Scuba Diving - advice please. (page 2)

MegaDude

Statistics show that diving with a buddy is much more dangerous than diving alone!

I would concur with this. Especially is this true when doing some of the most dangerous diving there is, such as in caves.

I have been diving since 1979, and I'm just a few dives short of being a Master Diver. I have been out as a an assistant instructor many times, and I can tell you that you will do just fine. Just remember, if you forget everything else, don't hold your breath. Another tip - don't use to much weight. You want just enough so you sink when you exhale. To much weight will make your buoyancy hard to control.

I highly recommend that you continue your training to at least Advanced Open Water Diver. A few specialties would be good to, with Nitrox at the top of the list. Then maybe navigation. BTW, Nitrox will let you dive deeper and stay longer. One day about 4 years ago, I made 3 Nitrox dives in one day, all to more than 125 feet, and lasting 35, 25, and 20 minutes. (32 percent mix, 100 cubic foot steel tank filled to 3850 PSI) Though my dive computer told me I did not have to decompress, I did hold at ten feet until my air ran low. BTW, my dive computer was telling me at the end of the last dive to not dare go back in the water.

mkr32208

I have been diving since 1979, and I'm just a few dives short of being a Master Diver

um.... you can go for your dive master after only 50 logged dives. In fact padi just changed their's to 20 dives!...

You've been diving since 79 and don't have 50 dives? Just curious... :-)

Justice-One

um.... you can go for your dive master after only 50 logged dives. In fact padi just changed their's to 20 dives!...

Yes, diving since 1979. But there was a vacation from it while I got married and raised a family.

There is a difference between a Dive Master, and a Master Diver the last time I checked.

Dive Master in 20 dives? I really doubt that, considering the training and experience required. That is unless they have seriously dumbed down the requirements. The last time I checked though, it was 20 dives just to be admitted into the program, with 60 more to graduate. Master diver on the other hand was 50 dives and five specialties - and that was what I was refering to. All I had left to do was take one specialty. But I have been out of it since I moved to the left coast.

And I pretty much quit logging my dives after a 100 or so. But I have "cards" for: Basic Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Nitrox, Navigation, Deep Diver, and Wreck Diver.

I have also taken part in Ice Diving, Night Diving and Cavern Diving - about 60 feet back in a cave.

confusedjw

Long time diver. Just don't hold your breath on the way up. That's the real way to hurt yourself, but I know your instructor has gone over that 1000 times with you.

As to the test. You'll likely be given coordinates and will swim out a distance. Dive down. Check your compass, count your kick cycles until you reach your destination and do that twice more until you are back to your starting point.

You will one or two that will come boiling to the top tearing at their hoods, but you won't.

Cheers

Justice-One

Did anyone else take the advanced class "back in the day?" Manoman, I have a very clear memory of the following during my advanced class - I was at the bottom of a quarry in about 45 feet of water. It was time to demo my emergency accent. I had three instructors all around me, and they began to beat the water with their fins to stir up the muck and reduce vis to zero. Then one of them reaches over without warning (and without me feeling it) and shuts off my air. Two and a half breaths later, and I'm out of air. I then dropped my weight belt and pulled the emergency inflator on my BC (they don't make them anymore as far as I know) and pushed off to the surface. I was very paranoid about holding my breath, so I did the "blow and go." Man I must have come 5 feet out of the water when I hit the top. LOL.

I hear they don't try kill you now during your training.

SWALKER

You really shouldn't have any problems...if I could pass anyone can!!! LOL! By the time of the open water/final test I felt good about what I knew and was just anxious to get it over with and get on to the good stuff!!! I didn't have any problems taking my mask off under water or anything...of course I had practiced that to get used to the feeling ahead of time. I thought the worst part for me was treading water (during the pool sessions)...10 minutes felt like an hour!

Have fun,

Swalker

Scuba Diving - advice please.

MegaDude

Justice-One

mkr32208

Justice-One

confusedjw

Justice-One

SWALKER

MegaDude

MinisterAmos

MegaDude

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