RonDawg:
The instructors on this board please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't PADI require that its OW students master in-water weight removal and replacement using a weight belt rather than with an integrated system?
My husband went through PADI and used his integrated BC in open water and a weight belt in the pool (he had a referral for the open water). I like the PADI manual better than the SSI. It at least discusses how to set up a weight belt. I don't mind using the weight belt if I feel comfortable getting it on and off (i.e., the weights are not sliding around all the time). If I have to take off my BC at the bottom of the pool, it seems to me a weight belt would be the way to go. I'm not sure if we have to do that as the manual does not lay out the skills for each session like PADI.
It's a lot harder to sink and remain motionless in four feet of water than in 15 feet (I discovered last night). I first tried 16 pounds on my weight belt and couldn't sink in 4 feet. I then grabbed 2 2 lb weights and stuck them in the pockets of my BC (probably against the rules). I finally figured out that if I just grabbed the side of the pool and jammed myself down really hard and "stuck" then I had no problems in the shallow water. A woman next to me had the same problem and she shorter and lighter than I am. She never could remain motionless in 4 feet.
I dumped the 4 extra pounds before descending to the deep part of the pool. We went down a line so it was pretty easy. I was fine with the 16 pounds at 15 feet, but I had a full tank, so I don't know how that would translate to a tank at 500 psi.
I live in a landlocked area and the nearest diving spot is 200 miles away. I'm not sure how often the shop staff dives. The instructors dive a lot. I'm not really crazy about the program and the shop, but I'm more than half done with my pool and class and I am going to Florida to do my open water using a Universal Referral. My husband did his there and was extremely pleased.
The assistant instructors are very nice and helpful, but the instructor is kind of macho and impatient and not at all sympathetic with the bouyancy issues that I and the other woman in my class experience. The pool is set up with a 4 ft. ledge which is about 4 feet wide and runs the length of one side of the pool. The back-inflated bcs tend to push you forward (over the ledge). It's very hard to do your skills in the shallow part when you are fighting with being pushed forward, shifting weights and the inability to relax and be motionless.
I'm going to the pool Saturday with my new Sherwood Luna BC and practice my skills without any pressure. That is one thing I do like about the program: the pool is available during business hours for all students (as long as you don't interfere with the class).
My class is rather big with 10 people and it is crowded in the pool and there is not a lot of time for individidual help. We still haven't done anything with buddies, which I thought was such an important part of diving. We don our own equipment without any buddy check. The assistant instructors quickly check everyone, but so far there have been no buddy skills. I would have preferred having a buddy to learn with, but the instructor wants everyone to learn how to dive without depending on anyone.
The store really pushes the Total Dive System and I think part of the reason we use basic equipment is to intice us to buy one. The pool is very cool; the 2 guys who were without wetsuits the first night came back with them on. Of course, they bought them at the shop.
Thanks for everyone's positive comments and encouragement.