I am well aware that training is a must. It would be potential suicide to venture deeper, and longer, without some knowledge of what you may encounter before hand. Not to mention the skills required to survive the trip down and back ! Where we differ is I wasn't able to hand over 4-500 dollars. I bought the TDI Decompression and Advanced Nitrox manuals before I ventured deeper. I was fortunate enough to find a patient guy who took me under his wing and showed me what I was doing wrong and why. I studied all winter, practiceing many skills from reel work to gear familiarization, foul water procedures, trim, and task loading and more with all the new equipment that's required for where your headed , all at a responsible depth. It was alot of work and there are still situations today when I'll STOP, THINK, and ACT. That guy is now my deeper dive partner, I know him like a book as he does me. If you have the money, get the training by all means. If you don't have the scratch, start surfing GUE sites or some accredited agency that shows you how to configure your gear and why! Don't cut corners, talk to others, and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Read every respectible source of information you can get your hands on. Just remember, GOD didn't write it ! This is an exciting place to be, BUT , you WILL find trouble sooner or later doing this . You have to be, mentally prepared, you have to have the equipment to survive, as well as the skills. It goes with out saying, excersize common sense! This could go on for ever, sufice to say, there is alot to this. It shouldn't be entered lightly.
Wreck/Tec