Diving for Science Classes At Aquarena Center, Spring Lake San Marcos

[driftwood]

I seem to recall back when Bridget was running it and then Eric, that they asked you to dive at least once every 12 months, if not they might ask you to monitor the class (no cost).

I remember that policy and it was scrapped a couple years ago. My old manual set the requirement at 4 hours a year. The major concern was that you wouldn't be able to pass the buoyancy dive after a long break. Another reason was to get more volunteer dives out of people who took the class.

 

[BradMM]

I seem to recall back when Bridget was running it and then Eric, that they asked you to dive at least once every 12 months, if not they might ask you to monitor the class (no cost).

I got the certification when it was first created... whenever that was. I work there and used to store my gear out there but, when it all got stolen, I basically hadn't been diving much since then. That could be 15+ years ago, don't remember. Family and I basically went to the Caribbean and snorkeled of did some free diving since then. Anyway, I thought I was still certified but, no, ask stated above, if you don't log dives within that 12 month period, you do need to be reapproved. By the way, the building where my gear was being kept is no longer there and Ron is working hard to get a new one built.

---------- Post added June 1st, 2013 at 02:52 PM ----------

The part I left out is that I am working on getting back in the water out there, have bought new gear, so let me know if any of you are heading out to San Marcos!

Brad

 

[driftwood]

Hi Brad,

Just dropped Taylor an email regarding folks getting "re-certified". We should have an answer Monday or Tuesday.

If you need a dive buddy, there are three of us that dive every Thursday morning at 10. In addition, there is another group of regulars that dive Tuesday morning at 10. All five of us are A4 rated divers. You are more than welcome to join us.

 

[driftwood]

Here is the response I got from Taylor regarding getting re-certified for Spring Lake:

[FONT=&amp]Hi Jeff,[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]I am not going to be strict about letting certified D4S divers get in the lake. Although the program has been suspended for almost 2 years, we are not counting that time against someone who was up to date before the project started. Basically, if someone was up to date before the habitat restoration project started, they are still up to date. Also, since we are not currently offering D4S classes, people can’t monitor classes to get up to speed. Therefore, I am going to be very relaxed about letting non-current divers get current again by allowing them to dive with a current diver. [/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Also, the guy who you are talking about is welcome to dive, let me know if y’all want to do that two tank dive. [/FONT]

 

[MattJ]

That's good news! I have some vacation time to burn, so I might be able to get away for some weekday dives, too.

 

[GaryBDavis]

All five of us are A4 rated divers.

Whats an A4 rating?

 

[chrpai]

Whats an A4 rating?

autocratic, arrogant, abusive a**hole? (kidding)

---------- Post added June 3rd, 2013 at 06:09 PM ----------

Also, the guy who you are talking about is welcome to dive, let me know if y’all want to do that two tank dive.[/COLOR]

Any chance that guy that he is talking about is me?

I'd me more then willing to get some on the job training and help clean the area up to help get the program restarted.

 

[driftwood]

autocratic, arrogant, abusive a**hole? (kidding)

---------- Post added June 3rd, 2013 at 06:09 PM ----------



Any chance that guy that he is talking about is me?

I'd me more then willing to get some on the job training and help clean the area up to help get the program restarted.

Some people who know me might use those adjectives to describe me.

An A4 rated diver is an old rating system that ran from newly certified to staff divers (A5). An A4 was experienced enough to perform all functions in the lake management plan and teach lower rated divers those skills. Under the old rating system, it was only A3 and A4 divers that could dive in the lake outside the Training Area while the boats were operating. It was a overly byzantine system that was not enforced.

Sorry Chris, Taylor was talking about Chip. You have to wait till the program starts up again.

 

[GaryBDavis]

Driftwood, I don't know if you remember or not, but before they closed for restoration, I showed up one Thursday to dive with you and John. Aaron and Taylor sent us downstream to cut coontail and it was the first time any of us had been to that part of the lake. I felt privileged to be part of that dive. Alas, I may never make it back to that area. Given the current, I understand why divers don't get sent there very often.

I'll be there Friday to clean up after you.

 

[driftwood]

That is an unusual part of the lake. The water gets shallow and the current certainly picks up. After I got separated from you and John, saw that I was using too much air fighting the current.