nagel
Contributor
Not sure I have a question here, but rather maybe an observation. Last year I got my open water certification. During my course one of the common questions I got from instructors as well as others in the class was, "so, where are you going". It appears that everybody in the class had some sort of major vacation scheduled and was getting certified so they could dive (primarily because others on their vacation would be diving). In fact, the class I was in was kinda an "emergency class" so to get these people certified so they could go on their trip. One was going to Australia, a couple to Mexico, and another to Florida. These people had never dove before in their life. As I watched these people in the course, did they pass the certification - yes. Where they expert divers - by no means. They like me, had the certification, but at least I felt that I had (have) a lot of learning to do. Basically, I felt, and still do, that I have to gain some experience points. I remember during my first dives after certification, I still struggled with some of the basic skills and over time I work on these with every dive.
I often think about these people that I shared the certification class with. How did they do. Especially, the "kid" going to Australia where the 10 deadliest sea creatures live. Were they prepared? I don't think I would want to jump into a "major dive" right out of certification.
Following certification, I was blessed with having two experienced dive buddies (my brother and sister in-law) to help me (and still do) show me the ropes and help me gain experience. I still feel I have a long way to go. I mainly dive is quarrys and lakes in southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. Last November I traveled to Mexico and dove the Rivera Maya. I guess my point is, although diving in Mexico was an absolute awesome experience, I would not have been prepared for this right out of the certification class. I by no means am an expert diver and have only logged about 25 dives, but before Mexico I had logged some dives and gained much needed experience you don't get with a short certification class. I wasn't going from open water certification into the deep sea.
I'm sorry for rambling on and now not really sure what my point is; other than, I read about people on this forum getting certified while on vacation or flying through a certification course and taking what I consider some risky dives, with very limited experience. I guess you have to get experience somehow. But, my first 20 dives was to about 30 maybe 40 feet, not 100 that is typically something you see in Mexico. (Atleast for me, I was down to 100 feet and never realized until I looked at my gauge - no thermocline to tell me)
S. Nagel
I often think about these people that I shared the certification class with. How did they do. Especially, the "kid" going to Australia where the 10 deadliest sea creatures live. Were they prepared? I don't think I would want to jump into a "major dive" right out of certification.
Following certification, I was blessed with having two experienced dive buddies (my brother and sister in-law) to help me (and still do) show me the ropes and help me gain experience. I still feel I have a long way to go. I mainly dive is quarrys and lakes in southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. Last November I traveled to Mexico and dove the Rivera Maya. I guess my point is, although diving in Mexico was an absolute awesome experience, I would not have been prepared for this right out of the certification class. I by no means am an expert diver and have only logged about 25 dives, but before Mexico I had logged some dives and gained much needed experience you don't get with a short certification class. I wasn't going from open water certification into the deep sea.
I'm sorry for rambling on and now not really sure what my point is; other than, I read about people on this forum getting certified while on vacation or flying through a certification course and taking what I consider some risky dives, with very limited experience. I guess you have to get experience somehow. But, my first 20 dives was to about 30 maybe 40 feet, not 100 that is typically something you see in Mexico. (Atleast for me, I was down to 100 feet and never realized until I looked at my gauge - no thermocline to tell me)
S. Nagel