What should one expect for the open water practical exam?

[doghouse]

I have two weeks before my open water exam dives 1-3, #4 will be the next Saturday. Ok, so how can I best prepare myself for these dives. I feel fully comfortable in the water but don't know what to expect on the exam dives. I am most likely over thinking this whole thing.

What should I expect?
Is there anything I can do to prepare myself?
I expect that it will be darn cold so the cold water on the face may be a surprize, but if I am expecting it, I can handle that.

Advise pls.

Tnx. March 10, 17 open water exam dives!

 

[socal619]

If you're PADI, expect exactly what is outlined in your OW manual. Expect to be cold, expect to be a bit anxious, and expect to have fun

 

[nereas]

You guessed correctly that mask removal and replacement and clearing will be one of the more challenging tests in the open water. If you make sure that you are really comfortable doing this in the pool, then there is a good chance that you will have no problem in the cold open water. This is a skill that you will use over and over in the open water, so it is just a matter of practice and experience. It is a very important skill.

Some agencies require you to remove and replace your B/C underwater in the open water, but not all do. This is a rather challenging skill as well. You will need to ask your instructor whether this will be required in open water. Not all agencies require it.

Removing and replacing your B/C at the surface in the open water is also a challenging skill. I believe that all agencies require this. Same is true of removal and replacement of your weight belt at the surface, and this is also challenging. Regulator recovery is sometimes difficult for some students.

These are all basic skills that an experienced diver can do with no problems. But a new student in the open water for the first time usually finds them challenging, even after developing the skills in the pool. That is because the open water is not still, like a pool is. And because each of these skills is a matter of practice and experience.

 

[Saltair]

You shouldn't see anything that you have not seen already. The only difference will be the temperature and the depth. I did my OW dives in Maine in April in the Ocean. I had a good wetsuit and with all that was going on I was never uncomfortable. I was just too excited to notice. OF course we didn't spend a whole lot of time just looking around either. I expect you will find the same when it comes to the temperatures. Good Luck. Relax and have fun!!

 

[Steve50]

Main thing is relax. Typically you will already have done more in the pool than will be required at open water. Just do what you have already done before, and have some fun.

 

[spectrum]

Saltair pretty well summed it up.

There should be no skill that you have not already become comfortable with in the pool. In addition to doing the skills there will be some free-swim / tour segments where you demonstrate that you can dive with reasonable control.

The biggest one as mentioned will be the mask removal in cold water. It will be a unique sensation but an essential one so just do it. The first time you try to breathe with cold water on your bare face all of those instincts not to inhale underwater will come screaming back at you. Just breathe, it may be ragged and raspy but you will see that you are fine and can go on with the skill.

Pete

 

[fisherdvm]

An old geezer told me they used to rip off masks, turn off air valve, jank regs out of your mouth, etc...

Sounds kinda cool... But too bad we don't do this? Does any one do mean things to their students?

 

[douglasville diver]

no one is going to rip your mask off or snatch the reg out of mouth, just relax and let your trainng kick in, and after you pass remeber to keep on and on practicing these same skills

 

[spectrum]

Remember too that your OW dives are part of your training not just an exam. If you aren't up to par on a skill you may need to repeat some stuff but the idea is still to train you. Training did not end when you climbed out of the pool.

Pete

 

[WarrenZ]

You will see most of the stuff you did in the pool all over again but with the fish to lookat it will be more interesting.