I agree with Bob. If things come back to you after reading through an OW manual and a quick trip to the beach, consider taking a refresher. A full course could be worth it too, considering it's been so long since your last dive. Anyway, my lengthy answers to your questions:
1. Is it normal for beginner OW courses to be a "3 day, DVD-couple hours in the pool-couple of dives", kind of deal?
Every instructor has their own view on how thorough an OW course should be. All should theoretically meet the minimum standards set by the agency the instructor is associated with. With that said, your description matches my description of the "$99 craigslist special". To give a comparison, my standard course is a total of 8 days (every weekend for a month) and costs $699. The first 6 days are 6 hours long- 3 hours dedicated to classroom and 3 hours dedicated to pool time. The last two days are the open water dives. I still use the DVD / e-learning, but it's used as 'homework' during the weekdays. Shorter courses are offered, but only to private classes. Check out this thread for some questions to ask your instructor:
How to find an excellent SCUBA class
2. Is there anything I should be concerned about with regard to diving and smoking (I smoke maybe 7-10 cigarettes per day, otherwise in good health, about 5'8" 160, no conditions) - I've been looking to quit for a while now, and maybe this will give me the kind of push I need - but fact is I do smoke and have for 15-20 years or so now. Am I at some enhanced risk for DCI or other concerns?
YES! Smoking increases Carbon Monoxide levels in your body- never a good idea while diving. Studies have also shown that smokers are at higher risk for type II DCS vs type I (Read: "You're screwed" DCS vs painful DCS). Then theres the issue of damaged lungs + gas exchange, restricted blood flow, etc. I'm not saying you're going to die if you smoke and dive, but you'll definitely lower your risk by quitting. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE:
The Tobacco Effect
3. Is this a good time of year, generally speaking, conditions-wise in Florida to start diving?
Generally speaking, cold weather = better visibility than warm weather in the same location. I prefer to teach students in colder waters as it also increases the intensity of the mammalian diving reflex (Read: it's harder to breathe without a mask on in cold water). If you can no-mask dive in cold water you can do it in warm, but the reverse is not always true. With that said, it's all about your comfort and your future diving plans.
4. Any instructor recommendations in the Delray/ Boynton area in FL? (I can ask on the Florida forum specifically if thats more appropriate) And related question - is there any benefit or drawback to selecting NAUI over PADI or vice versa?
I believe Dave Ochs is around your area though I'm not sure what he's up to these days. Do a search for Aqua Safari Adventures...
Many instructors, including myself, teach for both agencies. A few of the skill requirements are different, though minimally so. NAUI instructors are given a little more freedom to go beyond minimal standards which is why I prefer to teach NAUI courses. I don't remember where I heard this but I find it to be rather accurate: PADI is the how of diving whereas NAUI is the why of diving. Ask a PADI instructor about buoyancy and be prepared to learn how to inflate / deflate your BCD. Ask a NAUI instructor the same thing and expect to get a lecture on Boyle's law and Archimedes principle.
Both agencies can produce quality divers- the difference is that one has a history of regularly producing them *Grabbing the popcorn now*. Jokes aside, the agency is nowhere near as important as the instructor. Find a quality instructor and it won't matter whether they teach NAUI, PADI, SSI, SDI, ANDI, IANTD, NASE, ...
5. Unrelated but curious - What's the benefit of using split fins? I've seen a lot of divers on youtube using these?
Tests in the lab and field have REPEATEDLY shown split fins to conserve energy and produce equivalent or more power than traditional paddle fins when using a dolphin or flutter kick. Older split fins had issues with over-kicking which would cause a loss of thrust, but nearly all of today's models are made to withstand the strongest currents / kicks. With that said, the preferred kick for most advanced divers is the frog kick- a kick where split fins are found severely lacking. Flutter kicks are like an airplane- they can go forward really fast with minimal maneuverability (turning, etc). Frog kicks are like a helicopter- you can go forwards, backwards, pivot on a dime, etc. Because the frog kick pushes water back and up, it significantly reduces the chance of a blackout in silty bottom conditions. Flutter kicks will push water down, encouraging a silt blackout. The type of diving you do and your physical condition will likely dictate what type of fin will work best for you.
1. Is it normal for beginner OW courses to be a "3 day, DVD-couple hours in the pool-couple of dives", kind of deal?
Every instructor has their own view on how thorough an OW course should be. All should theoretically meet the minimum standards set by the agency the instructor is associated with. With that said, your description matches my description of the "$99 craigslist special". To give a comparison, my standard course is a total of 8 days (every weekend for a month) and costs $699. The first 6 days are 6 hours long- 3 hours dedicated to classroom and 3 hours dedicated to pool time. The last two days are the open water dives. I still use the DVD / e-learning, but it's used as 'homework' during the weekdays. Shorter courses are offered, but only to private classes. Check out this thread for some questions to ask your instructor:
How to find an excellent SCUBA class
2. Is there anything I should be concerned about with regard to diving and smoking (I smoke maybe 7-10 cigarettes per day, otherwise in good health, about 5'8" 160, no conditions) - I've been looking to quit for a while now, and maybe this will give me the kind of push I need - but fact is I do smoke and have for 15-20 years or so now. Am I at some enhanced risk for DCI or other concerns?
YES! Smoking increases Carbon Monoxide levels in your body- never a good idea while diving. Studies have also shown that smokers are at higher risk for type II DCS vs type I (Read: "You're screwed" DCS vs painful DCS). Then theres the issue of damaged lungs + gas exchange, restricted blood flow, etc. I'm not saying you're going to die if you smoke and dive, but you'll definitely lower your risk by quitting. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE:
The Tobacco Effect
3. Is this a good time of year, generally speaking, conditions-wise in Florida to start diving?
Generally speaking, cold weather = better visibility than warm weather in the same location. I prefer to teach students in colder waters as it also increases the intensity of the mammalian diving reflex (Read: it's harder to breathe without a mask on in cold water). If you can no-mask dive in cold water you can do it in warm, but the reverse is not always true. With that said, it's all about your comfort and your future diving plans.
4. Any instructor recommendations in the Delray/ Boynton area in FL? (I can ask on the Florida forum specifically if thats more appropriate) And related question - is there any benefit or drawback to selecting NAUI over PADI or vice versa?
I believe Dave Ochs is around your area though I'm not sure what he's up to these days. Do a search for Aqua Safari Adventures...
Many instructors, including myself, teach for both agencies. A few of the skill requirements are different, though minimally so. NAUI instructors are given a little more freedom to go beyond minimal standards which is why I prefer to teach NAUI courses. I don't remember where I heard this but I find it to be rather accurate: PADI is the how of diving whereas NAUI is the why of diving. Ask a PADI instructor about buoyancy and be prepared to learn how to inflate / deflate your BCD. Ask a NAUI instructor the same thing and expect to get a lecture on Boyle's law and Archimedes principle.
Both agencies can produce quality divers- the difference is that one has a history of regularly producing them *Grabbing the popcorn now*. Jokes aside, the agency is nowhere near as important as the instructor. Find a quality instructor and it won't matter whether they teach NAUI, PADI, SSI, SDI, ANDI, IANTD, NASE, ...
5. Unrelated but curious - What's the benefit of using split fins? I've seen a lot of divers on youtube using these?
Tests in the lab and field have REPEATEDLY shown split fins to conserve energy and produce equivalent or more power than traditional paddle fins when using a dolphin or flutter kick. Older split fins had issues with over-kicking which would cause a loss of thrust, but nearly all of today's models are made to withstand the strongest currents / kicks. With that said, the preferred kick for most advanced divers is the frog kick- a kick where split fins are found severely lacking. Flutter kicks are like an airplane- they can go forward really fast with minimal maneuverability (turning, etc). Frog kicks are like a helicopter- you can go forwards, backwards, pivot on a dime, etc. Because the frog kick pushes water back and up, it significantly reduces the chance of a blackout in silty bottom conditions. Flutter kicks will push water down, encouraging a silt blackout. The type of diving you do and your physical condition will likely dictate what type of fin will work best for you.
a few years back. I did a NAUI class in college, was diving a few years then life got in the mix and i dropped out for 15 years. When i moved to florida i went on a dive and realized i needed to be "re-educated". So i actually did a refresh that was a full scuba OW class. and i'm glad i did.
