I'm wrapping up my DM requirements and I'm having a major issue with the gear exchange skill. Can anyone offer some advice? I would greatly appreciate it. So far, this is the first time any skill has made me nervous in the water. I've already attempted this 4 times, with no luck.
It would be helpful to understand what happened during the previous attempts.
theskull:
You don't say what specific problem you're having, but here are a couple tips:
*Get the buddy breathing rhythm down first, then proceed with the gear DEFINITELY
*Do in a standing position WE WERE KNEELING
*Wear a weight belt so you don't give up your ballast when you hand off the BC (both of you) YES
*Do one thing at a time YES, YES, YES
I did my DM gear exchange with a colleague who is 4" shorter, and 40 pounds lighter, than me. The difference you describe is admittedly a little greater. As I recall (and this description is subject to possible memory lapses), we found that the 'secret' to success was in the sequencing - SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY exchange everything we could, short of the BC (and air supply), first. (We also had the challenge of his mask having prescription lenses. So, we exchanged -and donned and cleared - masks twice, ending up with our original masks.) We also swapped weight belts, twice, to end up with our proper amount of weight. But, we had to do a full exchange, so that we held the other diver's weight belt for a brief time, before handing it back. What I don't remember are all the details of the buddy breathing, but he and I had done our 20 skills together, so we had buddy breathing refined to a fairly practiced art, and that is what made it work for us. Buddy breathing is not the easiest skill in the world. That memory issue aside, what worked for us: We exchanged masks, fins, AND weight belts. Then, we faced each other, both removed our BCDs, and placed them in front of us, to the right side, just like demonstrating the 'BCD remove and replace' skill for a OW class. We then each shifted our tank and BCD from the right side to the left side, (so after the exchange, the BCDs would be on the right side of the 'donning diver). Then it was just a matter of redonning the BCD in front of us, and swimming around in the exchanged gear. The key for us, very much like doing Rescue Scenario 7, and having to remove the unresponsive diver's gear and your own gear, while keeping up rescue breathing, is slow, easy, small steps. If something doesn't work at first, stop, keep breathing, try again.