Check Out Dives - What to expect??

[Pseudocyber]

sassalin,

From what I understand, it really depends on your instructor, where you go, and how many people you'll "bump into".

I just did mine yesterday - so a few observations from my recent experience:

1.) We had to drive about 10 hours in a van each way - from Charlotte NC to the springs around Williston Florida. So, take some reading material, DVD, iPod, etc. I studied for my next certification because I'm a dork (I listened to an Audible.com book on the way back).

2.) Our hotel was a hole. So, might want to be prepared for ... "challenging accomodations".

3.) Dive destination #1 ow dives 1-3, Blue Grotto. Water was 76 - I had a 3mm full Pinnacle suit with boots (Meriono lined) and was quite comfortable - I didn't use my hood or gloves.

4.) Exercises - same as in the pool, not difficult at all - mask flood, out of air/share air, regulator loss & retrieval. Then we got to swim around - a little under the "cavern" of Blue Grotto but not very far. We only were down to around 30' max - longest dive was around 25 minutes.

5.) It got crowded quick. A bunch of groups showed up - pretty much everyone doing some kind of check out dive it seemed - A LOT of NewB's (like me) floundering around. I was concientious - trying to stay out of people's way, not run into people, not stir up the bottom, not hog the entry/exit. But A LOT of people weren't like me in this regard - seemingly both new and experienced.

6.) VIZ diminished from total - to about 15' - but it wasn't scarry - a lot of people around, plus not deep.

7.) I thought I would have a hard time with skills - but they come back really quickly, and are pretty much common sense.

8.) Dive #4 - Devils Den - again we got there early (8am) before it got too crowded. Got in with great viz, same temperature. We did some more skills - weight belt off & back on - both at surface and under about 10'. BCD off and back on. An Easy compass navigation.

9.) Controlled Emergency Swimming (?) Ascent - CESA - I thought this would be scary, but really, take 3 big breaths and then on the third, continuously breathe out slowly and ascend - and I had no problem reaching the surface from about 20' - breathing out all the way (with the regulator in my mouth in case I had a problem).

10.) Financially, this cost me more than I thought it would. It was about $350 each (my wife and I did it together), plus about another $150 in food for two, plus $220 to board my dogs for two days, plus getting Friday off, someone to watch the kids, my wife coerced into going with me - all this was the most painful/scary part. But I'm glad I finally got it - it's taken about 5 years (another long story).

My advice - go for it - it's a blast! Now I can go "get wet" whenever I can afford it!

 

[agwatts]

You have some very good ideas and advice from pro's written here. I would echo a few points...talk to your instructor and/or dive master about your concerns and anxiety. Recognizing your fears and working through them will strengthen your skills. The pool sessions are your practice area...use it to your advantage. Practice, practice, practice.

I have had a student kick my mask off and another accidentally pull my regulator out of my mouth...these situations are real and can happen...it is how you respond that makes the difference. Hence the pool and open water sessions.

Stay with it, you'll thank yourself later when your comfort level increases and you begin to enjoy a world others see on TV.

Greg

 

[MuddyRubberDuck]

Ok. I just did my checkout dives this weekend. One thing I cant tell you is that if you are scared you are going to have more problems. I had somone in my class who didn't want to take her mask off or the reg from her mouth. just remember that the reg is right there and when you take your mask off your reg is in your mouth and you can breath. I am really comfortable in the water so i just ripped mine right off and had no problems with it, but i notice that the ones who were hesitant were the ones who had the most problems.

Now your issue in the pool when someone grabbed you, tell your instructor ahead of time(like others have said) what your issues are because depending how deep you are it is really dangerous to surface fast. They may try to keep you from surfacing on checkout dives if you are deep enough to hurt yourself, because it is for your own saftey.


Just remember that the instructor isn't going to have you do something that will hurt you. If you get paniced take a couple breaths calm down and try to work through it. And definatly let someone know if you are having bad enough problems that you need to surface. And if you do panic and bolt to the top please dont hold your breath.


Hope I helped being someone who just went through it.


Neil

 

[spectrum]

Sassalin.

We don't know what happened in the pool but it may have been a valuable lesson. It sounds like it became something of a panic episode and that is what can get you into trouble while diving. Knowing what that was like should give you a head start on learning to recognize and control it. Be sure to read up on the panic cycle. It is convered in many good dive textbooks and recently in some of the dive magazines.

Your checkout dives will be a demonstration of the skills you have been doing in the pool. The only real difference is that when it's time to swim you will have someplace intersting to go instead of chasing hairballs and band aids.

You should not expect to have calamity on each dive, in fact incidents are rare but can occur at any time. That is why most of your training is in how to deal with the problems. It's important to practice and further develop these skills after you are certified.

Stay in the pool until you are not fearful. Be sure to speak with your instructor. Excitement and anxiousness are good things but open water is not the place to bring fear. Diving is an adapatation and your progression will be unique to you. Be patient with yourself and have fun.

Pete

 

[RonFrank]

So how have the pool sessions been going?

The biggest challenge that new divers face is their own insecurity.

Read the advice above my Avatar, and keep it foremost in your mind. Most issues that occur while diving are not created by equipment failure, or outside factors but rather they are created in the mind of the diver.

Equipment failures do happen, but they are rare. You will have the instructor, and your buddy right there next to you, so no worries. A new divers biggest issue is the lack of comfort and potential problems that can arise because new divers can and do freak out. Relax, take a look around, and enjoy the moment. Diving is quite relaxing. Breath deeply, in and out slowly.

Fortunately you will be in a very nice environment. Clear water, and warm water make things easier. Just focus on the tasks at hand, and all will be good. Remember your regulator is your life line. Take slow deep breaths, and focus on breathing slowly. If you do get a bit of water in your mouth, no worries. You can cough, choke, puke, or whatever with a regulator in your mouth, and as long as you keep it in your mouth, it will provide life. NEVER spit your regulator out unintentionally.

Drills are essential. Clearing the mask it huge. Don't do it because you have to pass a test, do it because you need this skill. If you are uncomfortable with this, than get in the pool without scuba equipment, and snorkel until you are comfortable with mask removal.

The rest of the skills are IMO easy. Just remember to take a good breath before you remove the reg to share air. Also keep in mind you may not always have that luxury if things do go wrong. I practice basic skills on most dives, so get used to it, because these are the skills that can save your life. When something does go wrong, you need that muscle memory and thoughtless reaction.

You have a great attitude! So just work on the execution, and don't worry about things like equipment failure, and indecision. Remember, this is all about having fun, and enjoying life! Scuba is honestly one of the most relaxing pastimes. Just respect the fact you are in a hostile environment, and make sure you ALWAYS keep your skills tight.

 

[Papa_Bear]

RF, is right on point, here is my memories of my check-out dive! Now 36 years later I have been in caves that no other human as ever been in and you can only do that because you are sure of yourself and training!

My check-out dive was at Santa Cruz Island in the month of January! The water was cold and clear and standing on the back of the old dive boat the "Emerald" was like standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon! I could look down and see the team that had gone in before me at 60ft plus! In those days you had to do your water skills and then "Blow and Go"! That was a controlled ascent from 60ft blowing bubbles all the way to the surface! You learned that you could make it on one breath in a practical demonstration of dive physics! Witch has been taken out of all the curriculum's offered today except the US Navy!

I stood there waiting for my turn telling myself that "I can do this" over and over as the anxiety built in my throat starring into the cold clear water. Our training was more like Navy seal training than the resort diver training that's done today, but not everyone needs this level to dive safely. My point is I knew my equipment frontward and backward. We spent hours in practice in the pool before getting to this point!

The surface was being broken by bubbles from the teams below me expelling twice as much air than any two seasoned teams! Then a team would break the surface with a gasp and then a smile!

I was shaken from my trans by Stan Jackson yelling at me and my buddy Dave Michalski "Your next, lets go"! I will tell you Dave went first and it was all I could muster to to step out of that plane at 15000ft and that is how it felt! The next is a blur and to this day I can't tell you how I stepped off the back of that boat, but the bubbles and cold engulfed me and my breathing was close to hyperventilation! I was not going to let my buddy or myself down doing something I wanted to do so badly as become a SCUBA Diver!

I gathered myself and tried to relax eying my buddy and wanting to keep up my end of the team! Dave's eyes were as wide as mine and we put the regs in our mouths and dropped below the surface fallowing Stan Jackson down to where Otto Gasser awaited on the bottom! We did our skills, putting the numbing cold out of our minds and taking off our simple gear and then dawning it with ease!

It was time to "Blow and Go" as a team under the eye of the third diver and instructor Mr. Jackson! You held your reg just outside your mouth and blew those bubbles and we pushed off the bottom looking up! We were committed and I will always remember the smile on Dave's face as we took our place as divers on the surface behind the Old Emerald in the cold clear water that didn't feel so cold anymore!

We were now Divers free to explore our new world and use the 15 minutes of air we had left in our steel 72s! Get out of our way we had a new world to cover! I guess you never forget your checkout dive or that lust that keeps you going back after all the years have taken their toll!

 

[fisherdvm]

I think as long as you find a good, reputable shop, their equipment won't fail.

I can not say that. Our experience with a good reputable shop in Key Largo said otherwise.

One skill that is not taught in OW classes is gear inspection. Start by checking the gears before you even walk on the boat. Pull on the mouthpiece to see if visible cracks present. Screw the regulator cap tight, if it is not already. Check the hose ends for visible cracks. Check the first stage filter to make sure it is not all corroded, green, or caked with salt. Inflate the BC manually with your mouth till it is tight, and listen for leaks when you squeeze it. Check the dump valve location and function. If leaks present, it is likely at the dump valves or the inflator hose elbow - just tighten it till it stops.

Once you are on the boat and have the gear hooked up, look up this list, and go through it. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...15061-predive-gear-check-list-please-add.html. You should do this check list even if you had your own gears.

 

[RonFrank]

Papa Bears enthusiasm and memories about his first Diving experience are really what diving is all about. There are few experiences one can have that match the thrill of diving. Those first dives are priceless.

In a few years, and many dives later, you can look back, and still enjoy the thrill of your first dive. I remember my CO dives from many years back as if it was yesterday. I also remember my first deep wreck, my first shore dive, and my first experience on a colorful reef as if I was just there.

Diving changes a person. The beauty, the drama, the shared experience among friends are things that are impossible to describe. My diving memories fade as I do more diving, and the experiences merge into the deep blue. However I have vivid memories along the way that stand out and are unforgettable.

I can only hope that your adventure becomes as good as what I have experienced. Never forget to take the time to enjoy the moment. Good luck with your checkout dives, but I have a feeling that you will be overjoyed at the beauty and wonder that you will experience.

 

[Reef]

Relax, relax, relax...

I was a bundle of nerves on checkout dives.

You have done everything in the pool your going to do in your OW dives pretty much.

Enjoy the experience, and have fun.

 

[diver 85]

Can anyone tell me what to expect during my check out dives? Also, I had a bad experience not to long ago in the pool and now I am somewhat scared to dive ( I go the the pool each week to pratice). How safe do you think diving is and how often do accidents happen like your mask comes off, your mouthpiece breaks or your regulator freeflows?

Thanks in advance!

you'll do the same skills you learned in a pool except in deeper(20+ something feet)water....If I remember correctly, we went out & toured(dived) the grass beds of Tolendo Bend Reservoir after dives 3 & 4(the 2nd day of OW checkout dives)....Diving is very safe & in over 1k dives, I've never had a mask come off by accident, nor a mouthpiece break nor a regulator freeflow.......If you have serious doubts like this, get another hobby IMO IF you can not overcome your fear....btw, the way you're going about this is the correct way ie going to the pool weekly.....