Open Water Theory

[Cobra8472]

'Lo


Does anyone perhaps have the most important theory to learn for the Open Water certificate? I would like to be able to read up on the important stuff now so i'll have a easier time over on Malta. If anyone could help i'd be gratefull.



Thanks.

 

[miketsp]

If you get a good grasp on Boyles Law and Charles Law then the rest is easy.

 

[markfm]

For OW, not theory, just Breathe (don't hold your breath and bolt to the surface)

 

[ScubaTwo]

As markfm said dont hold your breath and bolt. Relax, have fun and think of all the cool diving your gonna get to do once your certified

Oh..and if you do have a panic moment let your buddy help you. Thats why their your buddy

 

[Cobra8472]

already done 2 dives in greece "Discover Scuba Diving" ones that most Dive Clubs offer. It was really fun, and i'm very comfortable in the water. The theory is the area i need practice in

Basically i need to know that if the temperature of a certain gas goes up, it expands, and when it's cooled down it becomes compressed, also that as the pressure increases the volume decreases and vice versa?

 

[markfm]

What you said is correct. That's why you don't want to hold your breath and do an uncontrolled ascent. Air pressure increases roughly one atmosphere per 10 meters. Say you have 2 liters lung capacity. If you go to 10 meters, take a full breath, try to ascend to the surface without exhaling, the 2 liters of air at 10 meters wants to expand to four liters at the surface (one atmosphere), a lung overexpansion. If you went to 20 meters, you would be at 3 atmospheres (surface plus two atmospheres' worth due to the water). Two liters of air at 20 meters, sent to the surface, would try to occupy six liters of space.

At least for open water, PADI didn't get into the temperature aspects.

 

[Cobra8472]

Ahh, yeah, i've already read up on the 1 athmosphere per 10 meters etc, and overexpansion in the lungs.

Anything else important?

 

[spectrum]

Ahh, yeah, i've already read up on the 1 athmosphere per 10 meters etc, and overexpansion in the lungs.

Anything else important?

Your class will cover what you will be tested on. It's not a phyisics course, Most of it will be in scuba context working in atmosphers and typical dive scale units. You've already articulated more than some certifed divers can. Relax and enjoy the journey.

Pete

 

[MyDiveLog]

Awhile back I polled members of the board on what they considered to be most important for new divers. I compiled their responses, along with a few of the ones I've learned along the way, for the divers that I teach.

The Ten Commandments of Diving:

1. You are responsible for your safety
• There are old divers and there are bold divers, but darn few old, bold
divers
• Dive within your limits, not your buddy's
• Have the courage to turn down a request to 'buddy up'

2. Never hold your breath
• If you want to see a liquid fizz, shake a soda and open it!

3. Use your equipment for it's intended purpose
• Don't swim with your hands while wearing perfectly good fins
• Never use your BC as an elevator

4. Remember that Murphy dives too
• Stop, think, then act
• Underwater problems need to be solved under water
• Complacency is Murphy's best friend; you are never done learning

5. Righty tighty, lefty loosey
• Say it mentally every time you open any valve or screw

6. Practice skills regularly
• Rehearse them mentally often; remembering under stress needs to be
automatic
• Make it part of your dive plan
• "Need More weight" & "Need Additional Equipment" usually equals
"Need Better Technique"
• Perfect Practice Prevents Piss Poor Performance

7. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.
• Own as much of your gear as possible
• Clean and check it after every dive
• Fix small problems before they become big ones
• Get it maintained annually
• Make sure ALL your gear is functioning before you begin a dive
• Never end a dive with less than 500 PSI in your tank
• Own a well-stocked save-a-dive kit

8. Be fit to dive, mentally & physically
• Never be afraid to call off a dive for any reason
• Plan your dive & dive your plan
• The best place to get in shape for water sports is in the water

9. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
• Don't laugh at the "turtles on the beach" (divers rolling on their back in
the surf zone); they know not what they do.
• Give back to the sport by helping others along
• No one loves a know-it-all; nudge, don't push, when helping others

10. Just dive, baby!
• A fire left untended will soon die down
• The world has enough fantasy divers
• Join a dive club, take a trip, take a class, find a buddy … JUST DIVE!

 

[verona]

Anything else important?

You could practise using the RDP as you will have to demonstrate that you can work it.