PADI Certification too quick?

[Mako Mark]

Why do you sound so harsh? I just started diving over a year ago and have quickly discovered that I have a passion for this, ............snip........ The way that you said what you said made me feel like a total dork. .....snip.........Try not to be so harsh on us newbies!

luvspoodles, dont take boogie personally, he has about as much diplomacy as a f*rt in an astronauts suit.

He also falls int to the school of thought that diving is supposed to be macho and gurls and skinny guys cant do it.

His characterization of "an accident in the water wearing fins" describes about 7 million of the divers in the world, who in fact die on an extraordiarily low frequency even though they dont wear a backplate and wings.

So, as a beginner, wear your split fins, your air2, your matching pink mask and wetsuit, and your jacket bcd, and dont let ANYONE spoil your fun, especially Boogie, who is starting to jump on the mike ferrara "PADI is the BADDY" train.

 

[Boogie711]

How's that Rec/Tec course going Mark?

 

[Mako Mark]

How's that Rec/Tec course going Mark?

Touche Boogie, I knew that wouldnt take long.

You know my interest in technical deep diver training is purely academic, Ill leave it to those unfortunates that dont care about their lumbicular health that live more than an hours drive from Akumal.

(thinks: Hmmm........ which stunningly beautiful cave should I dive tomorrow?)

 

[luvspoodles]

Wow! I'm sorry to have started such a controversy! I am usually not like that. I remember hearing something about how it is not good to wear ankleweights, but I will definitely research it now. I never needed them until my AOW checkout dives in the cold water with the 7 mil wetsuit (and those pesky splitfins). My feet kept floating up to the surface and I don't know what I could have done to stop it. So, I will do the search on why some people don't like the split fins and the ankleweights. As for wearing 30 pounds of lead, I realize that its a lot but I just couldn't get down. I believe I was so anxious in the cold water and that was a large part of the reason. I do know that with more dives I will be able to leave some of it behind because that has happened with my warm water dives. Anyway, I'm curious about the splitfins issue but I will look it up myself so that I don't start any controversy here. So, no hard feelings. I guess hearing opinions is just part of the sport. So for now, I'll continue to learn, have fun, and learn more about my equipment.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

This is not good or necessary. Find someone local and experienced who realizes that, and ask them to help you get rid of all the extra lead.

And having never met or dived with this person ... exactly how did you conclude that she is diving with too much weight?

What, exactly, is your qualification to make this statement?

Bad advice until you know WHY they think it.

This is funny ... coming from a guy who has stated more than once in the past couple of days that he doesn't care what people think ... not once asking them why they think it.

Good advice: You've obviously stumbled upon a controversy.
Go and research the issues involved, looking at both sides, so you can make an informed decision what to worry about or not.

Actually, I have not only researched the issues involved, I live them every day. Can you say the same? What are your qualifications for all this expert advice ... other than lots of posts on the Internet??

Personally, I think you just enjoy coming in here and stirring up controversy.

Don't waste my time.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Wow! I'm sorry to have started such a controversy! I am usually not like that. I remember hearing something about how it is not good to wear ankleweights, but I will definitely research it now. I never needed them until my AOW checkout dives in the cold water with the 7 mil wetsuit (and those pesky splitfins). My feet kept floating up to the surface and I don't know what I could have done to stop it. So, I will do the search on why some people don't like the split fins and the ankleweights. As for wearing 30 pounds of lead, I realize that its a lot but I just couldn't get down. I believe I was so anxious in the cold water and that was a large part of the reason. I do know that with more dives I will be able to leave some of it behind because that has happened with my warm water dives. Anyway, I'm curious about the splitfins issue but I will look it up myself so that I don't start any controversy here. So, no hard feelings. I guess hearing opinions is just part of the sport. So for now, I'll continue to learn, have fun, and learn more about my equipment.

You didn't stir up the controversy ... that would be Dweeb. You can safely ignore him ... he just enjoys being like that.

Look ... I work with new divers daily. I'm going to advise you to not push yourself into any direction based on what you read on the Internet. Find an instructor you can work with and take your progression in a step-by-step fashion. Make changes when you understand why you are making them ... and in small increments. Don't just drop weight because somebody on the Internet told you to ... make sure you can drop it safely.

You may eventually be able to lose the ankle weights and shed some pounds .... but without working with you, nobody can tell you for sure. Some people's physiology just requires them to wear more than "normal". That's why it's important to work with a qualified instructor. The last thing you need is to drop lead and find yourself struggling or unable to stay down for your safety stop ... those last 15 feet are the most important.

Split fins are not inherently bad ... they're just limiting. You can learn how to use them efficiently for most types of recreational diving. Many people prefer them, legitimately, for the type of diving they choose to do. There's nothing wrong with that ... as long as you can use them properly.

Scuba isn't about gear choices ... you choose gear based on your diving style, where you want your diving to go (warm water reefs, technical, or somewhere in between), and your budget. Scuba is all about making a commitment to learning, developing, and practicing your skills.

One of the best divers ... and dive buddies ... I know wears gear that looks like he bought it at Costco. And he can put a lot of backplate-wearing, longhose-breathing, Jetfin pumping divers to shame when it comes to skills and mindset.

Make a commitment to learn. That means ask questions. Sure, some will come in here and spout off smart-*** remarks for their own gratification. And sometimes that might sting ... don't let it. Those people aren't worth listening to ... often they're people who dive almost exclusively on the Internet. Don't let their ego-gratification keep you from seeking the knowledge you need to improve.

And don't sweat the gear issues. Everybody's got opinions on what works best. As you learn, you will develop the ability to make your own decisions. Don't base your opinions strictly on what some Internet expert says ... get out there and develop the experience to make decisions that work for you.

And find a good instructor or mentor who will dive with you and help you develop that information in a context that actually includes personal knowledge of your goals, diving skills, and physiology. Nobody on the Internet can do that.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TCDiver1]

Look ... I work with new divers daily. I'm going to advise you to not push yourself into any direction based on what you read on the Internet. Find an instructor you can work with and take your progression in a step-by-step fashion. Make changes when you understand why you are making them ... and in small increments. Don't just drop weight because somebody on the Internet told you to ... make sure you can drop it safely.

You may eventually be able to lose the ankle weights and shed some pounds .... but without working with you, nobody can tell you for sure. Some people's physiology just requires them to wear more than "normal". That's why it's important to work with a qualified instructor. The last thing you need is to drop lead and find yourself struggling or unable to stay down for your safety stop ... those last 15 feet are the most important.

Split fins are not inherently bad ... they're just limiting. You can learn how to use them efficiently for most types of recreational diving. Many people prefer them, legitimately, for the type of diving they choose to do. There's nothing wrong with that ... as long as you can use them properly.

Scuba isn't about gear choices ... you choose gear based on your diving style, where you want your diving to go (warm water reefs, technical, or somewhere in between), and your budget. Scuba is all about making a commitment to learning, developing, and practicing your skills.

One of the best divers ... and dive buddies ... I know wears gear that looks like he bought it at Costco. And he can put a lot of backplate-wearing, longhose-breathing, Jetfin pumping divers to shame when it comes to skills and mindset.

Make a commitment to learn. That means ask questions. Sure, some will come in here and spout off smart-*** remarks for their own gratification. And sometimes that might sting ... don't let it. Those people aren't worth listening to ... often they're people who dive almost exclusively on the Internet. Don't let their ego-gratification keep you from seeking the knowledge you need to improve.

And don't sweat the gear issues. Everybody's got opinions on what works best. As you learn, you will develop the ability to make your own decisions. Don't base your opinions strictly on what some Internet expert says ... get out there and develop the experience to make decisions that work for you.

And find a good instructor or mentor who will dive with you and help you develop that information in a context that actually includes personal knowledge of your goals, diving skills, and physiology. Nobody on the Internet can do that.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Good words! The kind you can live by.

It isn't hard to figure out who you should be listening to in this thread if your really listening.

 

[diverbob]

And having never met or dived with this person ... exactly how did you conclude that she is diving with too much weight?

What, exactly, is your qualification to make this statement?

I was kind of wondering that myself. When I first started diving, I was in a farmer John suit, and had 41 pounds of lead on me, and I still couldnt stay down.

 

[Mako Mark]

Very good post Bob, thanks.

Luvspoodles, there is a lot of (usually) good natured banter on the board and rarely does it get heated, join in, dont be afraid of asking questions and ignoring bad advice, and remember unless you are listed under luvspoodles in the phonebook, no one knows who you really are so you have full deniability

Hey i noticed that bouyancy and weighting seem to be a concern here for a number of the newer divers participating on the thread, and while I dont want to hijack the thread, here are some tips:

The less weight you use generally the better, there is NO benefit from wearing more than you need and many disadvantages.

The human being has the natural instinct to take a huge breath before descending or starting to swim. This affects your bouyancy (approx a pound per pint or a kilo per liter of air in your lungs). BREATHE OUT TO GO DOWN. BREATHE IN GO UP. Sounds so simple huh?

It is worth while when you get the chance, to take some time practicing bouyancy, removing weights one by one and trying to descend, hovering, horizontal hovering, upside down hovering, fin pivoting, yoyo-ing, carry a weight in your hand and move it up, down, front to back etc to learn just how much weight positioning affects trim.

You might want to get an instructor to help you with this and give you a bouyancy clinic, it will save you time, air and effort in the long run.

PADI has a great video called Peak Performance Bouyancy, that will help the novice and the experienced diver alike.

Rental gear sucks big time, particularly wetsuits, you nevre know where you are; get your own exposure protection if you are serious about enjoying your diving, you will be warmer, more hygenic and have better bouyancy as you are more used to the nature of your suit.

Hope this helps cause it sounds like a lot of folks out there are wearing enough lead to sink a battle ship.

 

[dweeb]

And having never met or dived with this person ... exactly how did you conclude that she is diving with too much weight?

No one should need that much lead.
There are numerous approaches to reducing it.
Equipment configuration may be a factor, or it may not.
Body position has a large impact on it - whether one is planing upward while swimming. Stress increases the amount of weight people need - she's acknowledged that experience will help her with this. Then there's the sticky issue of one's body fat percentage. We can debate the social issues surrounding it all day, but the simple fact is that anyone who needs 30 lb. of lead to sink probably could improve their overall health by losing some weight.

I used to use 27 lb. with a drysuit, 20 lb. with a 7 mm farmer john. One day, someone who'd been diving 1/4 as long as I had told me "We've got to get all that lead off you." Instead of taking your politically correct indignant tack in response, I told her (note the gender for those who want to assume there are machismo issues here - the lady in question posts here on occasion) "Show me what to do." Instead of your holier than thou approach to anything sounding remotely critical, I decided to learn what I could. A year later, I was SKIN DIVING, descending 30 ft. or more, and spending time there, in a drysuit with no weights. I don't even know where my weight belt is anymore. I'm very thankful for that and other critical remarks from other divers that helped me improve.

This is funny ... coming from a guy who has stated more than once in the past couple of days that he doesn't care what people think ... not once asking them why they think it.

Except you're wrong. I don't care about people's EMOTIONAL, PERSONAL opinions. I don't care if you like me.
If you have an opinion about something useful, I'm all ears, and when I challenge someone to support an opinion, what is that but exactly asking them why they think it?

Actually, I have not only researched the issues involved, I live them every day.

I wasn't referring to you - I was referring to luvspoodles, who you told to dismiss differing views without investigation.

Can you say the same?

Absolutely. I've made a number of changes in the past few years in how I dive, and each and every one I approached with skepticism until I had looked into it thoroughly.

What are your qualifications for all this expert advice ... other than lots of posts on the Internet??

What difference does it make? Either I can support what I say or I can't. I suppose you're all prepared to spout a list of credentials - don't bother. Your advice to luvspoodles to dismiss differing views out of hand tells me all I need to know.

Personally, I think you just enjoy coming in here and stirring up controversy.

You have no basis for assigning me motives.

Don't waste my time.

I can't. Only YOU can waste YOUR time.