• SCUBA Certification - Classwork first, then Wetwork

    Two weeks ago, I paid for my upcoming classes to get PADI Open Water SCUBA Certification. I received my educational packet, which included my main workbook, a diver's log, and a computer workbook. Between work, I studied, answered the quizzes that appeared after each subheading, and completed the chapter review test.

    I sat down with a bowl of popcorn to watch both DVDs that rounded out the pre-class education, and soaked up all I could. The videos were funny at times, and explained quite a number of important factors. The video quality could have been better; I was wanting HD but this is what you get currently.

    My class is small. There are four students, and one instructor as well as his assistant. Because of the small group, one-on-one instruction is excellent. Questions were answered, points clarified, and exercises repeated as necessary.



    I don't have any pictures from the actual pool practice because #1) I don't want to get my camera wet, and #2) I was focused on learning how to breath underwater.

    Today's class covered three sections of diving, and tomorrow's will cover the other two. A total of five modules are studied both as bookwork & discussion as well as pool work. Due to our preparation prior to attending the course, valuable time is saved and more time can be spent underwater.

    I learned how to assemble my entire backpack and tank, and how to take it all apart again only to reassemble it once again. The instructor was patient, made sure I understood each step, and made sure I did each one correctly. Here are some that come to mind:
    • Check the air tank for expiration as well as total PSI it can hold.
    • A medium BCD vest fit me well.
    • 16 lbs of weights worked best for a full body wetsuit, since it makes you float.
    • How to install the regulator onto the air tank correctly, not damaging the valve by over-tightening
    • Verify the O-ring is in place and in good condition.
    • Connect the low pressure hose to the harness that adds and releases air from the BCD.
    • Secure hoses to keep the "octopus" under control.
    Some of the lessons learned:

    How to breathe in and out, slowly and deeply
    How to clear my mask
    How to switch from the regulator to a snorkel, and back.
    How to blow air manually into the BCD.
    How to continue breathing if the regulator suddenly fails and won't stop blasting air out of it.
    How to ask for air from a buddy due to sudden air loss, and how to acquire their spare regulator.
    How to purge the regulator, both with air, as well as with a blast via lung power
    How to adjust my buoyancy
    How to adjust the pressure in my air spaces (ears, sinuses); aka equalize pressure
    How to get over "dry mouth" from the very dry air of my tank
    How to sink, and how to control my ascension.

    Some practical applications included getting out of all my gear while in the water, and putting it back on, such as when you get tangled up. If you can't back out, getting out of your gear will let you see what you are dealing with, resolve it, and get the gear back on. I also learned how to exit the pool in full gear, how to hand gear up from the edge like you might on a dock or the landing of a boat.

    The scariest move was more like a trust fall. I had to sit on the edge of a concrete wall (like a shorter retaining wall of a freeway) and fall backwards into the pool while in full diving gear. I've seen divers flip off the edge of boats in the movies my entire life, from Navy Seals to James Bond flicks, but that was one move where you expect to hit your head on the concrete, or at the very least clip you heels on the way in. Nope, you fall right in undamaged. Mine was more of a flip. As I fell backwards, I held my mask and regulator in place with one hand, and kept the other hand free in case I had to push off from the wall underwater. As soon as I hit the water, I immediately saw the concrete as I was orienting myself right side up, and had my arm out in case I was too close, but it went smoothly. Surprisingly well, actually.

    Going mask free for a full minute wasn't a big deal to me, nor was clearing a mask that was half-full as well as one that was completely full. Taking my regulator out of my mouth and then putting it back in wasn't something I was looking forward to, but it turned out to be easy to accomplish. I never inhaled any water, and thus never had to cough up any.

    Helping my buddy by checking her gear and her checking mine, we had to follow the five steps. The acronym was challenging to remember, but the assistant suggested: Big White Rabbits Are Fluffy -- BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final OK. You check each other to make sure everything looks good, nothing was overlooked, and to familiarize yourself with their equipment in case there's a need to assist at any time during the dive.

    We learned about noise (it seems to come from above usually, but often isn't), and how to make noise. How to slowly breathe out while saying "Aaaaah" for a full 30 seconds as you ascend to the surface. 30 seconds for Aaaah was hard to imagine, but I watched my instructor do it after three quick hyperventilated breaths to expel CO2 from his lungs. We memorized gestures or sign language to express ourselves underwater.

    Helping your buddy underwater, as well as at the surface, was a good practice and it wasn't hard to understand. Tugging them by their first stage (the spot where the yoke connects to the air tank) allowed them to rest and yet still possibly kick their legs to help get to the destination more easily. Pushing the diver by placing their feet against your shoulders was another maneuver.

    I really enjoyed using all my new gear, as well as trying out the provided equipment that made the experience fun. I'm now more familiar with the way everything works, and what to do if something goes wrong. I also had to show my abilities in water, as well as to demonstrate my healthiness. Treading water for 10 minutes, and swimming 18 laps in the pool non-stop felt like a stress test. The worst part was that I started doing my laps and at Lap #9, the instructor informed me that he had to count my laps and that what I'd done didn't count. So that was my warm up apparently... I ended up doing 27 laps, if not more!

    Rising out of the water in full SCUBA gear is heavy, so if possible I'm hoping my future dives will include a buddy or person on the boat to hand up my BCD, weights and air tank. I was easily carrying 80 lbs of wet extra weight. The neoprene full body dive suit was tough to get on, but worked like a charm.

    By the way, today's dives took place over 4.5 hours, and then I had another hour of swimming. The exercises and the practical application used up 2000 PSI of the 3000 PSI I had strapped to my back. The air tank is refilled and all my gear is set up for tomorrow's dives.

    Time to rest up.
    Comments 7 Comments
    1. Paul B's Avatar
      Paul B -
      I remember it well but when I got certified with Colombus (yes Christopher) I think our tanks were wood.
      Anyway, now you need to get certified for all sorts of different things like decompression diving, Nitrox diving, shore dives, boat dives, rescue dives, wreck dives cave diving, medical aspects, sea creatures etc.
      I didn't have to take different courses for those things. There was only one type of certification,
      "Basic SCUBA Diver" and that covered everything. In time PADI realized that they were not making any more money on guys like me so they started giving courses for each aspect of diving. I had to learn them all but we didn't have computers then. I started diving in Australia in 1971.
      Yes, I am old.
      Good luck with your certification, I have had plenty of fun diving all those years.
      If you come to NY, you can dive from my boat in zero visability, like a man
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      While I've read some of your dives, Paul, I don't see the point in diving in zero visibility. Why can't I just pull the covers over my head to get the same effect, and save some money?
    1. Paul B's Avatar
      Paul B -
      You can, but any Sissy can dive in tropical waters and there you are not going to find anything.
      Here in NY, whatever sunk, is still there. There are 2,000 wrecks around Long Island alone.
      And if sometghing eats you, no one is ever going to find you so it is less trouble for your family
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      You make a sobering point. lol
    1. Paul B's Avatar
      Paul B -
      To get certified here in NY they don't even count tropical reef diving as real diving. It is simple when you can see. To get untangled in the dark without panicking is tricky.
      Also there is a mud bottom in northern waters, you have to swim into the current because when you stop, that mud engulfs you and it is pitch black. You have to either feel your way or wait for the mud to pass you. Here we usually lobster dive so there is no swimming involved, it is mostly pulling yourself over the rocks. Below about 32' is black because of the plankton and mud in the water. The water is not dirty, it is full of life.
      Tropical water is dead.
      Now thate really fun, and "Man" diving.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      That may be true, but this guy's going to enjoy the easier stuff for the time being. The perks of being a newbie. hehe
    1. Paul B's Avatar
      Paul B -
      OK Sissy. Oh did I say that out loud? Sorry.
      But have fun and tropical diving is really a lot more fun (if not Sissier)