Greetings twicetwins and my first question for you would be to ask what agency are you training with?
All these questions and more are usually answered after the confined water dives are completed by your instructor. When the schedule is being discussed it is common for there to be a question and answer time of sort. But by all means call or visit him or her to inquire what the plan will be. I have described just what you are asking to many students as a DM assisting in training. The reason I am not sure what to tell you exactly is some instructors do things different. What I can tell you are general facts about what I personally have been a part of. This is what I tell our students for Dive 1;
1. You will attend the briefing that will give detailed information on the dive site, conditions, entry methods, and skills you will be required to perform.
2. You will properly prepare your own equipment "set up gear".
3. You will don and adjust your equipment "put on and secure"
4. You will perform a complete under supervision predive safety check.
5. You then enter the water with the afore entry method.
6. At the surface perform a Buoyancy / weight check.
7. Use a controlled descent feet down and demonstrate control of BC inflator.
8. Then participate in underwater exploration " a tour to explore and get used to diving".
9. Perform a controlled ascent with safety stop establishing positive buoyancy at the surface.
10. Exit the water using the method described in the briefing. "Boat exit or shore I am guessing."
11. Doff your gear in a appropriate manner using safe storage skills to protect your gear and others from harm.
12. Last you will debrief and log the dive in your log book.
This dive will not exceed 40 feet and usually does not exceed 30 feet in depth. Being your first open water experience your instructor will determine what depth you will dive to. There are agency standards "max depth", that all have to follow but shallower depths are determined by the instructor using his or her judgement.
It is tough to give a time on the length of the dive but I am guessing the average would be around 30 min. give or take depending on air consumption. Usually then once everyone is out and gear taken off and stowed, the debrief can take 30 min. or more depending on questions etc. Make sure to participate in the briefing and debriefing do not be afraid to ask questions. After all that is how we learn.
Another bit of advice pay attention in the briefings and make sure you are clear on the details. It is very distracting to instructors when students are not paying attention.
Communication underwater is a very important part of the OW training and I would suggest practice above water to make sure you have mastered the correct hand signals. I practice often with my kids at the breakfast table, it is fun and like a game to them. A slate will be used in the OW training I am almost certain.
All the information I have shared is based on what training I have been a part of but if you are going through PADI OW then it should be very close. I have every confidence in other agencies as well and know they are very good about letting their students know the details of the planned training.
Just relax and enjoy the training! Let yourself visualize yourself performing the skills and diving effortlessly. Sounds hooky but it helps. So much of diving is methodical and yet very personal and very rewarding. Please give us a follow up on how your training goes.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
