How do you keep your skills current during the winter?

[Spratman]

I live in SE PA, and the only two months I didn't dive last year was December and Feb. As everyone else said, dive in a pool if available. I'm sure there are some divers here and shops that dive throughout the year. Take a drysuit class. You have to be in the "does that require brains He-man woman haters" class to dive it wet. But some of us do...(can't afford a dry suit yet...)

 

[GDI]

Of course I am certified to instruct ICE Diving (not bad for a Florida boy eh!)
Actuall before living down here I lived in Canada taking a Ice diving class would be one suggestion as Walter pointed out. The problem here is getting dive buddies that are willing to dive with you under the ice. They don't know what they are missing, winter diving is great fun.

One of the other ways was mentioned and that is of course diving in a pool as much as possible to keep skills sharp. OR look for sites that have no ice on them and go diving in them. Again getting a buddy may be a concern but at least you would be active. I use to hit the river every chance I could get. I was lucky in that I had buddies who use to laugh at how bad the weather was and how tough we were for diving during a snow storm. Actually diving in cold water is not all that bad if you have the correct equipment. The things under the water are there in the winter just as they are during the summer. Just get wet in what ever way you can

 

[TeddyDiver]

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.

Google : Iowa dive club gave 13M match. There must be one real dive club for you to join It's a good way to get experience...

 

[Jon C]

Drysuit, Drysuit, Drysuit.

In spite of the glossy projection of scuba diving in trade magazines and videos, it is still too dangerous to trust that your skills will be sharp after a winter layoff. IMHO.

If the water gets too cold for my wetsuit, I go with the dry. I don't enjoy it as much, but it beats shivering half way through the dive or NOT diving. Short of 6 foot vis or big surf, I try to get in the water every weekend. Of course, I happen to live near the ocean so it takes a minimun of effort to get there.



From cbulla: ... 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.

I thought I was the only one doing this...but only on the weekends. More often than that and someone might think you're crazy! I try to avoid doing things that make people think I am nuts...like my unfortunate "electronic spagetti fork" idea. Hey, if I had used a less powerful motor, no one would have got hurt and I would be the one laughing!

Jon

 

[Walter]

If you can dive in mid-west, you can dive anywhere in the world, but not vice versa....

Not exactly. While you gain some skills diving in those cold quarries, there are others you miss. I've taken lots of very active midwestern divers out on warm ocean dives only for the ocean to kick their butts.

 

[Mo2vation]

Not exactly. While you gain some skills diving in those cold quarries, there are others you miss. I've taken lots of very active midwestern divers out on warm ocean dives only for the ocean to kick their butts.

Surge, Current, Crashing Waves, Rocky Entries, Draw Out (and caps in every word.... what the hell is my problem??!) are very challenging in their own way. Below, in still water, its no biggie. But schlepping your rig through tons of moving water and sand is a different story.

---
Ken

 

[The Kraken]

By diving . . .

Thanks to my blessed wife, Yellow Angel Fish, I have a dry suit that allows me to dive all year long.

In January, February, March, the temps below the thermocline in Lake Lanier are in the very low 40's.

the K

 

[Melicertes]

Thanks to my blessed wife, Yellow Angel Fish, I have a dry suit that allows me to dive all year long.

In January, February, March, the temps below the thermocline in Lake Lanier are in the very low 40's.

the K

Somehow the idea of the Kraken and a dry suit just doesn't sound right

 

[The Kraken]

Ahhh . . . but it is, my good man, it is!!!

the K

 

[Melicertes]

Ahhh . . . but it is, my good man, it is!!!

the K

Oh I have no doubt about the fact