Review Now certified!

[Wheeler925]

If anyone remembers, I made a post back in March about my confined water lessons that went so-so. This past weekend was my open water dives for certification and it went extremely well this go around.

My instructor was fabulous. She was all business, no nonsense, but at the same time encouraging and fun to blow bubbles with. She handled every student excellently and made sure the schedule was adhered to. We covered every skill on the checklist in-depth and I felt confident with myself after both days.

The weather topside was beautiful but mild for a Wisconsin late May day. 64* air temp, 50* water temp at bottom my gauge said, but didn't feel cold at all with a full wetsuit.

The visibility.... Well, that was about as good as you could expect with 6 people trashing around in the silt at 25ft. Went from 10ft to couldn't see my partner right in front of my face real quick. Despite this, I had a riot, especially doing the underwater compass skill. It was like I was in a videogame navigating blind trying to find the dive platform. It was surreal when it game out of nowhere and I bonked my head into it. I guess I could swim a little slower, but I was excited.

Super excited to get into the full swing of this. Starting to order gear now. Today I ordered the DGX DiveRite Transplate singles BPW, and the DGX XTRA reg set. Open to advice for computers. Air integrated or not? I am a novice obviously, but looking to go tech eventually at least for wreck diving.

Thanks to anyone who stops and looks at this and for any feedback or recommendations!

What lake did you get certified in?

 

[Landau]

I think pucks arent mentioned often enough when someone asks for recommendations for their first computer, so thats why I am mentioning it.

Yes, any computer is better than no computer. For recreational divers the only need (as opposed to want or nice to have) for a more expensive computer is as age fades our close vision, the bright colour screens are easier to read.

 

[Still Kicking]

50* water temp at bottom ....The visibility.... Well, that was about as good as you could expect with 6 people trashing around in the silt at 25ft.

Congratualtions! If you can dive in these conditions, diving pretty much anywhere else in the world will be an absolute piece of cake for you.

Welcome to the club and enjoy the journey

 

[KiLLAH-WHALE]

For recreational diving, I would recommend you also consider basic "puck" style computers

I know their screens arent that nice and sexy, and they dont have transmitter capabilities, but the huge upside is that you can by a used one (something like cressi leonardo) for sub 100$ and that thing is indestructible. I used mine for almost 10 years I think, and never had to baby sit it, fix it, or service it at all. (I even did my full cave training using it lol). Plus with it being so cheap, should anything happen to the computer (someone dropping a tank on it for example), I wont really loose my sleep over it

I think pucks arent mentioned often enough when someone asks for recommendations for their first computer, so thats why I am mentioning it. Something for you to consider

totally agree, and when you’re buying EVERYTHING to start diving it really adds up quick. even if you score with a used bp&w and regs at a great price, there’s still so much stuff to buy and none of it is really cheap. sub 100 for a used puck or blow it all on a shearwater, the puck will get you really far before you eventually upgrade.

i made the mistake of wanting to save, but instead of going the used puck route, started looking at incremental upgrades. you end up spending ~300$ on neither a budget friendly item or a shearwater, and you’re gonna have to upgrade in the end anyway.

 

[Awkwatic]

What lake did you get certified in?

Private sand pit in Dousman, Wi

 

[tursiops]

Standard Qi charging pads? I know my wife's apple watch and my Samsung watch don't work on the opposite charging dock.

Apple-world is non-standard in lots of things. Apple don't need no stinkin' standards.

 

[Johnoly]

.. and I felt confident with myself after both days.

That's one of the best instructor compliments you can give. Congrats!