Starting Classes Tomorrow - Advice Needed!

[OliviaRose]

Hello!

I am beginning my SSI Open Water Diver certification classes tomorrow. I am starting with the classroom, as I can't get an appointment for my physical until next week (after which I will be doing pool classes concurrently with the classroom). I guess I am just wondering what to expect from the course in general so any advice will be much appreciated.

A bit about myself - I have a BS in environmental science and biology, and am currently completing my MPH in global health and infectious disease. I have a deep love and respect for the ocean and all its life. I inherited my sense of adventure from my father and seek to explore as much of the world as I possibly can. I have always felt drawn to the ocean; I spend most of my free time swimming in the sea in the summer and travel to the Caribbean as much as possible.

I will be going to Hawaii this July, though I plan on diving in the Northeast when the seasons allow and will be completing my open water dives locally. I have been on a total of three dives, all off of Vieques, Puerto Rico. I consider myself a strong swimmer and am an experienced snorkeler, with moderate free diving experience.

It would be great to hear from anyone who is familiar with diving and ear problems. I haven't gone to my doctor's exam yet, though I've been cleared to dive by my ENT before. I am hoping she doesn't give me a hard time (or reject me!) because of my ears. I had tubes inserted when I was 8 (20 years ago) due to chronic childhood ear infections. I've ruptured my left eardrum three times over the years - twice while reef diving and once at 50ft depth diving. While unpleasant, I was able to make a calm and controlled ascent with no further issues. I had no problems during the first two dives at 30-35ft, other than more than average difficulty equalizing the left ear.

This was in 2010 and I have since practiced my free diving and equalization extensively, and while improved it's still difficult. I am confident that I can overcome the issue and have discussed it with my instructors. Has anyone else had similar experiences? I refuse to allow it to hold me back from diving - I just feel like it is a calling in some ways I suppose.

A couple other questions:

1. What should I wear to pool sessions? I get cold easily and am small (5'5", 110lbs). I have a 3mm full wetsuit and at the moment am planning on just wearing that with my dive boots (2 hours in pool I believe) - Thoughts?

2. Should I invest in a regulator to use during training and/or a dive computer? If so, any recommendations?

3. What exactly are the SSI testing requirements during the open water dives?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[kelemvor]

A couple other questions:

1. What should I wear to pool sessions? I get cold easily and am small (5'5", 110lbs). I have a 3mm full wetsuit and at the moment am planning on just wearing that with my dive boots (2 hours in pool I believe) - Thoughts?

2. Should I invest in a regulator to use during training and/or a dive computer? If so, any recommendations?

1. You should ask the instructor. I'm assuming the pool is heated. Depending on how warm they keep it, 3mm might be too much. Bring it, and if it's too much wear a swimsuit only next time for class.

2. My opinion (and you know what they say about opinions...) is that you should rent or use class equipment if the shop provides it. Other than taking someone's advice on faith alone you aren't likely to be making a well vetted purchase decision before you're even certified. Once you get certified, try and find rentals of the equipment you want to buy. Then once you're sure you like the piece of gear, take the plunge. It's likely your dive shop will say you should buy right away so they can make the sale...

 

[LowDrag]

When I did my SSI OW course we wore half of our 7MM Farmer John suit in the pool and stayed quite warm. We started with a surface swim back and forth across the (lengthwise) four times. I forget what the exact distance was. Then we lined up in a row on our knees depressed and started learning to do mask and reg drills. We never did fin pivots like many instructors do, also we did not do a proper weight check. I would make sure you do the weight check with the recommended 500 PSI in your tank. My instructor's weighted me out with 50 lbs of lead to get me to stay on the bottom during open water. I don't recommend that at all, I feel so much better now that I have taken a workshop on trim, buoyancy and propulsion techniques and learned the right way like I should have been taught from the start. Once we got settled a bit in the pool we practiced air sharing/buddy ascents, long stride into the pool, all things you will talk about in class. I have since started my AOW with a different agency and find that I really like SSI's books and course materials much better. They put together a good course IMO but in the end it all boils down to the instructor more than anything else. My workshop instructor is with the same agency I am doing my AOW with and is by far a better instructor than my other instructor who has since been removed from our shop and replaced by a new long time instructor. One other thing to keep in mind, you get out of the class what you put into it. Read your materials and be prepared for the class, you will enjoy it much more than if you do not.

 

[KevinNM]

You might, given your ear problems, focus a bit on equalization. Don't allow it to get painful, keep ahead of the issue by starting early and ensuring you gently do it every few feet. Stop and ascend a few feet if you start having trouble. If you really have trouble the instructor should be able to work with you on that, at worst there will be another day if you don't hurt yourself.

But I'd suggest you post this in the medical forum below, where actual experts might give advice.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diving-medicine/

 

[OliviaRose]

Thanks so much for the replies!

So far I have a great feeling about my dive center and instructors. Everyone seems great and they were very careful about fitting my new equipment. So far I feel pretty comfortable about training with them and get the sense they have high standards. I have been studying a ton and have found the SSI online resources to be very informative and thorough. I've always wanted to do this and so I am basically eating up any information I can and trying to memorize all the basics.

The pool is about 80 degrees (I asked) and even though it's heated I think the only thing that can bum me out is if I am cold! Of course, I don't want to be the only goof wearing a suit haha

Regarding whether to buy or not to buy, I think it is wise advice to get the feel of the equipment before training! On the other hand, just for the sake of the question, couldn't it also be helpful to train with the same computer or regulator that I plan on doing future diving with so that I become very familiar with it?

Cheers!
Olivia

---------- Post added April 6th, 2015 at 01:12 AM ----------

Ooh thank you, I will check that out!

 

[Nasser]

Hi Olivia,

My brother also inserted tubes as a child around the same age as you had it done, he has had to deal with ENT issues throughout his childhood and youth but has never ruptured an eardrum. Now in his 40's, he is a certified Divemaster and Technical Diver and continues to dive extensively. I'm not an ENT specialist but if you do get the go ahead then hopefully this should not stand in the way of you becoming an excellent diver and advancing in the sport.

As far as what to wear - the 3mm should be fine. I would hold off on purchasing anything other than what you currently have until you've gotten certified and perhaps even rented a few times. It's best to try out a few options and determine your personal preferences. Then you could start with an entry level dive computer, (given you already have a wetsuit, mask and fins) and build your kit gradually from there with the BCD, Reg, etc..

Can't tell you much about SSI requirements but I'm sure you can get that info from your instructor and online.

Best of luck in your diving and studies.

Cheers.

 

[OliviaRose]

Thanks! Everyone is so helpful on this site, it's wonderful. I don't think it should hold me back - my ENT (same one my entire life) cleared me to dive again more recently, and the ear has minimal scarring and responded normally on the pressure tests My only worry with it is that the form they gave me is to be filled out by your primary care and mine has only been my doctor for about a year so she doesn't really know my history!

Personally, I think it's totally workable and will get better with experience - Thanks for the support!!

Olivia

 

[Yoyodyne-88]

Olivia, relax and enjoy.

Your instructor has the responsibility to make the experience positive, even for people who are utterly unprepared or unskilled. You don't need to "ace" the first class or pool session. Your positive motivation will make their job much easier, but don't sweat the details - that's what they are trained for.

Have fun!

 

[tridacna]

. My instructor's weighted me out with 50 lbs of lead to get me to stay on the bottom during open...

You sure about that? 50lbs will definitely keep you down...not sure how you got up though.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Other than your mask, snorkel, and fins do not let them talk you into buying anything before you are certified. if you have those items already use them . Don't buy new ones just because they say the ones you have are not "dive quality" , not suitable, their insurance won't let them put you in the pool with your gear, etc. Unless what you are using is Walmart junk there is no reason to not use good snorkeling gear for your pool work.
Take your 3 mil and by all means use it! Two hours in 80 degree water for some is no big deal. For others it's torture. They can even approach hypothermia. Do what's right for you and don't worry about anyone else.
Make sure they do proper weight checks before putting you on scuba. Then recheck after the first time with all the gear on. You should be doing a weight check in every pool session.