Aow

[skybird]

Flo, thanks. the tunnel was awesome, COLDER than **** but awesome. I see wreck diving in my future.

Yes a deep dive is still a requirement. Tony said there is one spot in the quarry that is deep enough to qualify. Its in the "black hole". Not sure I like the sound of that. What is ABWA? or where is ABWA?

One of my concerns in the advanced is my lift project. Don't know much about it yet, only that I will have one and am supposed to figure out how to do it myself.

I am hoping to get to do a night dive soon, possibly this weekend if my time and the weather permits. Wanna come?

What day are the decatur divers coming out?

Sky

 

[mike_s]

What is ABWA? or where is ABWA?

ABWA is Bluewater Quarry in Pelham.
I think that ABWA stands for Alabama-Blue-Water-Adventures or something.
se http://www.divealabama.com/ for more info.

One of my concerns in the advanced is my lift project. Don't know much about it yet, only that I will have one and am supposed to figure out how to do it myself.

Don't let the lift project concern you. it's not that hard. your instructor will go
over everything beforehand and give you complete details, then show you how it's
done and then let you do it. it's actually a lot of fun.

You don't have to move a big object either. It could be a 10 or 20 pound anchor
with a lift bag for example. After you're done, you'll want to go get 4 big lift
bags and start moving the boats in the quarry!

What day are the decatur divers coming out?

I was thinking about coming out this weekend, but haven't decided yet.
Just depends what goes on the rest of the week. Some others might
come, but I'm unsure. I heard it was 57f on the bottom there last
weeken from Doc, so I might stay "shallow" for most of the dives if
I come.

-Mike

 

[Brand0n]

Take the advanced now i took my advanced soon as i finished my open water and i love it alot more intresting diving, iv done about 5 or 6 dives so fare in my advanced a reck dive a night dive a deep dive and few shallow dives still got more dives to go and im loving it.

 

[JacobK]

Had posted a couple of weeks on my choice of rather to take the AOW now or wait. I talked it over with my instructor at the quarry and decided to take it now. Is quite different than taking it now at a dive shop, or organized class. One reason I decided to do it now, is financial. I still have to rent most of my equipment. As long as I am enrolled in a class there, any class, I don't have to pay to dive, rent equipment or get air fills. The other plus is that he is going to work with me on navigation so I can quit swimming around in circles. The biggest advantage with my taking it where I am, is that I told him i was in no hurry for the certification, so mostly what I have done the past two times, is just get in the water and "play" and work on my boyencey and kicking skills. Have been able to reduce the amount of weights needed and have hd a ball. No pressure, no stress. If I get my cert before the end of season here, great....if not, I will finish it next spring.

I am now just discovering the little pleasures of diving, such as following a fish around.

SkyBird ( still thinking I MUST change my name)

I went from OW straight to AOW. The class was $150, which includes gear rental and air. I just did three dives over the weekend and going to do three more dives this weekend at Casino Point. ($49 ferry ride).

Learned more about buoyancy control, navigation, SAC rates, and photography. Going to also do a night dive for the last dive. Total of 7 dives.

 

[skybird]

Yes, it was around 57 f at the bottom. I swam up the big tunnel for the first time and it was Colder than a . . . . . oops don't think I can finish that phrase here. I LOVE the new 1 ml suit that I was wearing though. I don't have anything to compare it to, but the folks at the quarry all say that it is a warm as thier thicker ones. All of them either have them now, or are planning on buying one. I have discovered I AM basically a warm water diver, but do like the excitement of new things. Am sure I will someday be a wreck diver. I also want to find the computer and desk in the quarry and I think it is deep ( they said it is somewhere close to the bus). My dad just got out of the hospital, so I dont' know if I will be able to go diving both days this weekend. I do have to go at least one day though, only way I can keep my sanity.

Sky

 

[mike_s]

what is the tunnel you are talking about? ( I haven't been to the Moulton Quarry in several years and I don't remember it from the last time I was there)

 

[skybird]

what is the tunnel you are talking about? ( I haven't been to the Moulton Quarry in several years and I don't remember it from the last time I was there)

There is a large tunnel in the deep.....fairly close to the bus. It slants from the bottom up. its probably only about 10 feet or so, was quite dark and cold at the bottom.
Sky

 

[drbill]

I used to think that one should get a few dives in before doing AOW. Heck, I took 22 years between OW and AOW. However, given the current state of OW training, I've changed my mind. It makes sense to get in a bit more supervised training before being let loose on your own. Of course IMHO it makes MUCH more sense to offer OW classes at a level like the ones we took decades ago. But now it's largely about producing revenue... something I know very little about.

 

[TSandM]

I do have to go at least one day though, only way I can keep my sanity.

Oh, dear, Skybird, you do have it bad

 

[cummings66]

There is a large tunnel in the deep.....fairly close to the bus. It slants from the bottom up. its probably only about 10 feet or so, was quite dark and cold at the bottom.
Sky

In a 1 mil suit I'd venture a guess and say it was colder than cold. That's not a suit for those temps, or even close to it.

I dove last weekend and was quite comfortable in my 7mm suit in 47 degree water, and like you the quarry had a tunnel that was made out of a large dia culvert. It was kind of interesting to dive in 0 viz that way.

IMO the advanced class isn't complex nor hard and I'd do it after a person was comfortable in the water. For me it was a non event, although I did wonder how well I'd do with the natural navigation which turned out well. Navigation with compass is easy, without it is where my weakness lies which is why I wondered about the natural navigation.

People say you should wait to do AOW but since I don't see it as being all that advanced I'd say anybody should do it now. Now Rescue would be different and that's kind of what I think advanced should be like, at least based on what my instructor told me I would have to do for Rescue Diver I would say that is what I consider advanced.

In any event, anytime you can get wet it's a good day and if you get another cert doing it then that's even better.