Monterey OW Cert

[Blueringocto_73]

I'm curious what the first dive parameters are for the OW certification, for Monterey. What depth generally and how long? Is the 7mm wetsuit doable for an early April time frame?

Mask clearing and regulator purges of coarse. What else?

What say you Monterey instructors/divers?

 

[Diver0001]

Hi "blue"

I don't train in your local area but I am a PADI instructor and the standards are the same world wide.

During the open water phase of your course you will generally make 4 dives. The first 2 of these are limited to a depth of 12 meters (40ft). The 3rd dive requires a depth of *at least* 6 meters (20ft) but no more than 18m (60ft) and the 4th dive is to a maximum of 18m (60ft).

Personally I wouldn't worry about the depth. You will, of course, be going deeper than you did in the pool but your instructor will ensure that you don't try swimming 1/2 way to Japan as you adjust to that.

As for the length of the dives; normally 20 minutes is the minimum time you will be under water during a check out dive. There is no maximum specified in standards provided you remain within the NDL's but the available air supply usually means that the practical limit for an open water training dive is normally between 30 and 40 minutes. The water temperature will play a role in this as you will be training in April. Water temperatures in your area at that time are maybe 12C (54-55F), which means that most instructors won't make you dive for more than about 30 minutes. I would set your mind on 25 minutes or so.

As for skills; you will *mostly* be asked to do skills that you have already mastered in the pool. Some skills are not repeated in open water, such as the equipment R&R, but all of the skills related to the regulator (out/in, recover, share, ascend) and mask (1/2 full, full, remove) and buoyancy control, including CESA, will be repeated. Likewise a number of surface skills that you have already learned will be repeated.

New skills that you will learn in open water have to do with the compass. It doesn't make any sense to train a compass in a pool since you literally can't get lost. Therefore, navigation with a compass is delayed until you are in open water. You will need to navigate with the compass on the surface and under water.

That said, just like the confined portion of the course, most of it is "monkey see-monkey do" (ie. following instructions). On the last dive, however, you must plan and execute your own dive and the instructor is mostly there to make sure you don't do anything stupid.

Does that help?

R..

 

[RandomGuy1]

I don't remember for certain, but on dive 1, I don't think there are any in water skills. Dive 1 is used for getting comfortable in the water. IIRC.

 

[Diver0001]

I don't remember for certain, but on dive 1, I don't think there are any in water skills. Dive 1 is used for getting comfortable in the water. IIRC.

The standards have been changed since you had your training. Current training makes more efficient use of that time

R..

 

[RandomGuy1]

Yeah. Come to think of it I think I was the last one through the shop I did my ow with that was on the older paid material. I guess that changed about 2.5 years ago then?

 

[Diver0001]

Yeah. Come to think of it I think I was the last one through the shop I did my ow with that was on the older paid material. I guess that changed about 2.5 years ago then?

Something like that, yeah.

As an aside, the movement that got PADI to tighten up the standards started right here on SB. The first percolations happened more than 2-1/2 years ago but everyone needed time to make the paradigm shift. Thankfully PADI saw the sense in it, which means that all the wannabe agencies will eventually follow in their wake.

R..

 

[Blueringocto_73]

Thank you for the detailed information. That answers all my questions. I can stand that cold temp in a wetsuit for that short of a dive. And the shallow depth would be easy peasy.

No real exertion to speak of. So not likely to get cold water leg cramps. I have only been a warm water diver with my previous NAUI cert. 40+ years ago.

I'm super at ease in the water generally. Looking forward to it.

 

[elgoog]

This is what I have in my log book for the 1st dive of my OW class in Monterey (at the Breakwater, where you'll also be) - 42min dive time, 40ft max depth, viz 20ft, fin pivots, mask clearing, blow and purge regulator, air sharing with the instructor. There were 4 students in my OW group. On that first dive, we were actually in the water for over an hour including the short surface swim, briefing on the surface, gear adjustments, etc.

As already mentioned, water temps will be in the mid 50s. I would highly recommend a farmer john style wetsuit or a hooded vest on top of your wetsuit. A single layer 7mm will not be enough. You're going to be on your knees the whole time, not moving much and will get cold pretty quick. Also, you're going to be doing 2 dives on the 1st day and 2 on the 2nd and just a 7mm will most likely result in a miserable weekend. Take a boat coat or fleece jacket with you to warm up between the dives as well.

I would also caution you to not underestimate the effect the conditions will have on you, especially if this is your first time diving outside warm water locales and first dive in a few decades. You mention that you will be fine in the cold in a wetsuit but things like low viz, wearing a thick hood and the relatively heavier gear all take their toll during the OW class.

OP - Do you have experience in these water temps in a wetsuit outside of SCUBA diving? Also, not sure what you mean by cold water leg cramps as opposed to just regular leg cramps during the dive.

 

[--tom--]

Typical dive depths in Monterey for the first dive is a max depth of 30 ft. only because most of the dive sites have a long swim to get much deeper than that, and if you go to Breakwater (the most common dive site in Monterey) there is lots to see.
RE: 7mm wetsuit, it depends on fit and you. I dove a 7mil for several hundred dives in Monterey, but the fit was good and I am warm by nature.
RE: Length of dive, this is controlled by the size of the class and the comfort of the class. I try to keep the time underwater to around 30 minutes because I will have some skills that need to be done on the surface and since this is entirely new for most students, it takes longer to get everyone down. An hour in the water (both surface skills and underwater combined) seems to be the target balance between cold and fun. Plus we will be returning for a second dive so if someone is shivering, then the day is over.

 

[mmerriman]

Hi "blue"

I don't train in your local area but I am a PADI instructor and the standards are the same world wide.

During the open water phase of your course you will generally make 4 dives. The first 2 of these are limited to a depth of 12 meters (40ft). The 3rd dive requires a depth of *at least* 6 meters (20ft) but no more than 18m (60ft) and the 4th dive is to a maximum of 18m (60ft).

R..

not 100% correct - the max depth for 1&2 is 40 and 3&4 is 60 as your state, but there is no minimum for dive 3. The minimum of 20ft is for the dive that has the CESA in it - which may be conducted on dive 2,3,or 4. It a place with a high tidal range and limited site selection when wether kicks up that flexibility can be critical.