you keep your skills current during the winter?

I dive often. If I lived in Iowa, I'd take an ice diving class.

 

[REII]

Any large pools, lakes or quaries in your area?

TOM

 

[CBulla]

I'm with Walter... of course, you could also purchase a glider and ottoman, lay on your chest on the ottoman and have your kids (or someone elses kids) sway you back and forth to simulate wave action.. have another one throw a cat on your back to simulate running into an anomole with stinging proprties (i.e. a jellyfish) and practicing taking off and putting the mask on can be simulated with said kids and water guns.

 

[Jorbar1551]

go diving in the ocean of course

 

[diverdown247]

Visit www.lakediver.com Then click on "dive information", then click map, then Iowa or the state nearest your location. He might not have a lot of sites for your area, but there are at least 3 in Iowa on the map.

Then it's just a matter of finding someone who is willing to dive with you. I try not to dive solo during the colder months, too much can go wrong.

 

[boomer68]

I am also a newer dive and during the fall and winter months, I am to go to Mexico at least once to dive and then about once every month or two I will go to the pool at my lds and practice skills with my buddy. No fish but I agree it is better than nothing. Keeps me tuned up.

 

[Melicertes]

I live in cental Iowa so there are limited dive sites and I blew all my funds and vacation time on the key west trip...I know for sure I will be headed to Key West again in May 2007 (4 day trip), but until then, I'd like to keep up/improve my skills and confidence. So would you suggest pool time, and/or taking another class - if so what?, and/or something else? Funds are still limited.

Nothing beats honing diving skills like diving . I'd say get in touch with your LDS, explain to them that you are strapped for bux but desperately would like to keep your skills nice and sharp. Make a deal with 'em if they are willing to - perhaps they could use you as an assistant when going on training dives, not in the teaching process but perhaps by carrying weights for those underweighted students, hauling the tanks to the kit up area that kind of thing - all that of course in exchange for perhaps one free air dive per month? If not you might have to pay for an airfill card and get yourself to accompany them on open water training dives once a month or every two months - it's better than no diving for several months.

Do you own your gear or are you renting? If you own it and don't need to rent, I guess the only costs you really need to consider then is your fills and the costs to get to and from your dive site. Even if it is a dive safe quarry someplace, don't underestimate the value of the experience, get a diving! I love quarries to hone navigation skills because there is usually (not always mind you) lower viz - it forces you to trust your compass and not second guess your bearing so much.

If you are going to sit in a pool using your air only to have to fill it up again anyhow, then I'd rather do the breathing in a proper open water diving environment rather than in the pool. Chat to your LDS, it's your best bet I'd say

 

[Hoosier]

My opinion is.....

You seem to have some financial management issue. Every divers in Mid-west are dreaming about the resort and warm water dives. And, it used to be pricey as you know.

Within the limited budget, you have to choose either way, such as just being a resort diver once per year or active local diver who doesn't care about the local conditions.

I choose the latter to the former because there will be a lot of chance to go to the resort places after getting skilled in my life. If you can dive in mid-west, you can dive anywhere in the world, but not vice versa....

In addition, I don't think it is wise to do the scuba diving with any debts. I have seen many local divers who eventually ended up the diving because the financial pressure.


Just my 2 cent...