Newly Certified !

[scratchmyback]

I just got home from Fort Erie about an hour ago, we did our OW dives there this weekend at the quarry in Windmill Park. Water temp was 69 yesterday and 64 today and vis was at best about 3 feet. We only reached a maximum depth of about 22 feet. There was another group of divers doing a course before us and they stirred up the bottom quite a bit. We really couldn't see anything. None of us were panicked though, we had a lot of assistants and DM's in the water with us as well as our Instructor. We descended to platforms and did our skills there.

I thought it was awesome from the moment I took my giant stride on my first dive till I climbed out totally elated on the last dive. My buddy and I spotted an old Bud can on the bottom and raced each other to get it during one of our tours. It was about the only thing we could see down there. Saw a few rainbow trout as well.

Wore the 3mil gloves (some of you may have read my thread about the 7mil gloves which turned out to be 5mil gloves) and had no problems at all keeping warm. There was no disconnecting of the LPI hose either.

I now realize all the overthinking I was doing about little things before this weekend was not productive. I just relaxed and enjoyed the dives once I got in the water. It also helped that our group was very supportive and a lot of fun.

My next dive is next weekend and I can't wait! My bank account will never be the same

I want to thank everyone on here who took the time to read my posts and respond, you all gave me very valuable advice. Now this very tired newbie is off to bed.

Laura

 

[H2Andy]

excellent!

how cold was the water, would you say?

(today i did two dives in a dry suit in 68 degree water and froze to death)

My bank account will never be the same

you have NO IDEA!

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Congrats!!!

68 sounds nice to me. I dove at Haigh Quarry on Friday in Ill and it was 60's on the surface and 42 at 50 feet and deeper.

 

[scratchmyback]

(today i did two dives in a dry suit in 68 degree water and froze to death)

I would be in heaven to be in a drysuit in that temp Andy !

The surface water temp was 69, depth was 64 I think, and air was 70...that was yesterday. A little cooler today. And rain for most of both days. All the DM's & our Instructor wore dry suits....we called them (another name for a kitty cat) because all of us students were in wetsuits. I actually was quite warm yesterday and today felt a bit cooler but nothing horrible. Today was the mask removal/replace and the water actually felt refreshing on my face.

We have been told that if we can dive in this environment we can dive anywhere, and our Instructor said the viz was so bad that we probably will never encounter it again on any of the club-sanctioned dives.

Laura

 

[SmileMon]

Congratulations!

Now get your nitrox so you can extend your bottom time and shorten your surface intervals and you'll be set for some serious fun..

 

[GregA2k6]

Congratualtions on getting your cert! It feels great doesn't it!

 

[cleung]

Good luck with diving Laura. I did my first certification in Ontario as well.

 

[fishballer]

congrats!!

isn't it funny how we were so freaked out before our dives?

now, you gotta go dive in the warm waters. it'll be quite different.

 

[Storm]

Congrats and welcome to the group....there is always room for one more Ontario diver....

 

[scratchmyback]

congrats!!

isn't it funny how we were so freaked out before our dives?

now, you gotta go dive in the warm waters. it'll be quite different.

I KNOW !!! LMAO now.

Thanks Fishballer

Laura