I guess I fall at the very beginning of this spectrum, having not yet completed my certification training for OW. What I have learend from the classes and from reading these boards is that what I learned in class is the very basics. Do I consider getting certified as meaning that I am a diving pro? NO WAY.
We took the open water class as a way of being better prepared for beginning to learn about scuba. My husband and I both recognized that it will require many dives with dive masters and or dive instructors before we would even consider diving on our own. Does this work for us? You bet, we are interested in taking some dive trips, we are BEGINNING to explore the underwater world.
Then again, we aren't exactly teenagers who think we are immortal. We came into the training with a conservative mindset. We spent weeks reading and re-reading the materials, not just watching the tapes, but studying them, locking into our minds what we were reading and watching. We focused on the pool exercises, we have another 3-4 hour pool session yet to go. We already have a list of additional skills we would like to practice a little further in the pool before we head off to Florida for our referral dives.
Even after completion of the referral dives, we may have achieved certification for OW diving, but we will still consider ourselves newbies with an awful lot to learn.
What types of things do we think we need to work on?
1. Well, I personally think that when I put on the weight belt that it had too much weight on it for me, I want to practice starting with zero weight and finding the right amount for myself.
2. I want to try a couple different snorkels, I had trouble keeping my snorkel clear and the instructor said it was because the snorkel I was using was too short (the weights were keeping me low in the water and I kept getting water in the snorkel).
3. I managed to "sip" the air for the freeflowing regulator for the required 30 seconds, but I'd like to practice that again.
4. My husband and I managed to swim together while sharing air (using the octopus) but it felt awkward, I'd like to take some time practicing that a bit more.
5. I want to try some different fins, I felt like I was fighting with them some to keep them where I wanted them.
6. I fully expect to pursue lots of continuing education to improve our diving skills. Yes, Rescue is on our list, but I think we need experience with our own equipment before we will be prepared to rescue another diver.
Most of the things on this list are a matter of becoming more comfortable with the equipment. It's not that I can't do the skills, just that they aren't second nature to me yet. In a way its like learning to water ski. When I first learned to water ski, I could put the skis on and hold onto the rope, I managed to get up out of the water....but then I was just hanging on until a wave knocked me down. I could water ski. Was I good at it? No, but I could do it. Over time, with practice I got more comfortable with the skis, learned to lean back a bit so I didn't kill my back, learned to jump the wake, I even learned to use a knee board and a disk and spin around. I've gotten years of enjoyment from water skiing. My skills have improved each time I go to the lake.
I'm not yet certified to dive, but now I know what the equipment is, and how to use it. I have plenty of lessons to learn, and with a cautious, conservative appreciation for the sport, I can begin to gain the experience required to eventually get good at it. I also know how to listen to my body and my gut instincts to not push my limits.
We are going to complete our confined water requirements in another week. We are still reviewing the materials and quizzing each other nightly. When we go to Florida we will experience our first open water dives as we complete our certification. (I expect that completing the certification will be somewhat like the first time I managed to get up on water skis, I can do it, but I won't know it all).
tyki
beginning the exploration
