deadly_risk
Contributor
I just got back from my OW cert dives this weekend at Windy Point. Holy crap. I have read about limited vis around the forums and from the northern cold-water divers, and with no previous experience didn't think much of it. Which also happened with water temps, 75F sounded pretty warm until I jumped in it sans wetsuit. I also now understand the problems people have with buoyancy, I was like a basketball bouncing along the rocks the entire weekend.
Our first dive was Saturday afternoon around 1 and when I held my hand out in front of me I could see the silhouette of my hand, but not that it was a hand or a coke bottle. I think we were at Platform 4 for that skills dive. The second dive was a follow the leader fun dive from Platform 1 to Large Sailboat 1 and from there to around 45 and back up. I was surprised by how obvious the thermocline was, went from comfortable in my 3/2 to pretty chilly in a fin kick or two. When we came up I had to ask where we went, I had absolutely no orientation after we left the chain.
Sunday morning the vis was noticeable better at 5 to 6 feet once we got under 20' The platforms were packed that morning, so our dive con moved our bouy to the large sailboat 1 and we ran our skills there. The fun dive that day was out to the shark, around the deep for awhile and back to platform 6 where some of the group opened up their cans of sausages to feed the fish with. I was surprised at how fearless the perch and smaller cats were, it was neat seeing something besides the divers living in the water, not much of that in the pool.
All the people I meet there were cool too, Richard the park guy came and sat down with us and talked with everyone while, and the few divers I walked up to from other camps to ask a question about gear I saw or something were all completely cool people.
I'm certified now, the weekend was awesome, and I can't wait to improve my skills so I can focus on something other than the yellow of the nitrox sticker on the tank in front of me. I have already enrolled in a navigation course in hopes to not be completely dependent on a leader next time.
*By the way, I'm guessing on the locations based on current depth from the windy point website, I really couldn't tell where the hell I was.
Our first dive was Saturday afternoon around 1 and when I held my hand out in front of me I could see the silhouette of my hand, but not that it was a hand or a coke bottle. I think we were at Platform 4 for that skills dive. The second dive was a follow the leader fun dive from Platform 1 to Large Sailboat 1 and from there to around 45 and back up. I was surprised by how obvious the thermocline was, went from comfortable in my 3/2 to pretty chilly in a fin kick or two. When we came up I had to ask where we went, I had absolutely no orientation after we left the chain.
Sunday morning the vis was noticeable better at 5 to 6 feet once we got under 20' The platforms were packed that morning, so our dive con moved our bouy to the large sailboat 1 and we ran our skills there. The fun dive that day was out to the shark, around the deep for awhile and back to platform 6 where some of the group opened up their cans of sausages to feed the fish with. I was surprised at how fearless the perch and smaller cats were, it was neat seeing something besides the divers living in the water, not much of that in the pool.
All the people I meet there were cool too, Richard the park guy came and sat down with us and talked with everyone while, and the few divers I walked up to from other camps to ask a question about gear I saw or something were all completely cool people.
I'm certified now, the weekend was awesome, and I can't wait to improve my skills so I can focus on something other than the yellow of the nitrox sticker on the tank in front of me. I have already enrolled in a navigation course in hopes to not be completely dependent on a leader next time.
*By the way, I'm guessing on the locations based on current depth from the windy point website, I really couldn't tell where the hell I was.
