The path...

[PerroneFord]

Ok,

So I am a newbie and this is my first post in this forum.

I want to be a wreck diver. One day. I am an OW diver. I lack experience and training. All givens. So here is my question.

Knowing now what you do, how would you tell someone to proceed along the path from OW to Wreck Penetration? What agency would you use if any? What gear would you use if any? What advice would you offer?

Some things about me that make me a bit different than the average cattle boat diver:

1. I understand the fitness requirement. No problems there. I will be incredibly fit before I touch my first reel

2. I have no problems not getting in over my head. I am not approaching diving with an ego to protect. I don't know squat, and am comfortable with that.

3. I am patient. I fully expect this to take 3-5 years and several hundred dives.

4. I was an NSS member at age 15. So I was squeezing through narrow passages for 30 minutes as a kid. Nothing new to me being in tight spaces.

5. I am eager to learn all aspects of diving. I have access to nearly all forms of diving within easy driving distance, which should help.

6. I like black gear.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you are ever in the N.FL. area and need a lackey to help out, give a holler.

 

[miketsp]

With 0-15 dives you won't really take in the answers you get.
You'll think you understand them but they won't really mean what they should.
Get AOW and about 50 dives under your belt and ask again. The same answers will have a different meaning for you.
This is not intended as a put-you-down, I'm just stating that there is no substitute for experience when penetrating wrecks.

 

[ArcticDiver]

1>Dive as much as you can.
2>Dive in different conditions; night; low to no vis; high seas; cold water; etc
3>Leave yourself open to discover what really interests you. Don't decide now.
4>Follow your own path. This is supposed to be fun, not comptetion. Define your own fun.
5>As you go find instructors who you respect and who respect you. Learn from them.
6>Lots of snake oil in this industry. Learn to identify and throw it out.
7>Once you are comfortable with a set of dive parameters it is time to push just a little. You are your own "test pilot". Nibble at the edges of the envelope a little at a time until you find your limits. Then do not ever exceeed them.
8>Ask yourself the same question a year from now. You will be able to answer yourself.

 

[PerroneFord]

With 0-15 dives you won't really take in the answers you get.
You'll think you understand them but they won't really mean what they should.
Get AOW and about 50 dives under your belt and ask again. The same answers will have a different meaning for you.
This is not intended as a put-you-down, I'm just stating that there is no substitute for experience when penetrating wrecks.

I guess this is fair. Let me re-phrase the core of my question and see if that elicits a better response.

* On your path to wreck diving, what courses did you take, when did you realize you enjoyed wreck diving, and how did you go about getting certified to do it? Would you do anything differently today than you did then? *

 

[ArcticDiver]

I guess this is fair. Let me re-phrase the core of my question and see if that elicits a better response.

* On your path to wreck diving, what courses did you take, when did you realize you enjoyed wreck diving, and how did you go about getting certified to do it? Would you do anything differently today than you did then? *

My path is my fun and my hobby.

Your path is your fun and your hobby.

From experience I know that not everyone's path is the same.

My answer is the same. Dive warm water, dive cold(50F or colder), dive in high seas, dive at night, dive in arm length visibility. Dive a lot. And so forth. Then you will be able to answer your own question.

 

[miketsp]

Even the simplest wreck dive can get complicated.
I've seen whole structures just collapse because of pressure from 1 finger or turbulence from bad finning.
I've seen divers come out nursing sore ribs because they swam into a compartment where a large grouper (200kg+) happened to be sleeping and they just happened to be in the doorway when the animal decided to leave in a hurry. Not aggression on the part of the animal, just stupidity.
Then unexpected currents funnelled down corridors.
By the time you start doing wreck diving you should be fully comfortable in the water and your reactions should be completely automatic leaving your brain free to deal with whatever comes up.
Both ArcticDiver and I are saying the same thing.
Try to get as wide an experience as possible in different circumstances.
Once you are really comfortable in the water you will be able to evaluate if that's what you really want.
Many divers that are capable and trained to wreck dive just don't do it any more because as they gained experience they also gained a better insight into the risks.

 

[PerroneFord]

Hmmm, not the answers I was expecting, or maybe hoping for. Ok, thanks anyway guys.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

how would you tell someone to proceed along the path from OW to Wreck Penetration?

Slow and sure wins the race,

What agency would you use if any?

The one that the instructor I trust, respect, and want to learn from is a member of.

What gear would you use if any?

Black, whatever it is it has to be black. Well secondly it should work for you and your diving I suppose too. (As long as it looks cool ) (In all seriousness you will discover what your needs are by diving, don't take my word, don't take some shop-monkey's word especially, listen to your trusted instructor and think about any desired purchase. What is it going to do for your diving, what is it going to do to your diving)

What advice would you offer?

Relax, dive lots, learn to do the math, find out what you enjoy, find your limits (carefully and in small graduations), try and dive in every imaginable circumstance and condition (to a sane, safe, reasonable limit), keep taking classes (AOW is going to be disappointing unless you are very clear prior to signing up on what your expectations are) like Rescue Diver, did I say dive lots....

 

[kurtguy]

Perroneford

I am exactly where you are in terms of what I want. I have AOW, Deep and Nitrox and I am looking for the deep wrecks as well. Get your AOW, Deep Diver, Nitrox, Advanced Nitrox (not PADI), Wreck Diver, Advanced Wreck Diver. If you are like me, which it sounds like, you will want more bottom time and maybe view some deeper wrecks and that means Trimix and Advanced Trimix with Deco.

I understand what everyone is telling you and it is excellent advice but like you I am looking for what I need to do next. While taking all these courses you will rack up tons of dives (not even counting the fun diving) and it will take a few years to get it done. By that time you will have the experience and the knowhow.

Kurtguy

 

[Sas]

<zombie thread nevermind>