Captain Jack's Certification - Step by Step

I have decided to complete my Open Water dive certification and since there are many of you who may be interested in doing the same and have always wondered what it would be like I thought I would document the adventure for you and post it here in the diving forum. Keep in mind that although the methods I will be learning are universal in the PADI system, some things may be different at your local dive shop or even on the island if you choose to get certified there. The intent here is to share learning and not open an avenue for argument and controversy based on methods or opinions. Constructive input is highly welcome and encouraged.

I will be updating this thread for the next month throughout the entire process and hopefully the instructors will take a picture or 20 and also allow me to take some pictures as well?. Of course they will be posted here for your viewing pleasure! Hopefully this thread can be a learning tool for everyone as well as a place for our experienced divers to share their knowledge and possibly a bit of a refresher for them. I fully welcome your insight and experience so please share as you see fit?..

I signed up for the class Monday, June 26th. My class doesn?t actually start until July 18th, but it is important to know this because the sooner you sign up the more time you will have to complete your independent study?. Basically you have homework to do!!!

I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida around the Clearwater Beach area. One of our Mods, DivnPaul told me about Narcosis Scuba in Tarpon Springs so I decided to go with them for the certification. The cost for the entire 2-week course, which includes all the dives, study materials, rental of equipment, pretty much the whole shebang, was $267.00. I thought that was a great deal to get me my ?C? card!!!

This course is called the OW or Open Water Diver course, which allows me to dive to a depth of 60 feet. I did not know this as I had always heard from friends about their dives of 100 feet in Cayman. In order to be able to go to the 100-foot level you need to take the Advance Open Water Diver class?? For now, 60 feet will be fine!!!!

Now, probably like many of you, I himmed and hawed around getting this done for years and heard all the great stories from our diver friends about how wonderful it is. In fact, just go thru some of the posts here in the diving forum and you will see how much fun it is! So the best thing I did was to pay for the class!! Just give them the money!! Then you are committed!

My class schedule looks like this:

Tuesday, July 18th, Thursday, July 20th, both classroom, then confined water on Saturday July 22nd and an Open Water Dive on Sunday July 23rd?.. that is week 1!!!

Tuesday, July 25th, Thursday, July 27th, both classroom, then confined water on Saturday July 29th and an Open Water Dive on Sunday July 30th?.. that is week 2!!! Complete that and I?m Certified!!

So I?m ready to go. I filled out the medical questionnaire and all my contact information on the manila envelope that is your docket for all you tests and stuff. This stays with the instructor and I?m assuming is somehow filed with PADI once the certification is complete. Captain Joyce, the shop owner, briefed me on the materials, a 2 disc DVD:

And the PADI ?Learn to Scuba Dive Today? package which included the Open Water Diver Manual, a Recreational Dive Planner Card and instruction booklet, a blue Divers Log and Training Record book and a couple brochures for dive insurance and PADI membership application?. Oh yea, and 2 PADI stickers for the cars? can?t wait to be certified so I can stick them on!!!

It is now June 27th, I?ve started to read chapter one of the manual and am so glad I have almost a month to do this because I really want to grasp what I?m learning and not be rushed?.Once you look at the first chapter in the book you will see how much more there is to know about buoyancy, pressure and volumes than a regular surface dweller (snorkeler) is aware of?. It is very interesting stuff?.. There are quizzes and tests throughout the book to test your knowledge and I have been reading and re-reading these to make sure I have a firm grasp of what?s being put across?. Oh yea, Joyce also recommended that I photocopy all the tests and write on them instead of in the actual book as they will need to be turned in to the instructor to stay in your docket. That way you can have your manual as a reference book without having the pages written on?. The book does however suggest you highlight key points to answer the Main Objectives which I have been doing?? I haven?t watched the DVD yet as it suggests you either read chapter one first, then the first part of the DVD or vice-versa?? and as I said, I want to fully grasp chapter one before moving on?.

I did take a couple hours last night and study up on the Recreational Dive Planner or RDP. Certified divers refer to this as the ?tables??. It is a thorough and complex system and I will probably go thru the booklet a couple more times to make sure I understand it. Here is what the tables look like and there is a booklet of instructions?.. This is very important to follow as it helps in planning how to get let the nitrogen degas out of your body?.. very interesting, see I told you it was much more than what us surface dwellers know!!

Scubachar and DivnPaul have been explaining quite a bit of this and other things to me in the last couple of days and it is really helpful?. So if you guys want to share your knowledge here please do?.. I would like this thread to be informative, not only to help me get certified but to help others who may want to jump in and do it as well?.

Break for now, I?ll add more on chapter one of the manual and DVD once I complete that section?..

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:32 am Post subject:

Jack,

Great idea for a thread Exclamation

As you point out, there is a lot of reading, and getting started early is a great way to go through the material slowly to maximize understanding.

The textbook is also a great resource as a refresher during those extended periods when not diving regularly.

As for the dive tables, it may be a little tricky at first, but if you practice using them, it becomes easier!

One thing not in the books, but as you know from the other threads... be careful which dude's octopus you may have to use! Wink

Good Luck with the coursework. Any questions, just ask!

Look forward to the next installment!

John

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:38 am Post subject:

Captain Jack - Congratulations on taking the plunge!

Two things, to avoid any confusion among people considering dive certification:

1. Open water certified divers can dive to 130 fsw with most resort dive operations, since you are with an instructor. Advanced certification is not required but would be desirable. I am not aware of any 60' depth limitations for any level of certification.

2. I only counted 2 open water dives in your itinerary. PADI and all other agencies require 4 open water dives for certification.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:45 am Post subject:

Thanks Joe.... I think there are 2 dives on each of the Sundays so they get all 4 done...

I remember jpep mentioning the 60 feet limit as well and the divemaster also mentioned it.... good to know that additional training may not be required to go down a bit further....

what is fsw? does that mean feet saltwater?

Thanks

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:53 am Post subject:

Jack - Yes, fsw = Feet Sea Water. The tables are different for fresh water.

I just checked and PADI does require advanced certification for non-instructor guided dives beyond depths of 60 feet. The reason that is never an issue at resort destinations is because the first deep dive is always instructor guided. NAUI and SSI open water certifications do not require an advanced course to dive to 130 fsw.

I've taught all three agencies for a number of years so I am not intending to favor one over the other, only to make sure that everyone reading this has completely accurate information. You've created an excellent topic that I am sure will be extremely popular and read by many of our members so I want to avoid any confusion.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:

Cool, Joe.... that was the intent.... see I've learned a few things already!! ThumbsUp

I'm sure it will be a long time before I go out without instructor guidance so it's nice to know that if I hit 61 feet I won't explode or something!!!

Thanks

Have a Great Day!!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:24 am Post subject:

Joe,

That makes sense.....cause I've been on a lot of dives deeper than 60 ft and with lots of other divers and I've never remembered even hearing about needing this extra certification, but I did think I saw something in a dive book about it. So, if it's only for diving deeper than 60 ft if you're on your own....not with a divemaster, that makes perfect sense. Most of us diving in Cayman are only diving that deep on a boat dive, under the guidance of a professional divemaster.....that's why I've never heard anyone even talking about it.

I'm all for more education and training, don't get me wrong......with knowledge comes safe diving.

I think this is so exciting, Jack.....your enthusiasm is contagious!!

Char

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:53 am Post subject:

Before becoming PADI AOW certified a number of years ago, I recalled these depth limits from a discussion with a PADI instructor, prior to an instructor guided boat dive: PADI Basic Scuba Diver, (only 2 OW dives) max limit was 25 feet, PADI OW (4 OW dives) max was 60 feet and PADI AOW (5 additional OW dives, with mandatory dives in Navigation and Deep Dive skills) max depth was 130 feet, the recreational dive/no decompression limits.

Perhaps the instructor's comments or my memory were inaccurate. Alternatively, it may have been that dive operator's policy. But I do specifically recall the divers being split into groups with OW and AOW certification, both groups led by instructors, with the AOW group doing the deeper dives.

Nevertheless, Char is right, more education and training makes for better and safer diving. So, I'd recommend going for the AOW when you are done with this one.

Another suggestion is taking the Peak Performance Buoyancy class... probably one of the best for improving your skills and enjoyment.

Man, am I having a problem waiting another 2 1/2 weeks!

John

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:59 am Post subject:

Jack, I am so excited for you. This brings back some wonderful memories of our certification. We had a great time learning and made some great friends during our certification.

I am glad to know you have a dive op that did not take full advantage of your inexperience as ours did of us. We spent a total of $1,100.00 for us to get cert'd. We were told that we had to buy all of our mask fins and snorkeling gear plus our weights and weight belts and the weights had to be rubberized so as not to scratch the pool. I Found out later that all of this is included in the price of the cert. class. We felt very stupid but I guarantee that we no longer do business with these people EVER! I am now glad we purchased all of it, as we use it and all but to be told and out and out lie like that from a business, that is not cool!

Thanks for starting this thread and have a great time! You will so love diving! It is an incredibly fun experience.

Temporary Resident Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 159

Jack:

Good idea for a thread. Keep us posted.

You can get your AOW cert with PADI if you just go ahead and finish the class and do four more dives. Therefore, I would recommend that you continue on for that.

Joe:

I am in the same area, actually very close to Jack. How they do it here is that the four dives are one dive, a surface interval and then the second dive on the same day. Same thing for another day. That gets the four. It is really five, but the first is just a snorkel before the first dive.

Jack, I would also recommend getting your Nitrox cert, no dives necessary. I say that not even for the use of Nitrox, but it does a real good job of reinforcing what you learn in your OW certs.

Finally, we are in need of some divers for dives in the Gulf from Clearwater. We do not spear fish and we do only lazy dives, nothing hard. No plans at present to go below sixty feet without divemaster.

Finally, if there is anything we can do to help, please call me and come over and we will be happy to discuss with you.

My 12 year old son got his cert in April this year, and if he can do it, you certainly can.

My final bit of advise is to spend as much time on the pool as you can practicing. That will be your biggest help.

Good luck and best wishes.

JD

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks JD, I'm looking forward to it... Once I finish up the OW I'll see how much further I want to go..... It may be sufficient, I doubt it, but we;ll see.....

Do you go out of a dive shop in Clearwater or just venture out on your own?

I still owe you a drink at the Thirsty Marlin...... we were down there for the ParrotHead party a couple weeks ago.....

Jana, I'm guessing I got a good price then huh?? I'm pretty confident with this shop so far, but thank you for the insight.... That is part of the reason I wanted to document this adventure was to gain from people's experiences other than the instructor/dive shop...

..and thanks Char.... you guys don't know this but Char and Paul have already written me "volumes" of information thru the emails... Way Cool!!!

Have a Great Day!!!

Temporary Resident Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 159

We recently found a guy that we would like to try. He takes out six and we don't have that many right now. It would be good to add to our numbers.

I am ready for the Thirsty drink. We go about once a week. Tonight in fact we will be there.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject:

Sounds good JD, we'll hook up some time... busy tonight but we'll get together soon...

Joe and JD, The dives are 2 per Sunday, 2 Sundays... the dives are at

The Hudson Grotto which is a FW sinkhole... I think this is good so I get a different bouyancy experience.... 2 dives here:

and the other 2 are at Weekie Wachee which is a freshwater spring... here are a couple pics of that one:

edited: after reading about Weeki Wachee I found it is also FW. The contained water dives are in the Gulf so I get to learn in FW and SW....

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

That looks exciting Jack. I've never been diving in fresh water. I've always wanted to go to one of the fresh water springs in Florida but never got around to it. Maybe you can get your instructor to take some photos of you diving. poke

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject:

That's my plan Joe.... of course Peg just bought "another" underwater camera so I'm sure the instructor will do it... or Peg will be giving him that poke with a stick!!!! poke

Should be fun!!!

Rule No. 1: Never hold your breath!!!

Have a Great Day!!

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