OW Cert 1/2 way done!

[Dave in PA]

I spent this morning at Dutch Springs, doing the first OW cert dives. I finish up tomorrow. My future brother in law and I were the only 2 in the class, one lady had to postpone for next month and the other guy has to finish next month also. We were the first ones in the water today, and I wasn't ready to get out once we were done! I tried coaxing the instructor, "c'mon, I still have 1600 psi" as we exited the second dive.

My buddy had to put some ankle weights on to keep more or less right side up, but we had fun and I am looking forward to more dives. I am going to get a season pass for the rest of this season at Dutch tomorrow, they will credit our tickets for this weekend towards the price of the pass. I am signing up for AOW for next month, too. I was kind of surprised I only used 1100 and 1200 psi on the dives, 25 and 28 minutes to about 40'. I definately need to get a camera to share with my surface dwelling friends and family. My son (16) commented that he would be scared to be that deep and my daughter's (12) most pressing question had to do with the risks of passing gas inside a wet suit.

My only concern now is dive buddies.....my future brother in law usually works late and is used to sleeping until noon or so and the other guy I know who dives said " yeah I wouldn't mind going to Dutch once or twice" He got spoiled by Aruba, I guess.

If you've read all of this, you may get the idea that I had some fun and am more than a little excited about getting back in the water....you'd be right!

 

[Dave in PA]

Ahhh, I'm done! I've completed my OW cert today. It was a blast! The underwater navigation using a compass was a little weird. We were paired up and one of us watched the compass and the other watched the depth. Biggest trick here is to focus on the compass and still control bouyancy to maintain the same depth.

Can't wait to go back out!

 

[Sideband]

CONGRATS!!!!!
Welcome to the diver family. I'm sure you will be able to find a buddy to dive with on here. I have asked in the past and some times had more replies than I could handle.
Stay safe and stay wet.

Joe

 

[lkgelber]

Please tell me more about Dutch Springs. Perhaps I may be a little spoiled as I was recently certified diving in Aruba and St Thomas. Bethlehem PA is only about an hour and a half away from me and I am curious as to what enjoyable diving there is near me. Quarry dives just don't attract me. I share your enthusiasm that I cant wait to go back out as well.

Larry

 

[Dave in PA]

Well, they have a website if you want the sales pitch... www.dutchsprings.com They aren't what I would expect as a quarry, since it is set up for divers. About 3 years ago zebra mussels were introduced and as a result, there was about 50' of visibility. My instructor isn't sure if they came in accidentally or on purpose. The owners have constructed platforms and sunk 'stuff' for divers to see. It is real easy to find most of the stuff underwater as there is a network of guide ropes and maps availabe. When we did our tired diver exercises, we did them on our way out so that we didn't get anybody's attention. They have an air fill station on site, although you have to buy tickets at the office, the station doesn't accept cash. Best of all for me, is I only live 20 minutes away (never knew it was there!) I could do a dive and be back home in about 2 hours. It is colder, though. The surface temp this past weekend was aroung 75* and the bottom temp about 65*. I am told that lots of people dive in 2 pc 7mm wetsuits with gloves and hood there year round, but there were lots of drysuits there, too. The most overall attractive element is the proximity for me, I guess. I do want to do some boat dives off the coast when i get AOW and better skills under my weight belt.

 

[ChrisA]

Well, they have a website if you want the sales pitch... www.dutchsprings.com They aren't what I would expect as a quarry, since it is set up for divers. About 3 years ago zebra mussels were introduced and as a result, there was about 50' of visibility. My instructor isn't sure if they came in accidentally or on purpose. The owners have constructed platforms and sunk 'stuff' for divers to see. It is real easy to find most of the stuff underwater as there is a network of guide ropes and maps availabe. When we did our tired diver exercises, we did them on our way out so that we didn't get anybody's attention. They have an air fill station on site, although you have to buy tickets at the office, the station doesn't accept cash. Best of all for me, is I only live 20 minutes away (never knew it was there!) I could do a dive and be back home in about 2 hours. It is colder, though. The surface temp this past weekend was aroung 75* and the bottom temp about 65*. I am told that lots of people dive in 2 pc 7mm wetsuits with gloves and hood there year round, but there were lots of drysuits there, too. The most overall attractive element is the proximity for me, I guess. I do want to do some boat dives off the coast when i get AOW and better skills under my weight belt.

It's good to have a local dive site even if it is not a great site. It lets you dive frequently and keep your skills improving. I don't know how people who have to fly to water can dive frequently enough to ever get good at it.

I'm lucky and live 4 miles from a decent beach dive site so I can go after work. Viz. is 15ft typically and the sealife is sparce on a sandy bottom but I've seen many fish, some sharks, octopus, squid, varius crabs and so on but not all on one dive. But being 10 minutes from home makes up for a lot.

The other good thing and I'm sure this will apply to your local site too is that you will meet all kinds of other divers in the parking lot or where ever it is that divers gear up. I too was seriusly wondering who I'd be diving with and then a few months after certification I know more divers than I have time to dive with. (My wife thinks twice a week after work and all Sat. morning is eccesive but my goal is to get in 100 dives and finish the PADI rescue class before my 13 year old son gets certified. The trick is if you see other divers go over and talk to them, ask them where and when they dive. Many, but not all of them are willing to help out a new diver.

 

[ScubaFreak]

Congratulations Dave

Safe diving.

 

[Flood]

hey dave, CONGRATS........
i am going for my ow at dutch springs at the end of the month.. Just wondering what should i expect? how long are you in the water for each dive, and what do you do in between the dives? i guess i 'm just gettting those last minute jitters.
Flood

 

[baitedstorm]

Heya Dave and welcome to the Board..... Its great to see your excitement.... Please keep us updated on your future dives and make sure to post some pictures when you get your camera.....

Welcome again!
Vickie

 

[verona]

Hey, Dave - WTG! Glad you are enjoying your scuba so much. One thing about the camera, though: I'd recommend you wait until you can dive without thinking about it because taking photos underwater involves a degree of taskloading. And you need really good buoyancy so you don't sink and bash into things while you're taking the pics. But you are right - underwater photography is great fun and fantastic to share your experiences with your friends and family. Let us know how it goes with y