TC:
The mask and fins one I could do, I should be able to do the normal swim one ok, same with the rescue tow. Now in my Stress and Rescue course though (I am SSI) WE were taught to ditch our gear. Is this different in a situation like this? Also, I have done a water tread for a very long time. Almost set a record at a place I used to have to take swimming lessons. That was a LONG time ago. LOL. But I help my instructor with Pool classes at the college, so when the students have to tread water, I join them. There we do 10 mins. That I have done with a weight belt before too. LOL.
As for having Basic Skills down to doing in blindness, I am good to go there, with the exception of like an air share ascent. I know I could if I had to, but I have not tried it ever. And I have learned how to find everything blind. I don't know exactly why, but for fun I guess, I learned how to do that on my own. I have always used a black skirted mask, so I always lost some peripheral vision and I guess I just at the time thought it a good idea to learn that. So again, I can do that part fine.
I know I will like the class, I have always enjoyed anything SCUBA related. I know I said that in a previous post, but I mean Anything, even cleaning my gear after diving. LOL. So I deainatly will enjoy it.
Gary:
I kind of figured that on the DR1 thing.I use a weight belt anyways, so no problems with that either. Nice to know on KISS too. I have never heard that before. Also good to know on the streamlining. I have been trying to find a better way to attach my Octo to myself. I used a plug, then tied that off to my bc. Most recently I have been using a necklace. I really like that too. Makes it very easy to get to if I need it, and I find it gets caught on less stuff. Would that be acceptable, or should I find a different way to do it? If a different way, any suggestions?
What the heck is a recumbent bicycle? I love bike riding, and just got a new one. I have a friend who rides one a lot so I am sure we could find something to do. If worst comes to worst, I will just start riding around town.
I have not really seen a real body other then at funerals. I remember many years ago my uncle was found dead in his home. I did not find him, his body was gone when we got there, but he had fallen and hit his head on a desk and died. There was blood on a bunch of stuff, and when we were there, it had not yet been cleaned. I can still remember that smell... I live out in the country, so I know dead animals pretty well as strange as that sounds. I know that animals and not humans obviously but that is the closest I have been to dead things. I have also seen some crime scene photos, real ones that were pretty bad. Did not really bother me as far as making me sick or anything. Again, I don't think I would be too worried about those kinds of things hitting me, would just take a nice long ass shower after, and clean my gear with some kind of soap or something like that. The thing I think would get me would be seeing a body, or parts of one for the first time. Again, I don't think I would "mess up" the interior of my suit, but again, will not know till it happens.
AS for current, I know it can be dangerous. That is part of the reason I dislike it so much. But I know that if I can get comfortable in the river, with its incredibly bad vis, and current, it would make me much better in other places and situations. That is why I feel so much better when I am on a line. We did a body recover scenario on a training day. It was my first time in this quarry (White Star in Ohio if you might be familiar) and we had no issues bringing it up. It was actually my first dive with the diver I went with, it was he and I who did the search and recovery, then we had another diver observing, and 2 other people watching at our exit (the blockhouse) one had a camera. It was interesting to see the video afterwards, he had come over us in the crusher pit and taped us from above, so it was interesting to see that video.
So for now would you say riding a bike might be an adequate start for this at this point? And the skills thing?
Thanks again all for your help with this stuff,
Paint