OW this weekend!

[citygrl]

ok... so i'm going to the quarry to do my OW this weekend. I was wondering if any of you would be so kind as to just sort of lay out EXACTLY how this works and what each dive consists of?? I'm super nervous! Thanks...

 

[ERP]

I was certified though PADI and your certification agency might vary.

Basically open water dive 1 is just a get in and pootle around dive or as my instructor referred to it "the cattle drive". There are no skills to perform.

The remainder of the dives have at least one and more often more skills that must be performed, this for us at least involved decending down a line, kneeling on the bottom until the instructor gets to you, and performing the skill required.

On our open water dives, we were led on a tour of the area after some of the shorter skill sessions.

The open water dives aren't really very indicative of "diving", they seem to predominantly be places to demonstrate that you can do the skills you learned in the class.

I can't say I had much "fun" on my open water dives, but I did get glimpses of how much "fun" diving can be.

Hope this helps.

 

[O-ring]

citygrl,
Which quarry? I am from Arlington and we dive in these local mudholes all the time. Shoot, we might even see you this weekend...

 

[JDostal]

If you have no problems with the stuff you did in the pool, don't worry.

If you're doing it w/ PADI, your first dive will be a "cattle drive"...I like that saying =)

Your second, third, and fourth dives will be skills. Passing a reg. Clearing your mask...surface navigation (short distance), doing a CESA...easy stuff.

Don't worry and have fun!

 

[Goeduck]

citygrl;

The most important thing to remember is to relax and have fun. After all, you have already done your pool work. Just think of this as a great big pool.

Good Luck to ya.

 

[jbd]

with the others and would like to add another voice to the chorus about relaxing and having fun.

Once your certified try to dive the local quarries frequently as its usually a good place to hone your diving skills and be nicely prepared for the trips to the ocean.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

If you are taking a PADI certification course, you can expect:

All dives require:

• Listening to, and participating in the dive briefing
• Equipment Preparation
• Putting on and adjusting equipment
• Pre-Dive Safety Check
• An entry
• A bouyancy/weight check
• A descent
• A guided tour, adjusting for neutral buoyancy
• An ascent
• Exit the water
• Logging the dive for instructor's signature

Open Water Dive One requires no additional formally staged skills
Maximum Depth for this dive is 40ft

Open Water Dive Two requires:
Maximum Depth for this dive is 40ft

• Fin Pivot using the power inflator
• Partial and complete flooding and clearing of your mask
• Regulator Recovery and Clearing
• Alternate Air Source use in a staionary position (Donor & Receiver)
• Alternate Air Source ascent (Donor & Receiver)
• Weight removal at surface (Simulated weight ditching)

Open Water Dive Three requires:
Maximum Depth for this dive is 60ft

• Descent be done as a free descent, visual reference only (No touching descent line) to 20-30ft
• Fin Pivot, oral inflation
• Complete flood and clear of mask
• Optional Buddy breathing, stationary and ascent from 20-30ft

Open Water Dive Four requires:
Maximum Depth for this dive is 60ft

• Descent be done as a free descent without visual reference (No watching descent line) to max 60ft
• Hover midwater without sculling with hands or kicking with fins
• Remove, replace, and clear the mask underwater

Additionally, the following skills are required, and may be evaluated on any of dives 2, 3, or 4. The dive number which PADI recommends is included in parenthesis

• Cramp removal for self and buddy (2)
• 25 meter/yard tired diver tow (2)
• Snorkle/regulator exchanges (2)
• 50 meter/yard straight line surface swim with compass (3)
• CESA - Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent from 20-30ft to surface, establishing positive buoyancy at surface (3)
• Remove and replace weight system at surface (3)
• Remove and replace scuba unit at surface (3)
• Underwater navigation with a compass - Straight line and reciprocal course (4)

A seperate Skin Dive is Optional, and if tested requires:

• Surface swim demonstrating proper snorkling technique
• Clear water from snorkle
• Surface dives and underwater swimming
• Displacement clearing of snorkle during ascent

 

[JDostal]

Dang.


Well....


Just show us all up on our answers then!!!!


=)

Did you have a PADI OW Log Book next to you while you were typing that?

 

[citygrl]

will let you know how it goes!!

 

[citygrl]

we're going to milbrook. Saturday and Sunday.