Refresher Courses?

[TheLimey]

This might be a better place to copy and post my post in the Introduction thread....

Hi Guys,

New to the board here and thought I would say hi before jumping in the deep end. I have been away from diving for 13 years and just recently have been getting the urge to get my feet wet again.
I am based in Calgary Alberta Canada, though originally from the UK, and thats where I did the majority of training and diving. I am a certified PADI "rescue diver" and IANTD "advanced nitrox diver".
Having been away so long I am not going to jump straight back into this without some caution but I do begrudge having to go through every single course again. What would you do in my position?
Most refresher courses seem to revolve around the basic open water curriculum but it would be good to get some nitrox course refreshment. Is it just a case of buy the course books and you should be ok?
Any advise on the normal protocol for my situation welcome!

Thanks in advance..

Andy

 

[oly5050user]

This might be a better place to copy and post my post in the Introduction thread....

Hi Guys,

New to the board here and thought I would say hi before jumping in the deep end. I have been away from diving for 13 years and just recently have been getting the urge to get my feet wet again.
I am based in Calgary Alberta Canada, though originally from the UK, and thats where I did the majority of training and diving. I am a certified PADI "rescue diver" and IANTD "advanced nitrox diver".
Having been away so long I am not going to jump straight back into this without some caution but I do begrudge having to go through every single course again. What would you do in my position?
Most refresher courses seem to revolve around the basic open water curriculum but it would be good to get some nitrox course refreshment. Is it just a case of buy the course books and you should be ok?
Any advise on the normal protocol for my situation welcome!

Thanks in advance..

Andy

If you have not dove in 10 years I advise taking the ow class over again.In Grand CAyman the resorts want you to take a refresher either at home or with them if you have not dove in 2 years or more.If you have not dove in 10 years they ask for you to take the ow course over again.

 

[TSandM]

Well, I certainly think a scuba review is in order (that's PADI's name for the refresher class). I would contact an instructor about doing that, which usually involves a pool session. After that, you could talk to the instructor about how he sees your skills and water comfort, and what additional review he might feel necessary.

Your cert cards don't expire, but knowledge definitely does when it's not used . . . The book learning stuff you can read on your own, but having somebody take a look at your actual diving skills would be well worthwhile.

 

[aftershock109]

I think oly5050user is right do the refresher and ask the opinion of the instructor he will steer you in the right direction
Enjoy it!

 

[muddiver]

Under the PADI system you can do your Scuba Review with a Divemaster, or an Instructor.

 

[Michael Kazma]

As you were a certified adv. nitrox diver I do not think it would be worth doing the OW course over again. If I were in your position I would first buy a new OW book and read it to see how much of the stuff you remember and how much stuff has changes over the years. At the same time take a private refresher course. These courses are so limited in theory that it will not be enough but the diving portion will give you a feel for the equipment again and help jog your memory for the stuff you are reading about (plus you will be in the hands of a pro, kind-of )

Once you get a feel for where you are you can decide where to start. But I would definitely recommend taking your advanced nitrox class again as there is a lot that has changed.

 

[Torben]

For the Nitrox I think, you could just reread the nitrox teori book.

Being out of the water for more then 10 years. I would suggest you to eater retake the course or take the refresher course and have your DM or Instructor follow you on your first dive.

 

[scubadiver888]

This might be a better place to copy and post my post in the Introduction thread....

Hi Guys,

New to the board here and thought I would say hi before jumping in the deep end. I have been away from diving for 13 years and just recently have been getting the urge to get my feet wet again.
I am based in Calgary Alberta Canada, though originally from the UK, and thats where I did the majority of training and diving. I am a certified PADI "rescue diver" and IANTD "advanced nitrox diver".
Having been away so long I am not going to jump straight back into this without some caution but I do begrudge having to go through every single course again. What would you do in my position?
Most refresher courses seem to revolve around the basic open water curriculum but it would be good to get some nitrox course refreshment. Is it just a case of buy the course books and you should be ok?
Any advise on the normal protocol for my situation welcome!

Thanks in advance..

Andy

Hey Andy,

Scuba review/refresher will get you started.

If you are going up into the hills to dive you might need Altitude Diver training as well.

I popped into a shop in Calgary last time I was there (AquaSport Scuba Center - Calgary, Alberta's Premiere Scuba Dive Center). Nice people, met a few avid divers in the 30 minutes I was in the shop. There seems to be a large dive community in Calgary. Just chat up a few people and you'll be back into it in no time.

Darrell