The great back inflate vs. jacket BC debate

[XenoMorph2049]

Thanks, Ice! I know it doesnt seem like it, but i am listening to every bit of advice Ive read. Kinda hard sometimes digging through the repetitive nature of this thread. I know what its like to feel so adamant about something its close to impossible to stop from repeating what everyone else has said. Good to see someone else who is atlest somewhat supportive.

 

[cyklon_300]

reasoning with your plan to fast track your way to becoming an instructor, that it's hard to know where to start offering constructive advice.

Take an OW class first. See if you are qualified to even be a diver, are there any reasons (medical or otherwise) that preclude you from being one. While in class, closely observe the duties and responsibilities of the OW instructor that teaches you.

After getting certified, take an intensive inventory of both your diving skills and non-diving attributes (personality type, intellectual and emotional traits, etc.).

Get a broad base of experience diving under a variety of conditions. Learn the vocabulary of diving, be able to express yourself in technically correct terms.

Do all this and you might be at a good starting point for evaluating whether you want and should continue to pursue becoming an instructor.

Your present plan isn't likely to produce anyone I'd want to train with.

 

[MosheDyan]

But I won't.
Because you are a fellow veteran.

OK XENOMORPH2049...here we go:
I saw that you served here in Kosovo as an 11B type which would put you in the 1ID 4A/4B rotation. I am guessing 4A as 4B had to wait an extra month for US (5B) to show up .
You are young...just out of the military...with a family to support and the GI Bill to help you out with school. I am making the educated assumption that you are between 20-22 and your wife is a similar age. I am also guessing that you would be the sole provider in your family (correct me if I am wrong). Your highest rank held was probably SPC (E-4).
Your current civilian qualifications as roughly translated from the 11B (infantry) career field mean you should be good at small unit tactics and killing the enemy. You should also be good at teamwork and following orders. I would STRONGLY suggest that you reconsider your current course of action. Here are a few alternatives:
Contact RMEDIVER (Jeff Farris) on this board. He is a former US Army diver now teaching commercial diving at FSU. As you are former Army I am sure he will be happy to discuss options with you that are dive oriented.
Consider going to UNIVERSITY (college...trade school...whatever) with your GI BILL. This training academy sounds like a waste of your time...just because they take the GI Bill does not mean the are "gold". There are STILL matchbook cover schools that will take the GI Bill . If you are interested in "aqua-culture" perhaps studies in biology (marine or otherwise) with a side study in DIVING will help you along your chosen path.
Quit worrying about your equipment. After you try various bits out you will figure out what is right for you. As you can tell from all the postings everyone here has their own ideas...be your OWN diver...and the HELL with everyone else.
Do whats right for you AND your family. You have a lot more options than you can imagine .
If you want to touch base with me directly feel free to email at the below address (all DIR-v-non-DIR configuration nuts keep away ).
Regards
SGT Ted Gold
NCOIC IMINT Nights (AIRSCAN/P-3)
Camp Bondsteel
Kosovo
ted.gold@us.army.mil

 

[XenoMorph2049]

Thanks for the input. I was at Camp Montieth from Nov. 99 to June 00. I was an 11m (1ID 2/2 INF dismount 240 gunner), but, as Im sure you know, we were more like acting MP's. My wife of 21 was considering taking the resort operations and management part of the course with me so we could more easily support our family. I am currently 23 and trying to find a good balance of income, enjoyment, and family time out of a job. Marine biology was and still is a consideration, but I am ten times better at hands on training compared to standard "school" teaching. I realize there is studying and "paper work" with diving, but its alot easier for me to pick something up when the two are combined. Another thing I have worries of are the fact that college,for any decent field, will require a LOT of time away from my family and financial strain. That and from what Ive heard, its almost impossible to find a decent job in marine biology. We will be able to support our family for the three months during the course, but Im not sure how much past that we could go, even with my wife working. I am trying to weigh all possibilities for the sake of myself and my family. My family is always first, and there needs go before mine, which is one of the reasons I am also considering not going to Halls. They informed me that it would be a bit more difficult to obtain a job that I could bring them with me, ecspecially outside of the states. As for the jobs Ive found that I would qualify for, security or law enforcment are the only fields I have found and niether are a job I would enjoy. I have an opportunity to get a job assembiling and repairing circut boards that, after time could be promising, has been offered to me by one of the companys managers becuase he thought I had the "smarts" to do the job(not really sure to take that as a compliment or sarcasm). The only problem is wether I would enjoy the job or loose intrest in it.
Oh well, so many questions, so little answers. Thanks for the contacts and info. Play it safe over there and be carefull. It was one of the best moments in my Army carear and one of the most revealing.

 

[MosheDyan]

XenoMorph2049,
Ok...gotcha...you were a lil bit earlier "in-country" than I first thought. Which makes you pretty damn young now! Just kidding.

Seriously...think about law enforcement as an option. Good money, stable employment, oh...did I mention you can go to school part time? While supporting your family? I do not know what state you live in...but...law enforcement could give you a good way to start. This will give you time to consider your options properly. Did you know that you get a veterans preference for law enforcement jobs? I am not saying that is the be all end all in career moves...but if you like helping people AND supporting your family AND having the option to go to school part time AND posibly even get THEM (law enforcement) to subsidize your training as a PUBLIC SAFETY DIVER...well...whats to lose?

Assembly and repair of electronics ain't bad...but...pal...you have the friggin GI Bill. USE IT. GO TO SCHOOL. Get a job and go to school part time. Yeah...its a sacrifice but only 2-3 years of sacrifice! TRUST ME---YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF LONG TERM!

I hate to sound like a patronizing old fart (which I am not) but you need to sit down...list the qualities you have...come up with a few realistic goals...and go for them. I do not want to burst your bubble but.....I do not forsee you and your wife living happily in paradise courtesy of Hall's dive training! I have read ZERO stories and books that show wealthy dive instructors (although there are wealthy resort owners, equipment executives, training agency executives, dive insurance executives etc etc).

Finally...I said BIOLOGY....not marine biology. There are a million fields out there that can get you what you want (a living that involves diving). Aquaculture, non-destructive testing, construction, NASA safety diver...the list is endless. BUT...you need EDUCATION...not a slam dunk PIC card mill. Leave that for the suckers who have 15k to piss away...or for the single folks.

If you are willing to spend hours worring about a gear configuration when you are not even BOW certified yet....you need to also be willing to buck up the time to talk to Jeff Farris (RMEDIVER). Or one of the other dive-related educators that hang around this board or on the Roadale's board.

Look...I am not trying to kill your dream...hell...when I get back home I may actually do my divemaster cert just because I enjoy teaching and working with people (plus being fluent in English is a plus in my neck of the woods!)...but I ain't going to be making a living at it!

So go send off some emails and make a few phone calls. And ask around what the average dive instructor makes (I can guarantee you its a lot less than an E-4 with dependents makes...you will cringe...they get paid SQUAT!). And squat will not feed your family!

Apologies for sounding like an old man (to you I guess i am)...It's snowing and cold here and as you know all my missions are shut down...leaving me time to pontificate on all manner of subjects!
Later
Ted

 

[ElectricZombie]

XenoMorph2049 once bubbled...
Ok. Heres the deal. I have benn steered awa from a back inflated bc due to me going for a instructo job. I am attending Halls Dive Institute. I like the back inflate for the freedom of movement an lack of frontal clutter. I have been told that a back inflate wont work for an instructor bacause it will be trying to make me do a face-plant when Im at the surface, which is where I'll be most of the time. How much of a problem is this really? On my personal dives, I'll be doing harvesting for my tanks, and the back inflate is ideal for positioning. Also Im looking at the SP Kighthawk for back inflate or the Classic plus for a jacket. Any thing better for all around versatility?

Back inflates will not plant you face first in the water. I don't know of any BC that will.

If you are looking for the best and most versitile BC, take a look at a backplate and wing setup.

 

[XenoMorph2049]

Yeah, I tried to do list list things several times. The problem I run into is the fact that I have a poor self image. Kinda suck when your trying to find the things your good at. The NASA job was a interesting point. The school said they have people over there working as a safety, but availability is inconsistent to say the least. The reason I stay away from the law enforment is most of the police Ive delt with are butts, even though I have no criminal record. I have been followed by cops for no reason to the extent of following me around a block three times.......Not the kind of people I want to work with/under. I know it not the same everywhere, but its a gamble. The harvesting is one job Im looking into. Theres a couple of companies I will be contacting shortly. I think I might try one of the agencyies who can try to figure out what kind of job would suite a person best. Thanks for the info and I plan on contacting those individuals you mentioned.
Oh yeah, Im 24 and signed up before my senior year in high school.........It was one of those things I had to do, and am completly happy I did..................And I miss my gun. Thought about going back in, but do to situations out of my hands, I am un able to.

 

[ScoobyPat]

Ok, take this as the story of a 33 year old frt, not an advice. I can relate to you.

When I came out of high school, I thought that the world is open to me. I didn't want to live or obey by any standards and had no time for compromises and wanted to pursue my dreams. I always hoped to become an actor, become famous, lots of money and independence. Against the wishes of my family, I went through acting school supporting myself with part-time bartender jobs, which was probably the coolest thing I have ever done. After the graduation, I was able to land a deal to 'star' in a few plays and movies and flying high. Great reviews and critics and everyone seemed to love what I do. After a few months, the offers were not coming in anymore, I stood there without money and with a crushed self-esteem. I don't give up easily, believe me, but after months of eating rice and butter, I grew tired and frustrated. The most reasonable option back then was to go to college and I graduated at the age of 28 with a bachelors in information technology. Well, I hated every single minute in college and thought many, many times of giving up. Now, 5 years later, I have a (more or less) great position and I will never regret going to college!

You're now at the same crossroad. Follow your dreams for awhile. You're young and ambitous and still can pursue other options, if it doesn't work out!

Life is full of compromises and finding a (good) job nowadays is REALLY hard without a degree. Even as a scuba instructor, I would imagine. Ask all my unemployed friends.

Pat

 

[ew1usnr]

XenoMorph said "from what Ive heard, its almost impossible to find a decent job in marine biology."

It's not at all impossible. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection hires a lot of biologists and marine-biologists. They are hired under the general title of "Environmental Specialist" and do a wide variety of jobs. Some involve diving.

The entry-level jobs are not high paying, but they come with benefits, such as health insurance, pension, vacation, and paid sick leave.

 

[MechDiver]

dferg77 once bubbled...
without all the newbie flame bullcrap. If this offends those you "ellite" divers as we call it in the computer world then I am sorry.
p.s. Now you know and
Knowing is half the battle

You can lead a horse to water...

You've led a very secluded computer life online if you consider those posts "newbie flame crap". That may be because you're not too bright (thats a flame BTW), or, like Xeno, don't understand the questions.

MD