jd950
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- I just don't log dives
I finished my OW certification a few weeks ago. First I would like to thank those who provided support and suggestions to me for my many questions prior to and during my OW classes. I truly appreciate that help and hope to repay it by providing the same to others when I have more experience.
It was fascinating to me that indeed, as some suggested, clearing a mask while breathing through a regulator is something like five times easier than while snorkeling, and my buoyancy issues almost completely evaporated when I went from pool to the sea. I am comfortable around a reef and as I hoped I would be, can move around on breath control alone with little difficulty and can usually hover inches above the reef or sea bed while composing a photograph or watching a critter. There is still a lot of room for improvement, especially at holding my depth more precisely at a safety stop, but I will get there!
My suggestions at this point to those starting out are (1) You should utilize every opportunity to get in the water with an instructor. Take the classes that give you the most sessions over the longest time.
(2) I am very glad that my OW dives were done with a different instructor in a different than my classes and pool dives. I think experiencing two styles of instruction and getting some different opinions on skills and techniques was helpful, and getting feedback on abilities from two different people was very valuable (On my next dive trip in a couple of months I am purposely going out with two different dive operators and taking a specialty dive with another third.
(3) I also strongly suggest trying to do the OW water dives in conditions like you will dive. I have compared my experiences with those who did their OW dives in a currentless, waveless fresh water crater or spring with my experience in the sea, and am glad I did it the way I did.
(4) Last, as much as I value the help I have received here, I have been frustrated by the scuba jocks who insist I am going to die on my next dive and unless I use a certain brand of brass clip on my SPG. At times I felt like getting out of scuba just because of the ranting against people who are older or overweight or who can't dive constantly or can't swim a mile underwater while humming the star spangled banner. There are a lot of people who want to dive at reasonable depths in clear water and couldn't care less how many decks of some wreck they can penetrate at 180' and who view poor visibility as a good reason NOT to dive. I think we generally are afraid to say much around here, though.
It was fascinating to me that indeed, as some suggested, clearing a mask while breathing through a regulator is something like five times easier than while snorkeling, and my buoyancy issues almost completely evaporated when I went from pool to the sea. I am comfortable around a reef and as I hoped I would be, can move around on breath control alone with little difficulty and can usually hover inches above the reef or sea bed while composing a photograph or watching a critter. There is still a lot of room for improvement, especially at holding my depth more precisely at a safety stop, but I will get there!
My suggestions at this point to those starting out are (1) You should utilize every opportunity to get in the water with an instructor. Take the classes that give you the most sessions over the longest time.
(2) I am very glad that my OW dives were done with a different instructor in a different than my classes and pool dives. I think experiencing two styles of instruction and getting some different opinions on skills and techniques was helpful, and getting feedback on abilities from two different people was very valuable (On my next dive trip in a couple of months I am purposely going out with two different dive operators and taking a specialty dive with another third.
(3) I also strongly suggest trying to do the OW water dives in conditions like you will dive. I have compared my experiences with those who did their OW dives in a currentless, waveless fresh water crater or spring with my experience in the sea, and am glad I did it the way I did.
(4) Last, as much as I value the help I have received here, I have been frustrated by the scuba jocks who insist I am going to die on my next dive and unless I use a certain brand of brass clip on my SPG. At times I felt like getting out of scuba just because of the ranting against people who are older or overweight or who can't dive constantly or can't swim a mile underwater while humming the star spangled banner. There are a lot of people who want to dive at reasonable depths in clear water and couldn't care less how many decks of some wreck they can penetrate at 180' and who view poor visibility as a good reason NOT to dive. I think we generally are afraid to say much around here, though.
but welcome to the underwater world,you just have to figure out who to listen to and who to ignore,dont worry about it too much.
Until then, ask people you know and trust for their opinons if you are unsure about something. (Instructor, Dive Buddies, etc) Good Luck with your new addiction.. err, I mean hobby. 
