Your personal experience

[84CJ7]

Things I learned on my certification dive to a quarry.

I learned that you can get through your certification with a cold, but you won't like it. Its better to be overweight than underweight (people will argue with me on this), its easy to halt a crash dive with some air in the BC or a little kicking, much harder to halt a rapid ascent if you have just enough weight to get you under, especially with the puffy farmer john 6.5mm wet suit, gloves and a hood i was wearing you go from slow rise to trident missle in about the last 10 feet as it decompresses (more inexperience than anything).
Also you never have all the air out of those things even when you think you do.
Don't leave the gloves on shore because the surface temp in the quarry is in the 70's, itll be in the 50's by 30 feet and your hands freeze.
Definetely test all your gear together in a pool before playing in the open water with it. Changing anything changes everything.
Basic decongestant sudafed isnt pressure sensative, just about everything else is.
Most importantly keep reading scubaboard, you learn from other peoples mistakes ahead of time and it prepares you, I learned about vertigo from unequal pressures in either ear, and when the previously mentioned head cold did just that at about 15 feet, I didnt panic at all even though I swore i was sitting in a clothes dryer because I knew what was happening and why. (makes you a little queasy before it goes away)
And your problem is your buddies problem and vice versa, dont ruin someone elses dive because you weren't prepared (almost did that but got it worked out).

 

[fpsndiver]

1. Check your bouyancy/weighting with a near empty tank on the surface, not a full one.....at the end of a dive your tank will be near empty right? (and if its an 80, it will be positive). Buy steel tanks....spend the extra dough, carry the extra gas and less weight.

2. When packing dive gear, always unpack it twice and re-pack it, making sure you have everything (picture yourself suiting up)....I got my suit, booties, bc, regs, knife...Also, before packing your regs the first time check the pressure in your tanks to make sure the LDS didn't hose you, or that your tanks aren't leaking through a defective valve o-ring.......check them all twice....ponies too.

3. Create a "save-a-dive" kit that has extra stuff (mask straps, fin straps..spring type is better, dive knife wrap, tie-wraps, extra mouthpieces, o-ring kits, multi-tool, Krsto lube, and silicon grease) Maintain all your equipment as suggested, and if you are diving often, like you should be, maintain it more thoroughly than suggested.

4. If you are diving offshore, you need an "oh sh**" kit. This should at the minimum include a safety sausage and whistle.....better even if you have a dive alert, flares, strobes, lift bag, finger reel, dye marker, dive lights Primary and backup(yes, carry dive lights on day dives, you may still be out there at night, and plus you can light up all the little pretties and see the true colors that the water column has filtered out).....see my post titled "Lost at Sea" in near misses for the story on that one........ :11:

5. Assemble your own gear, check and re-check it, have your buddy check and re-check your gear as you check and re-check theirs. BWRAF, and then right before you get in, check your valves again and again. Don't let your spg/console dangle...clip it t your front where you can glance down to it without reaching around to find it...plus you don't want it dragging the bottom....don't look like a googan, and you won't be a googan. Have a good buddy who dives often, and develop good u/w communication skills with each other. You all should be in synch with each other such that your eyes and posture can communicate oodles of info.

6. As a new diver.......here come the flames for me.....I think you should inflate your BC before you splash, so that you don't become a "dirt dart" when your air isn't on (because you skipped #5) Once you get experienced and comfortable, you should be able to descend after entry and skip this step.

7. While on your dive, constantly ask yourself, "How much air do I have?" Until you learn your SAC rates, and become comfortable with your SAC rates in various conditions....then you still ask yourself constantly(every minute or two)"How much air do I have?" Manage your gas(make sure you have enough gas to safely complete the dive and any deco/safety stops, and leave a reserve "Rule of thirds" if someone else wants to give that a go), and carry some reduntant reserve. I won't push the stuff I do on you....you have enough equipment to worry about as a new diver, but a little pony won't kill you. Dive within NDL until trained on proper procedures, gas management, equipment configuration, etc.
Don't become reliant on computers, know the tables, and carry them with you in case your computer goes haywire you can figure out what to do. Have contingency plan ready to go in case you violate NDL's....know what you are going to do ahead of time.

8. Mind your landmarks and navigation......make sure that you are watching where you are going in case you get separated from whoever is leading you. The more you become self-reliant in your own navigational skills, the better diver will you become...(sounds like YODA)

9. Surface when the DM tells you to, and if you have plenty of gas left, and you have satisfied your safety stop requirements.....and there are 20 other googans in line to get on the boat, stay at your 15' stop. You have the gas, you are dumping tons of Nitrogen at 15'....use your gas(LDS won't give you a refund for unused gas). Look at all the pretty critters floatin by, hum a song, laugh at what is going on at the surface.......Don't suck down to 100#, but why hurry up and get beat up on the surface waiting in line to get on the boat?

10. Dive often, and read up on current trends. Advance your training with experienced wise instructors. Become a member of DAN, and read their publications (Alert Diver) on the throne....that is where mine are. :11:

I am sure I left tons out, but there is my 2 cents......

Tom

 

[fairybasslet]

1. Check your bouyancy/weighting with a near empty tank on the surface, not a full one.....at the end of a dive your tank will be near empty right? (and if its an 80, it will be positive). Buy steel tanks....spend the extra dough, carry the extra gas and less weight.

2. When packing dive gear, always unpack it twice and re-pack it, making sure you have everything (picture yourself suiting up)....I got my suit, booties, bc, regs, knife...Also, before packing your regs the first time check the pressure in your tanks to make sure the LDS didn't hose you, or that your tanks aren't leaking through a defective valve o-ring.......check them all twice....ponies too.

3. Create a "save-a-dive" kit that has extra stuff (mask straps, fin straps..spring type is better, dive knife wrap, tie-wraps, extra mouthpieces, o-ring kits, multi-tool, Krsto lube, and silicon grease) Maintain all your equipment as suggested, and if you are diving often, like you should be, maintain it more thoroughly than suggested.

4. If you are diving offshore, you need an "oh sh**" kit. This should at the minimum include a safety sausage and whistle.....better even if you have a dive alert, flares, strobes, lift bag, finger reel, dye marker, dive lights Primary and backup(yes, carry dive lights on day dives, you may still be out there at night, and plus you can light up all the little pretties and see the true colors that the water column has filtered out).....see my post titled "Lost at Sea" in near misses for the story on that one........ :11:

5. Assemble your own gear, check and re-check it, have your buddy check and re-check your gear as you check and re-check theirs. BWRAF, and then right before you get in, check your valves again and again. Have a good buddy who dives often, and develop good u/w communication skills with each other. You all should be in synch with each other such that your eyes and posture can communicate oodles of info.

6. As a new diver.......here come the flames for me.....I think you should inflate your BC before you splash, so that you don't become a "dirt dart" when your air isn't on (because you skipped #5) Once you get experienced and comfortable, you should be able to descend after entry and skip this step.

7. While on your dive, constantly ask yourself, "How much air do I have?" Until you learn your SAC rates, and become comfortable with your SAC rates in various conditions....then you still ask yourself constantly(every minute or two)"How much air do I have?" Manage your gas(make sure you have enough gas to safely complete the dive and any deco/safety stops, and leave a reserve "Rule of thirds" if someone else wants to give that a go), and carry some reduntant reserve. I won't push the stuff I do on you....you have enough equipment to worry about as a new diver, but a little pony won't kill you. Dive within NDL until trained on proper procedures, gas management, equipment configuration, etc.
Don't become reliant on computers, know the tables, and carry them with you in case your computer goes haywire you can figure out what to do. Have contingency plan ready to go in case you violate NDL's....know what you are going to do ahead of time.

8. Mind your landmarks and navigation......make sure that you are watching where you are going in case you get separated from whoever is leading you. The more you become self-reliant in your own navigational skills, the better diver will you become...(sounds like YODA)

9. Surface when the DM tells you to, and if you have plenty of gas left, and you have satisfied your safety stop requirements.....and there are 20 other googans in line to get on the boat, stay at your 15' stop. You have the gas, you are dumping tons of Nitrogen at 15'....use your gas(LDS won't give you a refund for unused gas). Look at all the pretty critters floatin by, hum a song, laugh at what is going on at the surface.......Don't suck down to 100#, but why hurry up and get beat up on the surface waiting in line to get on the boat?

10. Dive often, and read up on current trends. Advance your training with experienced wise instructors. Become a member of DAN, and read their publications (Alert Diver) on the throne....that is where mine are. :11:

I am sure I left tons out, but there is my 2 cents......

Tom

Really good stuff here. You know, I was thinking of number 1 this morning. LOL

 

[Bo-jan]

As far as your gear is concerned I can tell you this:
- check your pressure gauge BEFORE you enter the water! I forgot to do this once and screwed up the dive for my two buddies because we had to shorten the dive significately. Luckily I checked the SPG during the descent to find out I only have about 60% of air in the tank instead of 100%. Could have ended badly.
- when jumping off a boat always hold your mask with one hand and the belt with the other
- I don't jump off a boat wearing full gear unless I really have to. I find it much easier to lower the inflated BC+tank into the water and put it on while on the surface.
- always stick close to your buddy
- it's smart to have an octopuss but even better to have a second 1st stage
- as someone else said, it's better to be a bit overweight than underweight. With too little weights you'll find it extremely hard to do a safety stop or decompression if there are no big rocks near you to hold on to.
- when packing equipment I have a strict order how I pack stuff. That way I never forget a piece of equipment as I always pack it the same way.

Cheers
Bojan

 

[kayber]

Breathe through your regulator with the air off.

If you can draw air - you will be in a world of hurt underwater. There is a leak and you will be breathing water - under water.

Thank you! This is a REALLY good idea!

 

[toodive4]

Try Not to overspend at the local dive shop... When I started diving I spent over $3000 at my local dive shop on gear... then learned I could have bought all the same stuff with full manufacturers warranties from internet sellers.. for about $1200

$1800 lesson learned... one less trip to heaven...

K

 

[Ayisha]

6. As a new diver.......here come the flames for me.....I think you should inflate your BC before you splash, so that you don't become a "dirt dart" when your air isn't on (because you skipped #5) Once you get experienced and comfortable, you should be able to descend after entry and skip this step.
Tom

Isn't this contrary to what we're taught? After you enter the water (Giant stride, backroll, etc.), you're supposed to give a big OK to the captain/responsible person on the boat. You also need to wait for or join your buddy and then decide together to descend.

If you are jumping in with no air in your BC and descending immediately, then it appears you are not giving an ok to those presumably waiting for it on the boat and you're not meeting up with your buddy. Skipping steps can cause us or other people trouble...

 

[fpsndiver]

Isn't this contrary to what we're taught? After you enter the water (Giant stride, backroll, etc.), you're supposed to give a big OK to the captain/responsible person on the boat. You also need to wait for or join your buddy and then decide together to descend.

You are absolutely right, however, if you will note that in that rule......I also stated that once you are "experienced and comfortable" enough to splash and go, you can. There is nothing wrong, if you are properly trained, equipped, and experienced with a splash and go. When I splash on a dive boat, I give a very brief okay (hand on head)and descend to the 15 ft mark to wait on/meet my buddy, because that is the way we planned the dive on the boat. We get off the surface and out of the way, but our descent actually begins at 15 ft. together.....when I dive with a buddy. Yes, we sometimes dive.....SOLO (ewww I can hear PADI now), but are trained and equipped to do so. I carry redundant equipment configured properly to get myself out of a bind....

Tom

 

[bisonduquebec]

Aldo splash and go are more common then we think, think twice before adopting this rule (even if you are very experience divers).

Good Reason to splash and go: A lot of waves, need to go down ASAP. You avoid seasickness, and all the people waiting to go down.

Good reason NOT to SaG: Current. If you go right under, the current can take you well off away from the descent line. You will have a hard time getting back to the boat - very true when there are waves and a surface current.

Also: I heard too many stories about problem with bottles not openned, not connected correctly, BC hose stuck in the back...etc If you SaG, you are more likely to drop like a rock. If you plan to stay at the surface, you will notice the problem early and can at least drop the weights. Also, you have a better chance of getting help if your buddy or someone from the boat sees that you did not surface after splash.

It does happen - for real.

 

[david.tolan]

Sometimes, there's a bit of a surface swim from the boat to the descent point, be it a bouy or whatever.

I'll often use a snorkle on the surface swim.

Once or twice I forget to switch to the reg before going down. But never mind, the taste of salt water lets you know that you've forgotten.