Just became full cave certified...

[birdwrasse]

was quite a challenge, lots of task loading, but the skills will add to my repitoir...

definitely looking to go back to do some exploring!





--c

 

[RiverRat]

Hey congrats! That should get you pumped for Xmas!

 

[BabyDuck]

congrats

 

[TSandM]

Where'd you do your class? Who was your instructor? Which caves did you dive? Gotta divulge the details so those of us who are currently caveless can live vicariously through you . . .

 

[deepdiver4]

Congrats!!!!
Welcome To The Dark Side

 

[birdwrasse]

sorry about that...

i did most of my classes in the lake city, florida area. usually took about 30-45 minutes to drive out to the shop, "dive outpost," and a few minutes to get to whereever we were diving for the day. nice people at the dive shop, and the owner even has accomidations there if you'd like to save a few bucks!

while i've dove the cenotes in mexico, i never got any kind of certification, so had to go from cavern, intro to cave, apprentice cave, and then full cave! did it in all in 7 days, 17 dives...

i was taught by, "michael o'leary." really good and knowledgeable instructor! we butted heads a bit due to the fact that i trust my equipment, i dive my computer, and the cave divers there typically dive tables... i understood his rationale, but still trust my computers... if i can argue with someone and they'll still dive with me, they're the kind of diver i want diving with me!

we dove in peacock springs state park, through orange grove, peacock 1 & 3, traverse to olsen sink and back, and cow springs. i went through peanut restriction, nicholson tunnel, and on a different day, did little river.

i truly feel like the skills will be an asset to the ones i've already learned and i feel like i've got a new perspective on having to maintain really good bouyancy.

i would totally recommend the classes, even if you have to do only one at a time!


cheers!



--c

Where'd you do your class? Who was your instructor? Which caves did you dive? Gotta divulge the details so those of us who are currently caveless can live vicariously through you . . .

 

[contender]

sorry about that...

i did most of my classes in the lake city, florida area. usually took about 30-45 minutes to drive out to the shop, "dive outpost," and a few minutes to get to whereever we were diving for the day. nice people at the dive shop, and the owner even has accomidations there if you'd like to save a few bucks!

while i've dove the cenotes in mexico, i never got any kind of certification, so had to go from cavern, intro to cave, apprentice cave, and then full cave! did it in all in 7 days, 17 dives...

i was taught by, "michael o'leary." really good and knowledgeable instructor! we butted heads a bit due to the fact that i trust my equipment, i dive my computer, and the cave divers there typically dive tables... i understood his rationale, but still trust my computers... if i can argue with someone and they'll still dive with me, they're the kind of diver i want diving with me!

we dove in peacock springs state park, through orange grove, peacock 1 & 3, traverse to olsen sink and back, and cow springs. i went through peanut restriction, nicholson tunnel, and on a different day, did little river.

i truly feel like the skills will be an asset to the ones i've already learned and i feel like i've got a new perspective on having to maintain really good bouyancy.

i would totally recommend the classes, even if you have to do only one at a time!


cheers!



--c

Carlos,
Congrats on the full cave, next time you are in the area call me and we will do some diving. Good luck with Joel's trimix class.
Chad

 

[birdwrasse]

thanks! will do. i want to dive the wrecks in truk, but if i can't get anyone to go with me, i'll be back in florida in a few months! i think the trimix will give me more strengths just like cave did! looking forward to it.




--c

 

[daniel f aleman]

Could you expand a little on your differing opinions with O'Leary concerning computer use?

 

[birdwrasse]

i don't think he dislikes or distrusts computers, his point is that they fail! i can understand that... everything can fail. i don't want to live my life worrying about what is going to fail and not do it. now, i'm not going to jump into a fire and hope i live, but i dive because i love it and i trust my computer more than my brain. all things being equal, my computer lets me enjoy the dive, fully! i can set my limits, be them depth, dive time, gasses, etc. i haven't used tables since i first learned to dive and remember making more mistakes on tables while i follow the computer or software and haven't gotten bent... i know there are a lot of people that have bad luck with electronics, be it abuse, neglect, or other. i buy good electronics and they last for me! i change the batteries early, and let only authorized technicians maintain my equipment!

would you believe the first time i took my omega seamaster diving, it flooded?! true! now i don't take it underwater! and i would think that it should hold up better and a plastic computer console. i use a cobra in guage mode as a back up and a uwatec smart tec with wireless transmitters as my primary.

on the other hand, i mentioned to him that i also use diving software, and he likes that as they are basically, electronic tables. i plan my dive for my computer, put in a contingency on my dive software, write down or make a label for my slate, and off i go. (the dymo lable maker makes a cool clear label that affixes well to my wrist slate and i don't have to worry about legibilty or rubbing off what i have written...)

by nature, i'm cautious and know my limits! i've cancelled dives when i was too tired and also know when to push myself a little harder.

i would totally recommend mike to teach you cave diving!



--c