Finishing up SCUBA classes

[Brian D]

So what does this have to do with boating? A great deal. Finally I will be able to dive on my boat to inspect the bottom and do my own cleaning. Plus, if I am hailed by another boater who has a fouled prop, I can assist by staying under longer to free the prop. If I hit something, I can go under and survey the damage. So much to do. Who knows, I might even offer my services to my fellow Yacht Club members and photo the bottoms of their boats, for free. Might even make some spare change by cleaning other boats. Who knows.But the class has been fun and rewarding. I have developed another skill plus more respect for the water. I'll do my ocean dives on 7/15 and 7/22. Should be a blast.Just sayin'...

 

[Anchor Down]

It's Fun, Isn't It?

I keep my dive gear on board, and almost had to use it last summer to free a fouled prop & escape a lee shore on a dragging anchor. But I had a crewman with good lungs.Congrats on the successful completion of your course. See you on (or under) the water!Jeff

 

[Timm R 25 Oday]

Same here !!

I just finished my first day of lessons as well.Wow to think how long I waited.It was everything I hoped for and more.Certification next week.

 

[Sean10633]

Way to go!

I'm glad your looking at the practical aspects (taking care of the boat & marina), but you won't believe the other world you're going to experience, that's if you like diving as a site seeing sport. I just came back from Bermuda and we did a couple wreck dives out there....(I hadn't gone out in about 9 years, but it all came back like riding a bike) There are over 300 wrecks sites in Bermuda, those reefs have been treacherous!The last time I dove was in the underwater caverns in Mexico. It was the second largest known under water cavern in the world. I felt like saying "it's one small step for man...one giant leap for me!" You couldn't see in front of you if you didn't have a high power flashlight. Then of course reality set in and I had to go and work. Now nine years later, and this last trip, I've decided to definitely setup a tropical scuba trip at least once or twice a year.Have fun on your open water dives, I'm sure you'll have a great time!-Sean

 

[Brian D]

Didn't do my first dive

We are diving off La Jolla Shores in San Diego. Entry is by beach. Got geared up and was motivated until I got the the buoy. On the way out, I ingested a large quantity of salt water but not all of it went to the stomach. Some how I also inhaled some salt water and started hacking really bad. All this by the way with my head just inches above the water. Shortly after the hacking started, the salt water came back up. So I stayed on the surface until everyone was done then headed back in.Right now my right lung feels very heavy and when I cough it is a deep cough from the right lung with a very metallic taste.I'll have to do the open water next week.

 

[caguy]

Seeing your boat under water for the first time is

a whole another experience. It was also a reminder to lower the keel before we set out again. It was a good experience for my shipmate as well. He another psych who twice had a near drowning experience as a kid was afraid of water. Talked him into renting a wet suite and snorkel after assuring him that he couldn't sink if he wanted to. He gradually was able to relax by just floating around (dead man float is not a good term to use on someone who aquaphobic.) It was a great experience for both of us. Me for helping him over come his fear and his for seeing sea life up close and personal. It also made me realize how imprtant it was for him to wear his PFD the whole time we were out sailing.Frank

 

[MoonSailer]

Know Your Limits!!!

A man has got to know his limitations(dirty harry). I've been diving since 1974. My wife has been diving since about 1996. Her limitations are different from mine very different... My limitations are different from when I started and from 10 years ago. Some fairly simple mistakes can get you killed. The number one rule in diving is "Never Panic". too many people panic and make a mad rush to the surface. I remember one guy who paniced and tore off his mask and dropped his regulator as he made a mad dash to the surface. He lived and was uninjured but he was lucky that day. You can get away with that kind of behavior in shallow water with a clear path to the surface. But deep diving or having to go under three boats to get to air and you are dead.  Diving around a marina is a very dangerous place to dive. Stray electrical currents. Fishing gear such as hooks and lines. Getting hit by boats. Getting entangled in various stuff. Fishing gear entanglement is easy to resolve if you have enough air a sharp knife and don't panic. Getting chopped up by someone starting their engine while you are under their boat is harder to resolve. Just be cautious until you gain experience.

 

[Brian D]

Advise duely noted!

nm

 

[Sean10633]

Hope it goes better for ya..

Brian,Sorry to hear about your first dive in La Jolla. I've heard that there's a beautiful underwater park there. Hopefully your open water dives go better.Take care,-Sean

 

[caguy]

A boat dive is a lot less strenuous than a beach

dive, but you are generally in deeper water so take care. Just make sure you have a dive buddy you can trust and will not abandon you down there. Frank

 

[caguy]

A boat dive is a lot less strenuous than a beach

dive, but you are generally in deeper water so take care. Just make sure you have a dive buddy you can trust and will not abandon you down there. Frank

 

[SEADANCE]

Brian congrats

congrats on your dive quals. I have been too much of a chicken sh*t to do this but am finally ready.B/Seadancer

 

[CalebD]

Good advice here from all.

Scuba diving is a great way to see a part of the world we were never meant to see. The best diving I ever did was off of Grand Cayman island; 200' + visibility, tons of sea life, coral etc. Diving is serious stuff though and as previously noted you do need to keep in mind you limitations and take things slowly and carefully. Do not be swayed by someone that you should go as deep as possible. You should gradually increase your dive depth from one day to the next while each days successive dives should be shallower than the previous - but if you are taking the certification you already know this.I got talked into going down to around 90' deep at Cayman and suffered a reverse block in my sinuses even though I waited at the decompression stop trying to clear the blockage. I had a dull pain in my forehead that lasted several days and an incredibly painful flight out. The following year I would get migraine like headaches in the middle of the night about once every 2 weeks that required serious medication to get me back to sleep (codeine). I was surprised that I had no blood leaking out of some nasal orifice but it might have dripped into my throat.As it turns out the deeper you go the less light there is and therefore a lot less color is visible after 60' or so. My advice would be to stay as shallow as you feel comfortable with and gradually increase your depth as your confidence allows. Cleaning your boat's bottom like this should be a piece of cake if it is not at a slip as you will not be going deep at all.Good luck and do not be discouraged, just be careful.

 

[Brian D]

Yes, very good advise...

I went down to 60 feet today. Did my skills test at 25 feet. Saw some interesting fish but nothing breath taking. Well, just seeing fish in the natural habitat is enough. Fish tanks and aquariums don't count.Have to dive again on Sunday. Not sure what we will be doing, but will find out tomorrow morning.Thanks again for the advise and words of encouragement.

 

[jackhartjr]

CalebD...

...was your training one of the resort courses by chance?I ask that because most of the diving stories I hear come from folks that took the very fast paced and quick 'Resort' courses...as opposed to the ones that last for several days.Now please don't think I am disparaging your experience here, I was just wondering.The course I took went into great detail on how to prevent the queezes you experienced. Not saying it doesn't happen, just saying some of the courses really get into the physiolgy(Spelling) of diving.Jack

 

[Brian D]

All done!

Did myt last dive today and have received my certification. Now, for some more boating classes to mix it up.

 

[caguy]

Congratulations - As my wife would say another

fine hobby you've gotten yourself into, just kidding dear. There is a group of guys at Yahoo (sandeater@yahoogroups.com) that post when and where they are going to dive and notify by email. If you ever need a dive buddy I'm sure you can pick one up there. Don't know too many beach divers that will turn down a chance to boat dive.Jack is right when I took mine in 1966 it was a six week course. Lots of practice public plunge dives. One beach dive and a Catalina boat dive. I remember our pool check out where we had to ditch our equipment, surface then put on the equipment at the bottom of the 15' pool while Bob Mcgill hassled you by releasing your weight belt, sneaking up from behind and stripping your mask off and shutting off your air. This after he tangle up all of the straps on you equipment. About a fourth of the class quit at that point. When my son told me that he and his wife got certified on a one week trip to the Bahamas I questioned the safety and wisdom of such an abbreviated course. But, like most things, sailing included, you learn it by doing it. Have fun, and play safe.Frank

 

[CalebD]

Congrats.

You will build up more confidence from here.Jack,I took a several week in depth (no pun intended) course for my Scuba qualifications; lots of class and pool time and several dives required to pass. I also took the resort course with my wife (which is a joke by comparison) who had not taken the full course while in Aruba. The diving was nice and fairly shallow in Aruba and was the first time I dove since my reverse block incident a few years earlier. I think that was also my last dive. These days I prefer to be on the water than under it (for obvious reasons).Some folks constitutions take to diving better than others. I am still glad I did it.

 

[Brian D]

I have heard horror stories of...

Bad equalization leading to inner ear damage, over expansion because someone held their breath while ascending, and people just panicking because, well, they just panicked.Our instructor was good. She instill confidence in you by being there in case something went wrong. That confidence was infectious. Our gear dump exercise was weird. I didn't think I could dive back down while being so positively buoyant, but she told me how to do it and I got my gear back on in the first try.While at the open water dive site, there were several classes going on. I observed the instructor and realized that I had a good instructor.Yesterday's dive was not as exciting as Saturday's, but it was exciting none the less. But you are right Frank, another hobby to sink more money. Will it ever end?Being a diver and finally visiting the world from which I travel above has given me a profound admiration for what lives below. I think this will make me a better sailor in some way.