Disappointing OW Dive

[JodiBB]

After a very "Disappointing OW Dive" and wondering if I was ever gonna get my beach dive done, we finally went out this morning & I finally got my OW certification!!!

I didn't know if this time would be cancelled as well as Laguna Beach had been closed down to divers earlier in the week due to surf conditions.

The 2 of us who had regulator problems at the last dive were the only students left. There were NO waves upon entry (ankle slappers at best) so we didn't have any 6' phantom waves that knocked us over. We are a bit anxious after the last dive, but I still did my mask removal successfully (although the other student said I looked like I was panicking, but really I wasn't!) as well as the other skills.

Vis was only about 10-15 feet and the water was COLD (low 50s at bottom I'd say!), but it's done and I never have to do another beach dive again (If I choose to!)...

Off to go diving!!

 

[Paco]

Well done. Good for you. Congratulations.

 

[spectrum]

Congratulations, now the fun begins. Dive often and safely.

Pete

 

[Henryville]

My 1st and 2nd dive for certification had roughly 18inches of vis, that it until all of us newbies kicked up all the sediment. We were in Biscayne Bay in Miami so no harm was done but I didnt even know how cool diving could be until our 3tf and 4th and then AOW certification.

Boy do I remember a similar experience. 1989, Government Cut in Key Biscayne, open-water checkout dives with the old Sportsman's Paradise. Imagine my surprise and delight when the next weekend I went down to Islamorada...


Although I can really empathize with your disappointment on not completing your course as planned, you actually got a "bonus" lesson in applying good judgement. It will still be a long diving season and hopefully a very long diving "career" for you, Jodi. Think of the situations you now will be able to recognize and react safely to that you would not have encountered had it been all flat water and great vis!

Best of luck completing the course, have fun and dive safely.

 

[Scot M]

Now that you're certified, you are going to join us at Crescent tomorrow morning, right?

 

[JodiBB]

Now that you're certified, you are going to join us at Crescent tomorrow morning, right?

Wish I could, but I already had plans for tomorrow....I also had an offer for Casino Point in Catalina....*sigh*

There will be more opportunities...There will be more opportunities...There will be more opportunities...There will be more opportunities...LOL

 

[Queen]

CONGRATS!!!! I'll bet that feels like a weight lifted off your shoulders...now you can get on with a lifetime of diving.

 

[pasley]

After a very "Disappointing OW Dive" and wondering if I was ever gonna get my beach dive done, we finally went out this morning & I finally got my OW certification!!!...Vis was only about 10-15 feet and the water was COLD (low 50s at bottom I'd say!), but it's done and I never have to do another beach dive again (If I choose to!)...

Congratulatioins.

I assume you are also visiting the SoCal forum here on Scubaboard under California Kelp Divers.

Dont' give up on Beach diving. At $4.50 for an air fill, beach diving is both affordable and fun. If you beach dive, you will get wet almost every week, if you boat dive, well,the wallet has a way of limiting that to a lot less often. In the over 200 beach dives I have done, I have had some truely magical moments, and some low visibility dives too. But there are all fun. Give me a shout in the SoCal forum and we will get wet some time. I go divin at least once a week and I do not mind diving with new divers. I dive Laguna Beach to Mailbu. You might also give http://www.sandeaters.org a look. Not a club, just a schedule of a beach dive every week.

 

[pasley]

Jodi,
If your profile is correct, you're not certified yet?
I'm going to be in the LA area (whittier) from August 3 till the 24th and I'm planning to visit Catalina a few times. If you're certified by then or will get your cert dives, PM me and I might even see you over there!

By the way, how was the temp? I'm guessing 7mm suit needed all throughout, but was a hood necessary?

Thanks,
Gonz

Gonz,
Try your post in the SoCal forum under North Ameirca, USA, California Kelp Divers, SoCal. You will most likely get a dive togther there. I should be able to get a dive or two with you if you want to beach dive in Malibu, Redondo, Palos Verde or Laguna Beach or any point between.

 

[mrgonz]

Gonz,
Try your post in the SoCal forum under North Ameirca, USA, California Kelp Divers, SoCal. You will most likely get a dive togther there. I should be able to get a dive or two with you if you want to beach dive in Malibu, Redondo, Palos Verde or Laguna Beach or any point between.

Pasley,
Sounds awesome!
I'll message you soon to see if we can set something up for the month of August.
Thanks,

Gonz