Missing Diver at Lake Pleasant

[ZenDiver.3D]

so im new to diving, only 50 dives. im looking into getting my AOW and SOLO in the future so i want to know if what i heard is even close to true or something that could happen. cause if it is i need to know. i heard the diver was new. he only had a few dives, like less than 15. he was getting his AOW, Bouyancy (if thats how its spelled) and navigation training and his deep water. like i said im new so if those arent the right names.....

so my questions are this. should they have let him do the extra classes so soon to learning the basics? i was told to get atleast 100 dives before i get more certs. should all of those been done at once? ( this isnt meant to blame the instructure either. im just asking cause i dont know. i understand hind sight is 2020.) if so is a place like the dam a good place for that? i have been to the dam a few times. it seemed to drop off real fast on either side of it. seems like not the right place to work on bouyancy. if im going to get my navigation, should i expect the instructor to be right next to me with in arms reach? i know when i did my training with a local shop (if you want to know who, read some of my few other posts as i dont want to "pimp" him right now, but he is great) but when i did my cert class he was right there with me and never out of reach. granted that was only for the first 5 dives but when i went diving with buddys after that they knew i was new and i never got out or reach of them. both on an effort of mine and theirs.

im not asking to get flamed, im asking so if its not supposed to be this way, I will know. as i know there are several different opinions on the practices of others on this board, i figured this would be the best place to ask.

AOW is more of an intro to the specialties. Take it, but don't think it makes you an advanced diver. The diving will help. Continue to dive within limits, planning and diving safely. You will need to take your Rescue Diver course before you can take a solo course, plus have the 100 dives for that.

So, dive. And train. And dive. You will get there just fine. When you feel ready to take the next course, go for it. There is no set rule. Everyone is different.

 

[RYCO]

There are some people that the OW class should be longer and include all those skills and there are those that think people should wait and get more experience before adding on other skills.

Perhaps the best answer is "it depends."

Different people learn at different rates. Some people "get it" all at once, others take a while and a lot of practice to get a handle on skills. There is no right or wrong way, it's what works for you.

The waiting for 100 dives is usually more advanced certs, like technical or professional levels.

so maybe it was because he knew i needed to have more exp before i continued.... i get that then and im glad he told me what he did. thanks.

AOW is more of an intro to the specialties. Take it, but don't think it makes you an advanced diver. The diving will help. Continue to dive within limits, planning and diving safely. You will need to take your Rescue Diver course before you can take a solo course, plus have the 100 dives for that.

So, dive. And train. And dive. You will get there just fine. When you feel ready to take the next course, go for it. There is no set rule. Everyone is different.

ok that makes sence. i brought up solo diving when we were talking about further education. thanks

so my main concern is this part

"should all of those been done at once? ( this isnt meant to blame the instructure either. im just asking cause i dont know. i understand hind sight is 2020.) if so is a place like the dam a good place for that? i have been to the dam a few times. it seemed to drop off real fast on either side of it. seems like not the right place to work on bouyancy. if im going to get my navigation, should i expect the instructor to be right next to me with in arms reach? i know when i did my training with a local shop (if you want to know who, read some of my few other posts as i dont want to "pimp" him right now, but he is great) but when i did my cert class he was right there with me and never out of reach. granted that was only for the first 5 dives but when i went diving with buddys after that they knew i was new and i never got out or reach of them. both on an effort of mine and theirs."

i know im incharge of me "thumbing" a dive and even a class. and i know that i will when im ready to continue with my calsses but wont know the questions i have in bold are normal or not. im mainly looking for answers on those questions.

 

[Cave Diver]

"should all of those been done at once? ( this isnt meant to blame the instructure either.

Like I mentioned previously, it really depends on the individual. Some people will come out of their OW class ready to move on to more skills and task loading. Some will require much more practice before they're ready to handle more. When you feel you're no longer being challenged in your dives, it may be time to look at more classes. I'll leave your other questions to those who are more familiar with your location.

 

[ScubaSteve2000]

The best was to get experience diving is to dive as often as you can. You can contact experienced divers through your LDS or on the Southwest Sand Sharks forum to dive with. I'm at the lake almost every Saturday so PM me if you want.

The old dam is accessed by boat but there are several shore diving sites around Lake Pleasant. Some are easy entry/exit like Desert Tortoise or Beismeyer Point. Other spots take a bit more effort like Vista Point. This time of year you will definately work on your navigation skills no matter where you get in. Buddy awareness is even more important now with the vis so bad.

How much instructor interaction you will receive during AOW dives depends on the instructor. Rescue is more interactive because of the rescue scenarios but even then it depends on the instructor. I've heard of rescue classes that were very intensive and some that weren't.

Experience is still the best teacher so the most important thing is to get out there and dive.

 

[RYCO]

Thanks steve. I have dove bismyre and vista. I love to dive. But I can only do it during the week though. I haven't been able to get out in a few months though. The last time was on the scubateer at the dam and tech island. If you end up going during the week sometime let me know. I'd love to go. Shoot me a pm when you go. Thx

 

[divecommunity]

JAX, they are scaling back because it costs the county several thousands of dollars to have their guys at the lake. The ROV is rented and there is that cost too. I understand that it doesnt make sense to pull back but there are alot of variables. The Tec guys need to get together and do what they know best. They would be doing this as a volunteer operation. We as a dive community need to pull together and help each other. The last thing the family of the victim need is to have divers on Scubaboard arguing amongst themselves. All our prayers are with the family, crew and other divers out that day.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

so maybe it was because he knew i needed to have more exp before i continued.... i get that then and im glad he told me what he did. thanks.



ok that makes sence. i brought up solo diving when we were talking about further education. thanks

so my main concern is this part

"should all of those been done at once? is a place like the dam a good place for that? i have been to the dam a few times. it seemed to drop off real fast on either side of it. seems like not the right place to work on bouyancy. if im going to get my navigation, should i expect the instructor to be right next to me with in arms reach? i know when i did my training with a local shop (if you want to know who, read some of my few other posts as i dont want to "pimp" him right now, but he is great) but when i did my cert class he was right there with me and never out of reach. granted that was only for the first 5 dives but when i went diving with buddys after that they knew i was new and i never got out or reach of them. both on an effort of mine and theirs."

i know im incharge of me "thumbing" a dive and even a class. and i know that i will when im ready to continue with my calsses but wont know the questions i have in bold are normal or not. im mainly looking for answers on those questions.

Dive and work on navigation and buoyancy. The AOW course does address and help you refine buoyancy and navigation. I have never been to the dam, but I read that it has a slope area. Use that and stay along it to practice. Then work your way down the wall sections as you practice controlling your position in the water and along the wall. Or tie off ribbons on a line and work up and down it using them for reference. It is good practice.

I train brand new divers in a low vis, ripping current, wall situation quite often. We can't predict conditions here and they change often. It is good to train in that, because my people learn to handle it right off the bat. I train 10 year olds in this. As you train, your instructor will be as close as your training level requires. If they are your buddy, they should be very close. If you have a buddy, they may let you work things out and watch from a distance in the water. I talk to my students and tell them what to expect from me in the water. You should have that talk with your instructor.
In any case, new skill building can be a nervous experience. Plan ahead, know the responses for anything that comes up and be prepared. You will be fine. Enjoy the training.

I know people who take everything right in a row, and those who space it out. If you feel you have grasped everything in the course and are ready for more, go ahead to the next one. If you feel you need more time, then dive a bit before pushing ahead.

 

[Jax]

JAX, they are scaling back because it costs the county several thousands of dollars to have their guys at the lake. The ROV is rented and there is that cost too. I understand that it doesnt make sense to pull back but there are alot of variables. The Tec guys need to get together and do what they know best. They would be doing this as a volunteer operation. We as a dive community need to pull together and help each other. The last thing the family of the victim need is to have divers on Scubaboard arguing amongst themselves. All our prayers are with the family, crew and other divers out that day.

I understand that it's the manhours being scaled back after Bill mentioned it . . . I just did not understand how you can scale back ONE ROV . . . but now I know it is rented. I wish you guys would see these questions as a quest for understanding, not arguments.

Those of us who are not familiar with Lake Pleasant and its emergency response can only compare what is happening to what we do know. Kind of amazing that a county the size and population of Maricopa doesn't own an ROV . . . .

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I understand that it's the manhours being scaled back after Bill mentioned it . . . I just did not understand how you can scale back ONE ROV . . . but now I know it is rented. I wish you guys would see these questions as a quest for understanding, not arguments.

Those of us who are not familiar with Lake Pleasant and its emergency response can only compare what is happening to what we do know. Kind of amazing that a county the size and population of Maricopa doesn't own an ROV . . . .

Because usually your questions contain judgements and opinions along with the questions......

 

[Jax]

Because usually your questions contain judgements and opinions along with the questions......

:shocked2: On ScubaBoard? No way!