M.D.
Contributor
Third check dive went quite well. Check-dives done. We got 50 minutes BT in. 2 hours 5 minutes accumulated BT. I saw all the great sites the J.C. Morrison (local wreck ~27 FFW) has to offer. That's not sarcastic at all... 
Although I did stir up the bottom a few times, closer to the shore. Damn silt. I was also able to equalize with no problems! Yay! Pre-equalized at the surface and basically the whole way down with my hand on my nose. Early and often, early and often. I am actually pretty happy with the dive, it was quite fun. Vis was at best 6-8 feet. I only needed a shorty 5 mil. Still need some work on my buoyancy. Can't wait to get out to BC. The ocean is calling me.
Now this will probably cause all sorts of discussions, but my instructor didn't do my last two check dives, he had some experienced divers he knew do them with me. They chose the sites. I don't really know whether or not that's an acceptable practice, but I performed my skills well and got in some enough BT to be certified. I have a feeling that's not common within ACUC classes though. Here's another thing, which in fact I find pretty alarming. I was never taught any practical navigational skills, only what was out of the text book, which didn't really explain all that much. I've never really used a compass properly before, and I have a vague knowledge of how to operate one now. That seems to be a serious issue to me, which I think I'll bring up with my instructor. However, when I go diving with my brother next week out in BC, he'll be able to teach me. He's nearly a Master Diver, one of his specialty classes was Advanced Navigation, so I'll be as far as my own knowledge goes. Just makes me wonder though, what else did he not teach me?
Although I did stir up the bottom a few times, closer to the shore. Damn silt. I was also able to equalize with no problems! Yay! Pre-equalized at the surface and basically the whole way down with my hand on my nose. Early and often, early and often. I am actually pretty happy with the dive, it was quite fun. Vis was at best 6-8 feet. I only needed a shorty 5 mil. Still need some work on my buoyancy. Can't wait to get out to BC. The ocean is calling me. Now this will probably cause all sorts of discussions, but my instructor didn't do my last two check dives, he had some experienced divers he knew do them with me. They chose the sites. I don't really know whether or not that's an acceptable practice, but I performed my skills well and got in some enough BT to be certified. I have a feeling that's not common within ACUC classes though. Here's another thing, which in fact I find pretty alarming. I was never taught any practical navigational skills, only what was out of the text book, which didn't really explain all that much. I've never really used a compass properly before, and I have a vague knowledge of how to operate one now. That seems to be a serious issue to me, which I think I'll bring up with my instructor. However, when I go diving with my brother next week out in BC, he'll be able to teach me. He's nearly a Master Diver, one of his specialty classes was Advanced Navigation, so I'll be as far as my own knowledge goes. Just makes me wonder though, what else did he not teach me?
