Thanks. I understand. It is just written poorly. It should say "You must include" or "Required dives include..." Separating it like that makes it look like level 2 and "specialty diver" are mutually exclusive, and one could be level 2 without specialty diver. I get what they were going for, but the way it is written is quite weak. Especially when the sign off sheet for the instructor to sign/sticker/stamp only relates to "logged dives." It doesn't really matter to me, I just needed to know when to pop in and get my book stamped. I took a look at SSI's diver career path poster, which uses a much better set of wording to clarify. I guess not everyone reads these books so literally. Something that specified that level 2 equals specialty diver, and level 3 equals AOW would have locked in the definition of each. But, lacking the word "AND" changes up the meaning of the statement significantly, and without a statement regarding level 2 and specialty diver being the same thing, they look like 2 mutually exclusive titles. Especially when the sign off on the page only relates to logged dives. But I get it now. Call me overly analytical I guess. I have a training company in an unrelated field, and after each manual is created, I have inexperienced people read through it for clarity, as sometimes knowing too much about the topic hides errors like this. If one was to know that level 2 equals specialty diver, than you can read into the text. Having zero knowledge, the wording shows two separate titles.
Anyway, this horse is dead and beaten pretty well. Back to the actual stuff that matters, diving.
I have one instructor as of now through SSI. I certified for OW a few weeks ago, and he has invited me on every single OW dive day for his other classes so far. I am very happy, and work on my basic skills at the quarry weekly. While the students in the water do their mask clearing and regulator proficiencies, I stay on the platform and work on maintaining neutral buoyancy and hovering. If the class has an odd number of students, I can fill in as his buddy and do air sharing drills to allow him to work with someone relatively new, and keep my instructor available to assist any other student. So far so good. I'm not really worries about other classes as of yet, as I will be quite busy this fall, but for now I'm just soaking up what I can.
I have my kit all together and recently got my own tank. It is a steel bottle, so the weighting is very different. I have been using the relatively short training dives to alter my weight, until i am at the least amount of lead possible, while maintaining my ability to hold a safety stop at 15 feet. Carrying 8 pounds less lead than my cert day is terrific.
It is quite interesting, I must say, to be a novice at something again. I am really enjoying learning something new.
