First Post-Certification Dives

[SwimsLikeRock]

I went out this past weekend with a friend for my first post-certification dives.

What a blast!

My class dives had been high energy, high pressure experiences. Little scenic terrain, lots of emphasis on getting the skills done, lots of effort spent keeping everyone together, retrieving overly buoyant newbies, etc.

My dives this weekend, two each about an hour, were relaxed, exciting, and enjoyable! Sure I made a newbie mistake or two (I temporarily lost a fin trying to put them on in the surf and later lost my BCD inflator due to tired velcro on my rented BCD) - but for the most part I was able to execute the skills I'd learned and allow my more experienced buddy to enjoy the dive as well.

My buddy handled navigation as my rental gear had no compass. So, I basically swam as his "wingman" as we did out-across-and-back patterns off a beach, collected lobsters (he's licensed), observed the wildlife, and enjoyed ourselves.

It was awesome. I'm hooked.

 

[scubatim2004]

Sounds like you had a good time John and Congrats. Don't worry bout a few newbie mistakes they will all go away with experience.

Did you get to eat some Lobster?

Tim

 

[TSandM]

The only thing I can think of that would make diving MORE fun would be a fresh lobster dinner after . . .

As somebody not a whole lot further along, I can warn you that the addiction is progressive . . . and expensive . . . and time consuming!

 

[spectrum]

Awesome, keep at it!

Dive often and safely.
Pete

 

[skybird]

I have yet to have a salt water dive, I am so jealous! I too have discovered that my dives since certification have been so awesome, simply because I don't feel the pressure to "perform". I can relax and just have fun, but still work on perfecting my skills. Saturday I picked out a fish and just followed him around a while. Some just sat and let the fish come to me....of course one of the little bream who was following me around and looking into my mask decided to dart up and pull my hair! This HAS to be the best thing on earth.

SkyBird

 

[cummings66]

In a local quarry I dive in the fish picks you out and follows you around.

He's big and looks mean, but so far hasn't done anything other than escort me back out of the water...

 

[Kev's First Mate]

I went out this past weekend with a friend for my first post-certification dives.

What a blast!

My class dives had been high energy, high pressure experiences. Little scenic terrain, lots of emphasis on getting the skills done, lots of effort spent keeping everyone together, retrieving overly buoyant newbies, etc.

My dives this weekend, two each about an hour, were relaxed, exciting, and enjoyable! Sure I made a newbie mistake or two (I temporarily lost a fin trying to put them on in the surf and later lost my BCD inflator due to tired velcro on my rented BCD) - but for the most part I was able to execute the skills I'd learned and allow my more experienced buddy to enjoy the dive as well.

My buddy handled navigation as my rental gear had no compass. So, I basically swam as his "wingman" as we did out-across-and-back patterns off a beach, collected lobsters (he's licensed), observed the wildlife, and enjoyed ourselves.

It was awesome. I'm hooked.

Too cool. I was certified years ago, but haven't been diving for quite a long time, so I am doing a refresher, while my husband / kid are getting certified. Check out dives are next weekend, and I'm stoked!

Glad to hear you're "hooked!"