Just finished PADI eLearning

[hypertech]

Overall, it was OK. Some of it seemed like more of an ad for PADI courses than to teach me anything about diving. I think I could have cut it down to 25% of what was there and still included all the really important stuff.

There was, however, one thing that was glaringly missing - how to manage you air! There was absolutely no discussion about how to monitor your pressure gauge during a dive to make sure you end with a safety margin in the tank. No discussion about average consumption rates (though it did talk about how your air is used proportionally faster at depth).

I realize the pressure and rate consumed will depend upon the temperature, tank size, depth, and other factors, but it seems to be something important.

I'm doing the confined training this weekend and there is a classroom portion first - maybe it is supposed to be covered there? If it isn't part of the OW course, I'll be sure to ask my instructor about it, but it sure seems like something that should be one of the most important parts of the course and I shouldn't have to ask.

 

[nwhitney2003]

There is a formula to figure out your SAC rate and I'm sure someone will post it here for you. Just remember that it's going to change for you (me too) as a new diver. The best way to monitor your air consumption right now is to check your gauges (air and depth) often and keep track of your time. In time with proper trim and buoyancy control your air consumption will improve. If it doesn't come up in the classroom portion then definitely ask.

 

[askdjasd]

Well, the PADI E-learning (Which I'm about to take myself) obviously does not get you certified. You will still have to do your pool and ocean dives, with your instructor. advise him that there was a certain part of the online training that you're a bit worried about.
He/she will then go on to teach you about it (it's their job) but whitney is right, 1 thing you will always remember is to constantly check your gauges, when I started out, they advised once every 5-10 minutes.

For fear of drowning or running out of air forcing you to surface and swim all the way back to the beach or boat. you'll be checking it every 5-10 minutes.

 

[ekremer]

As far as I remember the only thing the Padi OW (non e-learning) course I took ever said was come up at about 500psi, but I am not sure if that was in the book or only from the instructor. However gas planning was not really part of the course.

 

[sheck33]

The entire PADI curriculum (at least up to AI) does not address air management in any kind of useful way, e-learning or other wise. As far the advertising, when I did this 'update' I had to do to become current with PADI again, I did this online, it was a joke, 90% of it was 'how to get as many people as possible signing up for PADI courses'. But I'll shut up now as I dont want to start another PADI bashing thread here.

 

[Hoomi]

A friend that dives told me his first dive lasted maybe 20 minutes. Being a newbie and a bit nervous, he wasn't pacing his breathing at all and was pretty much gasping it down as fast as he could.

Everyone else was down for an hour or more, he said.

I'm going to assume any competent instructor will cover this in the pool portion of the class. I think if they didn't, I wouldn't want to go for the open water certification with that instructor until they had (and quite possibly, I might be inclined to find another instructor before proceeding, because, being a rank newbie with no prior training at this point, I'd wonder what else they left out that was important for me to know!).

 

[Jim Lapenta]

It does not address it until DSAT tech courses. I teach it as well as deco procedures as part of my YMCA open water course. Gas management is deemed not important enough for ow students as you are not supposed to dive to where it becomes an issue. Plus it takes up time that could be used for other students.

And as for the advertising it is not just online. You could cut the book by a good bit if you got rid of the marketing. And depending on which shop you go thru unless you ask you will probably get little extra classroom instruction if you pass the quick test they give you. It is set up so that if you passed the online stuff they are to assume you know what you are doing as far as theory goes. Some places will only put you in the pool for a couple sessions before open water dives as well.
This is ok for some but I have my doubts. My class is 6-7 classroom and the same number of pool. Cover gas management, basic deco procedures, environment, basic rescue skills and oh by the way. You have to know how to swim. 300 yds no aids except goggles if chlorine is hard on you. 15 min tread. 50 ft underwater. 200 yds snorkeling with 3 different kicks and at least two types of skin dives( headfirst and feet first). That usually takes 2 pool sessions alone.

 

[hypertech]

Thanks for the comments. I'm probably OCD about managing my resources - I'm an engineer and a pilot. It sounds like there is a lot of training ahead of me to get to eh point where I will satisfy myself that I sufficiently understand everything going on I think I should know.

I'm looking forward to the pool work this weekend. Its a little strange - Although I'm excited about diving, I don't particularly enjoy swimming and its been years since I bothered to get in a pool. I used to be a very strong swimmer so we'll see how it goes.

 

[Daveo957]

The only thing worse than a PADI class is an E learning Version

 

[don Francisco]

If you got this far and only had one serious question, the course is either fairly decent or hopelessly deficient. In any case the instructor will be there to flesh out the material, or answer questions.

As to air management, everybody does it slightly differently, but your point is well taken. You have to be aware of both your remaining air supply & and the rate at which you're consuming it, while also providing for a safety margin to be in the tank at the end.

Knowing your average SAC rate helps, but my method for open water dives is as follows-- Note the air consumed at about 10 minutes in, and see if I'm on track for the air to last for my dive plan. I recheck this at about 1/2 tank, (my buddy and I agree that the first to 1/2 tank will let the other know) and thereafter monitor air progressively more often as the supply winds down. When I'm down to about 1,000#s, (1/3 tank) I've already got an endgame strategy in place, which will vary according to the specifics of the dive.

Mine certainly.isn't the only air management method, and I don't claim it's better or worse than others, just that it suits me. The point is that it doesn't matter how you manage your air as long as you manage it. Develope something that suits your temperment & stick to regardless of temptations or distractions. dF