Crush
Contributor
Dear all,
I recently completed both my 50th dive and my Master Diver certification. I'd like to share a few random reflections:
1. Keep diving, keep training. Take additional courses beyond your basic OW certification. I felt bulletproof when I completed my OW cert. In truth, my training with ACUC was excellent. Nevertheless, what I have learned subsequently in courses such as scuba rescue diver might save someone's life, and possibly my own. Don't just keep diving, keep training.
2. If you can dive in cold water in currents, you rock! It took me many dives to make buoyancy control second-nature. Getting into a drysuit made me (almost) start over. Good trim is critical. I recently dove in West Palm, FL - I only needed my wetsuit top. I was a buoyancy god compared to many of the divers as suit compression was (compared to cold-water garb) minimal. My air consumption was great since I did not have to lug my gear plus 30+ pounds of weight into the water to get neutral, and that oppressive hood was unnecessary.
3. Drysuits rock. My open water dives, done in a wetsuit, were at 4C (about 36F?) on the first day and 1C (I believe that this converts to 33F) on the second day. If anyone tells you that 36F and 33F are the same, they are lying. At 36F you are very cold. At 33F your exposed skin feels like it is burning. If it is any consolation, the exposed skin goes numb in less than five minutes.
4. Drysuits rock. They cost a lot, but MAN are they worth it!
5. Keep training.
I recently completed both my 50th dive and my Master Diver certification. I'd like to share a few random reflections:
1. Keep diving, keep training. Take additional courses beyond your basic OW certification. I felt bulletproof when I completed my OW cert. In truth, my training with ACUC was excellent. Nevertheless, what I have learned subsequently in courses such as scuba rescue diver might save someone's life, and possibly my own. Don't just keep diving, keep training.
2. If you can dive in cold water in currents, you rock! It took me many dives to make buoyancy control second-nature. Getting into a drysuit made me (almost) start over. Good trim is critical. I recently dove in West Palm, FL - I only needed my wetsuit top. I was a buoyancy god compared to many of the divers as suit compression was (compared to cold-water garb) minimal. My air consumption was great since I did not have to lug my gear plus 30+ pounds of weight into the water to get neutral, and that oppressive hood was unnecessary.
3. Drysuits rock. My open water dives, done in a wetsuit, were at 4C (about 36F?) on the first day and 1C (I believe that this converts to 33F) on the second day. If anyone tells you that 36F and 33F are the same, they are lying. At 36F you are very cold. At 33F your exposed skin feels like it is burning. If it is any consolation, the exposed skin goes numb in less than five minutes.
4. Drysuits rock. They cost a lot, but MAN are they worth it!
5. Keep training.