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home!
Hey,
Get Back in
the Water and Scuba Dive!
Ah heck, its like riding a bike, once you learn
how you never forget. What's the big deal, I can go two,
three years without diving and jump back in and remember
everything. I only dive when I'm on vacation. I only
took the class so I could get the certification card, now I can
get air. I'm a certified diver, who needs more
training. If the vis isn't a 100 feet, I don't even
bother. I only dive in warm water.
These are popular "excuses" I've heard over the
last few years. To those that have the same philosophy, I
ask these simple questions, all of which are Basic Scuba Diver Training.
What is a "J" valve used for?
What is the maximum ascent rate?
How much weight should you wear?
What is an Octopus Regulator used for?
How long can you stay at 60 feet if you have a dive letter
group G and stayed on the surface for 20 minutes?
What is Surface Air Consumption?
What is a lubber line used for?
Do you put air in the BC to ascend or let air out?
How much weight should you add for a hood and gloves?
Do you know how to get back to the boat underwater without
surfacing and then swimming to it?
And then there is the what ifs...
What if your weight belt comes off? Do you
know how to put it back on underwater?
What if you run out of air. Do you know how to buddy
breathe or make an Emergency Swimming Ascent safely?
What if you forgot to get your BC straps wet before donning the
tank.
What if you go diving in current. Do you know how to
ensure you'll end up back at the boat?
All of the aforementioned happen nearly every
time I go diving with groups. And guess what - in almost
every case these people that have troubles "only go diving while
on vacation". It's strange, they simply don't realize how
much effort they are going through needlessly. People that
go diving frequently don't have these problems. They have
checklists and routines that are second nature. They
concentrate on the equipment first, so they aren't annoyed by it
during the dive.
"Ah come on, the guys on the boat take care of
all that stuff - the hired hands rig my tank, put on the reg
thingee and pick it up so I can put it on."
This is true, if you like the cattle boat style
of diving. But be careful, they don't always rig it
right. On one of the first trips to San Carlos, one of the
"helpers" recommended 35 pounds of weight regardless of
size. Luckily, the divers who were with me removed most of
the weight to be neutral.
Wouldn't it be safer and more enjoyable if you
were better informed, better trained, and a more experienced
diver?
"Yeah but, it costs lots of money to dive all the
time." No, it doesn't. There are a lot of weekend
trips to inexpensive, relatively close places. We have at
least one trip a month to the ocean and a least two or three
trips a month right here in Lake Havasu. Or, just rig the
gear and dive in the pool. How about going to site six
Training cove and practice your compass navigation.
Have fun and be safe...
Bwana
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