OP -- Thank you for writing about this. At the very least, you did have a full session with your instructor in which you went over your dives which is more than I got when I did my AOW.
On the other hand, it could have been so much more since you prepared for the following classes:
Deep -- great opportunity to introduce air supply management issues -- how much reserve do you need; what is your expected consumption; what usage strategy will you use; this is also a time to review NDLs and plan on how much time you will have and what will be your limiting factor -- NDL time or air supply; of course this is also a great time to discuss narcosis and its effects; lastly, it is a good opportunity to discuss why a Nitrox card is good to have
Nav -- this is the time to discuss/review compass usage and when it is more appropriate to plan on compass navigation vs. "natural" navigation
Boat -- there is so much that should be discussed here (in addition to what is "the head" and what is the name of the pointy end!) -- exit strategies; how to gear up on a boat; other forms of boat etiquette; getting back on a boat; tipping!; boat dive planning and how it differs from shore diving
"Search and Recovery" --I hope you discussed, and practiced, lift bag/SMB deployment -- and this is something that really needs a pool session before going to open water
Night -- this is the time to talk about light signals and passive communication; how to carry a backup light so that it can be easily deployed in case the primary conks out; what is the difference between a backup and primary light (might not be so much these days); different types of lights, primary and backup; critter activity night vs. day
Peak Performance Buoyancy -- this is one that cries out for both pool and video sessions -- at the very least some video showing what "PPB" is really all about (here is an example --
http://www.belowandbeyond.biz/Video/Buoyancy%20and%20Trim.mp4 )
OP -- good luck on your dives.
Thanks for the write up Peter.
Excellent point on the planning of air and NDL times on the deep dive. Also the nitrox. I am actually combining Nitrox with this as well.
I am really looking forward to the navigation as the search and recovery. I do pretty well with basic compass navigation but I want to do a lot more that set a heading and return on the reciprocal path.
Since you are a PADI instructor, you know there is no pool requirement for AOW (even if you do go above and beyond, which is great...) so although we discussed using and rigging a lift bag, we have not practiced it.
The boat at this point is not an issue. I have over 30 dives on many different boats of different size and different entry and exits and am very comfortable with them.
This will be my first night dive. A little apprehensive but excited. I may even take a back-up for my back-up. Seriously though, my back-up is easily deployable as I have it clipped off to my right chest D ring with a bungee loop holding it from hanging loose.
PPB we may not do. It is going to be between the night dive and PPB depending on conditions. One of the things I did like about the instructor when I was interviewing him was that when I asked why no PPB, his response was that "we work on that on EVERY dive!"
Great video. I think I have seen that one before, but still an excellent demonstration.
As TSandM points out mostly it is up to the instructors, and the ones that go over the top, like Peter ^ are far and few between.
Nothing in Sac Town, but Monterey isn't that far away. I understand though that it requires a hotel room for you. I was able to commute home each night after the classroom/pool classes, but stayed in Monterey for the ocean dives. We split a room.
Email Rob L., Sue aka Susan B., and/or Beto aka Alberto N. and they can work on getting a class together. They are all good instructors and work as a team to teach. They teach a lot more than a class a year, but not only is a tailored class, they are also held when students request them within reason. You want similar teammates in your class. Meaning if you want to take it in a single tank configuration then so should your teammates.
What is a Super Bowl
Ha! and I posted into that thread. So what did you end up getting?
Is there something wrong with the reg you have now? Might just need a couple of hoses, and a better reg than a standard octo if that is what you currently use.
No, Monterey is not that far. I will be there this weekend. Taking GF and staying an extra night since Monday is a holiday! Where was the classroom work done? I could always go and stay in the east bay with my mom since I work remotely anyways.
Thanks for the names, I have seen them on the GUE site. I never though of them putting classes together ad hoc.
I guess when it comes to the Super Bowl... To each his own.
Ahhh, you did post on that thread. I have not yet put it together, but picked up all of the stainless including the plate from Dive Gear Express. Then I bought a 32 lb. HOG wing from another member here for a great deal. I am going to do a hogarthian harness. Did not know if I would be using serrated or non-serrated belt slides so I picked up plenty of both. On the D rings, not sure if I will use any bent rings so I bought those and a couple extra regular ones.
No, there is nothing wrong with my current regs. I use an oceanic CDX5 first stage with a GT3 second. It seems to breath great. I currently have an Air XS II as my back-up and will be replacing that. But... My daughter informed me during break that she is indeed interested and will be getting her certification next quarter at Cal Poly. So, it seems some "extras" gear may be in order.
If you don't want to go all the way to Monterey for good instruction, you could look toward Reno -- fdog (and I believe also his wife) are instructors there, and I can guarantee you that any class you took from James would be thorough indeed!
Thanks Lynne, that is definitely an option I never considered.
I would just plan on getting her a nice setup similar to what you are going to be using. Plus you will be on the same page as your dive buddy, which is a good thing.
