WetCell
Contributor
This weekend my son and I got PADI OWC. I have waited 40 years for this, having gone through SCUBA at the Seweickley Pennsylvania Y when I was 15. At the time, you could not get a C card for SCUBA at 15, even though they let us take the course. We were given YMCA Skindiver cards and told that when we turned 16 they would issue us SCUBA certification. Well, we moved, SCUBA was lost but not forgotten.
Fast forward 40 years. My son is now 15 and a few weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to do the course. He was enthusiastic and so we did it together. A lot of it was review for me, but we had a great time and I finally got my card!
Our instructor was surprised when I told him that (back in the day) we had to swim down 12' to our equipment that was lying at the bottom of the pool, put it on and then clear the regulator and mask. We also did buddy breathing (no, not with an octopus for alternate air), which PADI pooh-poohs nowadays.
You can tell I am psyched, we had a great time and are looking forward to many dives in the future!
Fast forward 40 years. My son is now 15 and a few weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to do the course. He was enthusiastic and so we did it together. A lot of it was review for me, but we had a great time and I finally got my card!
Our instructor was surprised when I told him that (back in the day) we had to swim down 12' to our equipment that was lying at the bottom of the pool, put it on and then clear the regulator and mask. We also did buddy breathing (no, not with an octopus for alternate air), which PADI pooh-poohs nowadays.
You can tell I am psyched, we had a great time and are looking forward to many dives in the future!
