"Self taught" scuba diving

[Rich Keller]

I'm expecting the vintage crowd to pour in here any minute.
I talked to one guy who just recently, as in a few years ago, obtained a old copy of the "New Science of Skin & Scuba Diving" and did all the excercises they provided in the book and learned to scuba dive.
I've read the NSSSD and the training is much more complete than any open water course offered these days.
The thing is, if somebody does go that route they would need to be sure they are able to do everything fluently and not cheat. It would take a measure of self discipline.
It is entirely possible for someone to do that in certain parts of the US and be able to buy gear and get fills without ever being asked for any sort of proof of certification.

Getting on a charter boat, probably not.

I'm sure the the scuba police will be along shortly also telling everyone how dangerous and foolish doing this is even though there is absolutely no law or regulation prohibiting it...yet.

That was the book I used when I learned, very good book. I gather from what I am hearing now that old OW course is now broken down into a number of smaller courses.

 

[scotthowes]

I bought my first set up at a garage sale after banging around begging for air fills and scaring the the hell out of every one. I got open water certified 3years ago.I'm glad that I did.I dive solo 90 percent of the time.My dives now are stressless on me and the pepole that care about me.

 

[TMHeimer]

I liked Thal's response. We live in a totally different era than 40-50 years (50 particularly, when I was a kid). Rules for everything today. Sometimes that's good, other times not. It is good that scuba still is self-regulating (in most places). That in itself is amazing.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

That was the book I used when I learned, very good book. I gather from what I am hearing now that old OW course is now broken down into a number of smaller courses.

Yeah, but there's a lot of stuff they don't do now like ditch and don and buddy breathe, or explain the differences between single hose regs and double hose regs. Most of that stuff they have determined is obsolete, but being a vintage diver and aficionado I wanted to know about all that stuff they used to do so that I could not just use the gear, I wanted to know how to use it right. And mostly, I wanted to know all the hoops they used to jump through and try them myself just to see if I could measure up to the old standards. So far so good. The only thing I'm lacking is getting a good spanking in the pool by getting seriously harrassed, but I shouldn't have trouble finding some buds that would be willing to fulfill my fantasy.

 

[Bob DBF]

I'm expecting the vintage crowd to pour in here any minute.
I talked to one guy who just recently, as in a few years ago, obtained a old copy of the "New Science of Skin & Scuba Diving" and did all the excercises they provided in the book and learned to scuba dive.

What are you calling vintage, my gear or me?

My dad was interested in SCUBA and in '63 bought a set of dive gear from Sears and Roebuck. With the inclosed instructions and a copy of "New Science of Skin & Scuba Diving" we learned to dive. The only time we were both in the water diving at the same time was practicing buddy breathing. He went on to other intrests and I kept diving.

It is entirely possible for someone to do that in certain parts of the US and be able to buy gear and get fills without ever being asked for any sort of proof of certification.

The fills are what got me certified. When I got out to CA, I had one shop that didn't care, but the the rest started asking for the card.

Getting on a charter boat, probably not.

Although the boats I have been on have had to have paperwork filled out, I have never had anyone ask to actually see my C-Card. Of course it could just be me.

I'm sure the the scuba police will be along shortly also telling everyone how dangerous and foolish doing this is even though there is absolutely no law or regulation prohibiting it...yet.

Don't need Police, the laywers beat them to the money.


Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Nice profile pic Bob.

 

[Bob DBF]

Nice profile pic Bob.

Thanks.

It was taken at Lake Tahoe just before I hydroed the Snark III to 133'.


Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[knfmn]

What are you calling vintage, my gear or me?

My dad was interested in SCUBA and in '63 bought a set of dive gear from Sears and Roebuck. With the inclosed instructions and a copy of "New Science of Skin & Scuba Diving" we learned to dive. The only time we were both in the water diving at the same time was practicing buddy breathing. He went on to other intrests and I kept diving.



The fills are what got me certified. When I got out to CA, I had one shop that didn't care, but the the rest started asking for the card.


Although the boats I have been on have had to have paperwork filled out, I have never had anyone ask to actually see my C-Card. Of course it could just be me.




Don't need Police, the laywers beat them to the money.


Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

I've found that most places never actually ask to see the card, at least locally.

Kristopher