'Nother newbie

[Chris Johnson]

So this is where all the divers hang out! I looked a while back, and I think I did a search, but I never found this board. I've been lurking on a couple other boards but the traffic there was very slow. Already I can tell I will learn a great deal here - excellent board!

I'm a new diver with just 16 dives. I have taken the Nitrox specialty course and am taking the Stress and Rescue and Navigation specialties now. I have mostly been diving in Florida springs, but I have managed two dives offshore of Jacksonville. Very cool! For me, it was very awe inspring to be out in that big ocean, only able to see 15 feet in any direction.

My wife and I are working hard to prepare for our diving vaction to Little Cayman in August. We are going to take as many specialty courses as possible, and dive as much as we can until then. After Little Cayman, we'll have met the requirements for an Advanced Open Water certification, but we won't get them until we feel that we are really advanced divers. I can't wait until we can relax and do some worry free diving

 

[daylight]

Chris,
First of all Welcome to the board.

I suggest that you can relax now. Enjoy the moment as you gain experience, skills, and knowledge. This is a sport that can be enjoyed a every level.

Always dive asafely and within you capabilities.

DSAO

 

[scubakat]

& have fun. Dive as much as you can. Who really cares about the silly cards anyway :mean:.

btw
Welcome from the Puget Sound!


-kate

 

[Mario S Caner]

Welcome to the family Chris Johnson, we love it here too, that's what makes this place special, we're all family now. Good to have you aboard, spread the word!


Sea you in the Deep Blue!

 

[keralucu]

Welcome Chris. And I agree with Scubakat, relax and have fun!

When I first certifed 2 months ago, I was ready to jump straight into Advanced, but after getting some advice from the guys on this site, I changed my mind and decided to do as many OW dives as possible before moving to the next level. Over the next two months I will be slowly doing the dives that are required for Advanced - and my only aim is to be AOW by February next year when I go to the Similan Islands. There is so much to learn about your own body underwater, let alone all the amazing stuff to SEE, so you should try allow yourself time to enjoy it and get used to it.

That was my $0.02 worth! Enjoy it here anyway, the best place to be when you're above the blue...

 

[TexasMike]

Originally posted by scubakat
& have fun. Dive as much as you can. Who really cares about the silly cards anyway :mean:.

-kate

TexasMike wants a c-card with Pikachu on it.

 

[Chris Johnson]

Actually most of the work I have to do is getting in better shape. I'd hate to get to Little Cayman and be worn out after a couple days. But since they take care of all the gear, maybe that won't be a problem? How much physical work do you do diving several days in a row? Another reason I need to get in shape is that I may have had DCS on my last dives. I had a reddish mottled area on my shoulder where my BC strap goes. At the time, I assumed it was a little bruising from all the weight I was lugging around. I'm going to post on the diving medicine forum to ask about that.

My first ocean dives convinced me I needed the Stress and Rescue and Navigation classes. I started getting a little stressed when I needed to start heading back to the anchor line because I had no idea where it was! Fortunately, my buddy (not my wife, she was seasick) knew right where it was.

Another thing we need to do is get some sun so we won't burn so easily. My wife was fried when she had to stay on the boat because she was seasick . I think we'll enjoy the tanning part, and I know we'll enjoy the classes. I get to take a half day off from work to go to the pool for the Stress class And next week I take an entire day off to go to Blue Grotto

 

[greg somers]

There could be a cosmic reason for that grasshopper...
Only those who have proven themselves worthy (and others that sneak in the back way,dammit!),may enter these hallowed halls of diving knowledge.....
Naahhhhh,Who am I kidding...Any schmuck with a keyboard will do,sooo from one schmuck to another...."Come on in!"
15 feet in the caymans? Get out of the bathtub man.I heard that the vis is much better...hahahaha.I usually dive in 40-70' vis in N.Z. Welcome to the site,search liberally and ask away to your hearts content.
Cheers Big ears,
The one and only,
Gasman