I found the skills a DM must perform to receive certification like towing a diver, etc. I also saw a requirement for some certification (?) was to remove mask underwater and swim so far and replace and clear it. So what are the OW requirements and do you have any tips?
OW requirements for certification
- Thread starter Haleye97
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I read your personal info and see that you have done a handful of dives and I hope the experience was a great one!
When you sign up for an OW course with an instructor (not divemaster), they will go through all of the skills and offer tips and advice for the ones you are having trouble with. I would try and find a local dive shop and talk to them about getting certified. You can purchase a manual/class kit to get your started with the coursework as well as learning the process it will take for you to become certified. I would recommend finding a shop that will take the time to teach you how to be a good diver rather than rush you through a course in a handful of days. It will make diving more enjoyable for you in the long run.
Something to consider: Do you have a dive buddy or friend that will get certified at the same time? Someone that you could dive with in the future?
Good luck and welcome to the addiction!
I read your personal info and see that you have done a handful of dives and I hope the experience was a great one!
When you sign up for an OW course with an instructor (not divemaster), they will go through all of the skills and offer tips and advice for the ones you are having trouble with. I would try and find a local dive shop and talk to them about getting certified. You can purchase a manual/class kit to get your started with the coursework as well as learning the process it will take for you to become certified. I would recommend finding a shop that will take the time to teach you how to be a good diver rather than rush you through a course in a handful of days. It will make diving more enjoyable for you in the long run.
Something to consider: Do you have a dive buddy or friend that will get certified at the same time? Someone that you could dive with in the future?
Good luck and welcome to the addiction!
dfx
Contributor
Let's see... there's mask clearing (which involves flooding it / taking it off under water), regulator recovery, sharing air and buddy breathing... gear doff and don under water is a requirement too I think. I think those are the most basic ones.
Skittl1321
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I found the requirements here:
What will i do on my Padi open water diver course - Bulldogdivers.com
What will i do on my Padi open water diver course - Bulldogdivers.com
Close your eyes. The instructor will hold onto you and tap you on the shoulder when you've made the distance. That's what I do as an instructor. I've had many students go through the class with contacts and they haven't had issues. There is no requirement to have your eyes open without a mask on. Even when I teach I keep my eyes closed when demonstrating no-mask skills because the chlorine/salt water burn the crap out of them.
Ok usually for those who have an issue with opening their eyes under water (such as contacts or issues with eye infections), usually you have to do the skill still but don't open your eyes. We have an instructor who can get nasty eye infections if he opens his eyes under the water so when he demonstrates this skill he uses the edge of the pool to guide him, takes mask off and holds it and swims the 15m then puts it on and clears it. In this way others can then see the skill is about being able to move freely under water with mask off even if they don't open their eyes. In an emergency he (as I would too) would open his eyes and swim to where he needs to and sort out the eye infection issue later, but in a skill scenario it is too much of a risk.
Other ways to do it are to run a guide line and take mask off and use the guide line for direction then stop at the end. Another way is to have a DM escort you through the swim, with them holding your mask until you make the required distance, letting you know when you have reached the required distance.
In any event I would discuss all these things clearly before you sign up so both parties are clear as to what is required and what they can do for you before you commit to anything with them.
The biggest requirement for mask off under water is;
No Panic with mask off
Being able to cope with no mask for a period
Being able to recover from displaced mask
Being able to move through the water with no mask
Other ways to do it are to run a guide line and take mask off and use the guide line for direction then stop at the end. Another way is to have a DM escort you through the swim, with them holding your mask until you make the required distance, letting you know when you have reached the required distance.
In any event I would discuss all these things clearly before you sign up so both parties are clear as to what is required and what they can do for you before you commit to anything with them.
The biggest requirement for mask off under water is;
No Panic with mask off
Being able to cope with no mask for a period
Being able to recover from displaced mask
Being able to move through the water with no mask
I have students work in a buddy team. The students without the mask is guided during the swim by the buddy, while I swim above them like a guardian angel to make sure nothing happens.
Well I am completely going to use that phrase and method on my next OW class. "Okay, you two buddy up. You will swim while you will guide him. I will be above you, watching over you like a guardian angel the whole time to make sure nothing happens".
Thank you for some more hilariousness to add to my already hilarious and sometimes twisted OW classes!
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