What to do while waiting for my first post-OW dives

[happyharris]

I got my OW certification earlier this month, and I have now book a 10 dive package for the beginning of February. Extremely excited to the point of being unable to focus on much else, including work.

What can I be doing in the time before my dives?

Ideally this would be to get me in a better position to take advantage of the dives, but really anything to stop obsessing pointlessly would be good. I have watched every single youtube video about scuba. I have read all of reddit r/Scuba, r ScubaDiving, and r/ScubaGear. I'm working my way through scubaboard. I am obsessively and circularly researching dive computers. I am building up a list of accessories to buy.

What else can I do that is useful?

 

[Rilelen]

I feel you! I’m in Texas right now visiting family, and itching to get back home to Florida. I’ve found books and podcasts scratch that itch, as well as what you’ve been doing (reading and researching shopping lists). I’m buying a new drysuit, and obsessively (re)reading about all the options has been satisfying.

A few books I really recommend and enjoy: “Into the Planet” by Jill Heinerth, “Diver Down” by Michael Ange, “The Six Skills” by Steve Lewis, and “Shadow Divers” by Robert Kurson.

Also if you haven’t read TSandM’s posts on scubaboard, do yourself a favor and pull up her profile and read through all her old threads. Her journey from new diver to cave diver is wonderful, and she was such a wonderful voice on this board - we lost her too soon.

EDIT: Here’s a list of her “greatest hits” to start you off.

Honestly, though, enjoy the obsessing - it’s a great terrible feeling to feel such excitement!

 

[NaCl H2O]

Start buying the gear now, it is inevitable......and there is no cure
Where are you going, SB is a wealth of information.

 

[LI-er]

I used to obsessively read page after page of dive gear for sale on Ebay, mostly to get ideas of what's out there including the more obscure stuff. When something would catch my eye, I'd bid on it or buy it outright.

Oh wait you said you want to do something that will help you to STOP obsessing.

There's meds for that.

 

[happyharris]

Start buying the gear now, it is inevitable......and there is no cure
Where are you going, SB is a wealth of information.

Slightly annoyingly, my wife shared some of my wish list with people who asked about Christmas presents. This is actually great, they will get me the exact thing I had researched and asked for. Except they haven’t got anything yet, so I can’t buy stuff until I know that they are getting me. First world problems!

I’m going to Barbados. I did my first (discover scuba) dive there, and I’ll be going back to the same dive shop.

 

[Jake 10]

@happyharris welcome and congratulations on your OW certification, now go and enjoy the scuba diving world...
Check YouTube for videos on your next destination. I.E.; Coral Reef Barbados; Dive Barbados; Scuba Barbados.
Use the Search option on the top right of this page to look for information, trip reports, and members.
Start looking for gear you may be interested and read the reviews, and other members experiences.

 

[Rob9876]

You could go ahead and take a Nitrox course from your local dive shop -- it's just a few hours one day, as most shops do not require dives for the Nitrox cert.

 

[BoltSnap]

Extremely excited to the point of being unable to focus on much else, including work.

f' work, nothing good comes out of it. Diving is good, very good.


Start with a dive computer and then on to regulator/BC/Thermal protection (assuming that you already have the MFSB).

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Buy the digitally remastered full DVD set of Sea Hunt and binge watch the entire series.

 

[Rilelen]

You could go ahead and take a Nitrox course from your local dive shop -- it's just a few hours one day, as most shops do not require dives for the Nitrox cert.

Oh this is a great suggestion!! OP, def do this.