CAPTAIN SINBAD
Contributor
Some of us are already having this discussion on our last years thread. I thought I should make a new thread so that we can post our last years highlights and the coming years goals.
End of 2018 and plans for 2019?
2019:
The year had only begun when I fractured my ankle and ripped tendons just when the diving season was about to begin. This meant that I was unable to dive for over six months. Staying out of water was not easy and I felt like I needed to do something. I signed up for SSI Assistant Instructor course and all the readings involved in it, prevented me from feeling that I am losing time.
Also finished Self-Reliant Diver course though I have not been a fan of solo-diving diving all my life. Since diving is fun because it is a group activity, I hope I will never get to use this card. I simply wanted to see what was taught in the course so yes, another C-card for my collection and the course was a good way of getting my fins wet.
So in the end, it was a time well utilized and it will influence the decisions I will make.
2020
My ankle has healed and I am looking to jump in. Slowly. My own views on diving have evolved quite considerably over this time, as the injury gave me some time to think about my long term investment in diving without worrying about the next dive. I was initially hoping to continue my technical and cave training with UTD, but the UTD instructor that I was training with, is no longer local to me. With him gone, I am unsure if DIR style of diving is the progression for me. Helium prices are constantly going up and I see some GUE divers unable to do 120' ft dives simply because of the cost of Helium. It prompted me to start a thread which is worth studying by itself.
Is Open Circuit Trimix dying a slow death?
In short, technical diving could very well be in the process of some drastic changes and it is possible that we will see two very distinct camps in the future. Deep air divers who will mostly dive to a max depth of 150' without Helium and CCR divers. This realization has prevented me from putting a Trimix course in my 2020 goals, at least at this stage. What is the point of getting a card when you are restricted to diving in your npo helium range (whatever it may be.) If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions on whether OC Trimix would still be worthwhile, then Id love to hear.
Advanced Wreck with John Chatterton. I am open to this one and if anyone else is thinking along the same lines then let us get in touch. Further plans are as follows:
Ice Diving: Anyone doing ice dives on the East Coast USA or even Canada, please post your plans in this thread.
Ice diving thread (who is doing it?)
Great Lakes: Id love to hit Tobermory, 1000 Islands or Lake Erie Osprey Dive Charters. If you have a Great Lakes trip in schedule and are looking to fill the boat then let me know.
North Carolina: We scheduled a NC tech charter but my ankle was in a steel boot so I could not dive. Those of you who went had a great time. If you are interested in doing some tech or deep dives then we can start another thread and dive Atlas Tanker.
New Jersey Wrecks: Because they are close and they are here.
Those are my thoughts for 2020. What is everyone else doing or thinking of doing?
End of 2018 and plans for 2019?
2019:
The year had only begun when I fractured my ankle and ripped tendons just when the diving season was about to begin. This meant that I was unable to dive for over six months. Staying out of water was not easy and I felt like I needed to do something. I signed up for SSI Assistant Instructor course and all the readings involved in it, prevented me from feeling that I am losing time.
Also finished Self-Reliant Diver course though I have not been a fan of solo-diving diving all my life. Since diving is fun because it is a group activity, I hope I will never get to use this card. I simply wanted to see what was taught in the course so yes, another C-card for my collection and the course was a good way of getting my fins wet.
So in the end, it was a time well utilized and it will influence the decisions I will make.
2020
My ankle has healed and I am looking to jump in. Slowly. My own views on diving have evolved quite considerably over this time, as the injury gave me some time to think about my long term investment in diving without worrying about the next dive. I was initially hoping to continue my technical and cave training with UTD, but the UTD instructor that I was training with, is no longer local to me. With him gone, I am unsure if DIR style of diving is the progression for me. Helium prices are constantly going up and I see some GUE divers unable to do 120' ft dives simply because of the cost of Helium. It prompted me to start a thread which is worth studying by itself.
Is Open Circuit Trimix dying a slow death?
In short, technical diving could very well be in the process of some drastic changes and it is possible that we will see two very distinct camps in the future. Deep air divers who will mostly dive to a max depth of 150' without Helium and CCR divers. This realization has prevented me from putting a Trimix course in my 2020 goals, at least at this stage. What is the point of getting a card when you are restricted to diving in your npo helium range (whatever it may be.) If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions on whether OC Trimix would still be worthwhile, then Id love to hear.
Advanced Wreck with John Chatterton. I am open to this one and if anyone else is thinking along the same lines then let us get in touch. Further plans are as follows:
Ice Diving: Anyone doing ice dives on the East Coast USA or even Canada, please post your plans in this thread.
Ice diving thread (who is doing it?)
Great Lakes: Id love to hit Tobermory, 1000 Islands or Lake Erie Osprey Dive Charters. If you have a Great Lakes trip in schedule and are looking to fill the boat then let me know.
North Carolina: We scheduled a NC tech charter but my ankle was in a steel boot so I could not dive. Those of you who went had a great time. If you are interested in doing some tech or deep dives then we can start another thread and dive Atlas Tanker.
New Jersey Wrecks: Because they are close and they are here.
Those are my thoughts for 2020. What is everyone else doing or thinking of doing?