Things I learned in my first 2 open water dives...

[jeckyll]

Well we finished our confined water training and are out there scareing the fish (and some divers )

Some things I found:

1: Dive gear is d*mn heavy on land when you are walking to and from the dive site!

2: Even with a 7 mm wet suit and hot water from a thermos, the 2nd dive will be a bit chilly in 48 degree water.

3: I seem to get cramps very easily in my calfs (no clue what to do about that yet, probably not kicking properly).

4: It's easy to get further away from your buddy than you intend to, especially when both of you are trying to establish something resembling buoyancy.

5: Buoyancy is tough (yeah yeah, lots of threads on that, but you don't appreciate it till you do it for real ).

6: If I'm going to dive in 48 degree water, I'm definately going to want a dry suit! (maybe I'll sign up for the AOW, especially since it includes a bunch of buoyancy training).

7: Low vis didn't freak me out like I thought it would, especially watching all the small fish below (this is when on the line waiting for your turn to do 'skills').

7: Diving is alot of fun!

2 more dives tomorrow!

Bjorn

 

[verybaddiver]

"maybe I'll sign up for the AOW, especially since it includes a bunch of buoyancy training"

Only really true if you do the PPB option, if i was to learn to dive again, i would do the AOW alot later on, (or maybe not at all). As most people will advise you buoyancy is like driving a car, you will be terrible at first, but by gaining experience you will improve, and its the only real way to improve. Ofcourse doing the AOW, will improve your diving, just as doing 5 more dives would too , maybe more so, but at a much higher cost.
Oh and ye, dry suits RULE

 

[spectrum]

Well we finished our confined water training and are out there scareing the fish (and some divers )

Some things I found:

1: Dive gear is d*mn heavy on land when you are walking to and from the dive site!

This will get easier with time and experience. You body is coping with a lot of new stuff.

2: Even with a 7 mm wet suit and hot water from a thermos, the 2nd dive will be a bit chilly in 48 degree water.

3: I seem to get cramps very easily in my calfs (no clue what to do about that yet, probably not kicking properly).

Dive, skin-dive or swim, you muscles are just not conditioned yet.

4: It's easy to get further away from your buddy than you intend to, especially when both of you are trying to establish something resembling buoyancy.

Really true in deepwater boat dives. Make early dives shore dives and the constant bottom reference will make it easier to realize what's happening. In an open water comumn the only thing you can trust is your depth gauge.

5: Buoyancy is tough (yeah yeah, lots of threads on that, but you don't appreciate it till you do it for real ).

Frequent weight checks and keep adjusting down to perfection. Relax and use your lung volume without ever closing your throat. Skin-dive and sing along with vigor in the car to tone that diaphram.

6: If I'm going to dive in 48 degree water, I'm definately going to want a dry suit! (maybe I'll sign up for the AOW, especially since it includes a bunch of buoyancy training).

Plenty of recent threads on when to do AOW, read the opinions and make the decision that's best for you.

You are in dry suit teritorry for sure. As soon as you are comfortable investing further in the sport go for it!

7: Low vis didn't freak me out like I thought it would, especially watching all the small fish below (this is when on the line waiting for your turn to do 'skills').

Then you're sure to like night diving.

7: Diving is alot of fun!

2 more dives tomorrow!

Good luck, dive safe. dive often and respect your limits

Pete

Bjorn

 

[Markdone]

Well we finished our confined water training and are out there scareing the fish (and some divers )

3: I seem to get cramps very easily in my calfs (no clue what to do about that yet, probably not kicking properly).

Bjorn

Bjorn - You are experiencing what many folks go through - and stating it very well. Keep up the diving, and the posting!

I'm no doc, but I find eating a banana helps my calf cramps - potassium is the key I think.

Mark

 

[scubaren]

I take B complex vitamins the night before any dive, run or hike. Also make sure I'm plenty hydrated as dehydration causes muscle cramps.

 

[jeckyll]

Thanks for the feedback and tips.

As for the banana, I always have banana's (from my mountainbiking days)though they didn't keep the cramps away this time...

Well time to rest up.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

For leg cramps, this should help...sitting or standing, lift one leg up, push your heel out and point your toes back towards your body. (It is essentially the same as they way you should have been taught to ease a cramp in the water by pulling the tip of your fin.) Do that several times a day, but do it relatively gently at first, otherwise you can start a cramp.

It is a dance exercise, and it will help to stretch those calf muscles.

Jeff

 

[J T]

It just takes a while to get used to the whole diving thing. You can't expect to come out of your o/w course and be a great diver. Practice, practice, practice. Do yourself a favour and go through to rescue diver. Every dver should go through to this course. it gives you valuable skills and greatly improves your confidence. (that should keep the training agencies happy) but seriously do it. Cramps will happen till your muscles get used to it. Good luck

 

[ScubaGalHolly]

I totally agree! One extra thing, Why are Wet Suits such a Pain to put on ?
p.s My instructor and science teacher told me if you get cramp you don't have enough salt.

 

[vkalia]

if i was to learn to dive again, i would do the AOW alot later on, (or maybe not at all).

I look at it the other way around - IMO, the best time to do an AOW course is right after OW, as you get to do a few more dives under an instructor's supervision, and also work on your buoyancy, trim, etc. You also get to try diving under different conditions - which is good early on.

Think of it as a way to accelerate the learning curve. Once you cross 20-30 dives, then you've probably done all the dives that go into an advanced course anyway and it is not as useful, except as a "must have" to higher levels.

As for buoyancy, etc: good instructor will likely cover all those issues on every training dive - not just the PPB.

Cheers,
Vandit