Pool time with new doubles

[Diva of the Deep]

Hi all,

I am a doubles newbie and have a couple of opportunities in the next months to work on trim and skills at a pool. We've already braved the fateful "first time" and spent the better part of an hour re-adjusting bands on the pool deck so that I was able to get somewhat neutral and swim a circuit before the time was up.

My question is - do you have any recommendations of skills / adjustments beyond just getting level that I could be directing my efforts towards? I am planning on bouyancy work (as this is needed) and ultimately aiming to complete adv. nitrox/deco course sometime in the next year or so.

Thanks,
Steph

 

[mwpowell]

Steph,

I probably missed some, but the following skills should get you started for your adv. nitrox/deco course.

trim and bouyancy
mask removal/replace
finning techniques
don/doff on surface and underwater
air share
valve drills
breath hold swim (I think adv. nitrox is 60 feet)


Mike

 

[do it easy]

I assume that the breath hold swim is without the gear???

 

[ianr33]

A couple more things to practice before doing advanced Nitrox/Deco would be sending up lift bags and dropping/retrieving stage cylinders

 

[Doc Intrepid]

My question is - do you have any recommendations of skills / adjustments beyond just getting level that I could be directing my efforts towards?

You may want to direct your question to this guy:
http://www.gue.com/Training/Instructors/mckayd.html

He lives in Ontario but teaches from Sault Ste Marie to Toronto, and points beyond.

His fundies courses are memorable, I'm told, and taking a fundies course will provide a solid foundation in skills and 'adjustments beyond just getting level' for any additional training you may choose to pursue. PM TSandM for her thoughts regarding a recent course.

Regards,

Doc

 

[Rick Inman]

I'm being one-on-oned right now through IANTD's Advanced Nitrox. I have about 10 dives now on the double 95's, and for the first time last night, I finally felt just slightly better than a swimming engine block. I have to carry that darned stage everywhere I go, clipping, unclipping, dropping, stowing, valve drill this, valve drill that, mask/no mask, shooting bag, 15 minutes motionless at 10 feet, planning, planning, planning, this mix, that mix, S drills, air share drills... I'm beat. There is something to be said for a group class where the instructor isn't totally focused on every move you make.

Here's a quote from today's email from my personal slave-driver: "Thanks for the friendship, gif file, dive, coffee, and comedy show during the bag deployment!"

Gee, thanks.

Anyway, the best thing I ever did was DIRF - and my instructor totally agrees. No way would I have been as ready as I am for the doubles and stages and skills I'm having beat into me right now. I suppose you could try to do it all together, but that would be way beyond me.

I highly recommend Fundies in a single tank (if you're not already a doubles diver) first. YMMV!

 

[Diva of the Deep]

Thanks for the advice!

I am looking into the fundies course for sure. After reading the course description on the GUI site, I think this is what I am after to further my training.

One more question - how strict are they on one piece web harness and bungee-less wings for a fundimentals course?

 

[TSandM]

Well, Rick showed up with a quick release in his harness, and the instructor told him why he didn't like it, and said that Rick would have to decide for himself whether the benefits (easier donning/doffing with a shoulder problem) outweighed the disadvantages (failure point). I suspect, however, that you might get a little more static with a bungied wing.

 

[Diva of the Deep]

Too bad for me that I've already bought the kit.

 

[mwpowell]

I assume that the breath hold swim is without the gear???

Here is what the IANTD standards specify.

Swim in a simulated out-of-air situation (without breathing, and exhaling slowly) without a mask for a distance of at least 45 feet (15 meters), and commence gas sharing; or appropriate Rebreather gas management drill for out-of air diver. While gas sharing, swim for 3 minutes, then replace and clear mask.


Mike