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Slims · 06-19-2009, 06:58 AM

You will get a lot colder than you initially expect. Diving isn't particularly strenuous so you won't be burning the calories you need to stay warm. Wear a thicker wet suit than you think you need. Especially in a quarry where the water below the surface is much colder than that on top.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are ascending rapidly (for any number of reasons) remember to exhale forcefully if slowing your ascent isn't possible.

Don't panic. Most diving accidents that I am aware of involved a simple, easily rectified problem that caused the diver to panic and kill themselves. I.e. a guy gets his air supply knocked out of his mouth and loses his mask. The right answer is to reach back and trace your air-hose back to your regulator and put it back in your mouth. The wrong, but unfortunately common response in the PADI world is to panic and either bolt to the surface while holding your breath (which can rupture the tissue between your lungs and an artery forcing a gas bubble to your brain, killing you) or furiously thrash about hoping that if you do so enough you will gain the ability to breath water.

Don't blow your tables. The bends are sneaky and far more serious than any classes you get will indicate. If you do push your limits and something just doesn't feel right afterwards go immediately to a hospital (i.e. if your hip aches a little for no apparent reason). If you wait until DCS develops further you will likely be permanently crippled.

Remember that the basic course is designed to give people a 'good enough' block of instruction to allow people to conduct simple dives under ideal circumstances. You need to read on your own how to handle some of the more serious things that can happen underwater.

Download the US Navy Dive Manual (revision 6 is the newest). It has all kinds of information that will make you a better, more confident, and safer diver than your PADI classes.

Have fun.

06-19-2009, 06:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	You will get a lot colder than you initially expect. Diving isn't particularly strenuous so you won't be burning the calories you need to stay warm. Wear a thicker wet suit than you think you need. Especially in a quarry where the water below the surface is much colder than that on top. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are ascending rapidly (for any number of reasons) remember to exhale forcefully if slowing your ascent isn't possible. Don't panic. Most diving accidents that I am aware of involved a simple, easily rectified problem that caused the diver to panic and kill themselves. I.e. a guy gets his air supply knocked out of his mouth and loses his mask. The right answer is to reach back and trace your air-hose back to your regulator and put it back in your mouth. The wrong, but unfortunately common response in the PADI world is to panic and either bolt to the surface while holding your breath (which can rupture the tissue between your lungs and an artery forcing a gas bubble to your brain, killing you) or furiously thrash about hoping that if you do so enough you will gain the ability to breath water. Don't blow your tables. The bends are sneaky and far more serious than any classes you get will indicate. If you do push your limits and something just doesn't feel right afterwards go immediately to a hospital (i.e. if your hip aches a little for no apparent reason). If you wait until DCS develops further you will likely be permanently crippled. Remember that the basic course is designed to give people a 'good enough' block of instruction to allow people to conduct simple dives under ideal circumstances. You need to read on your own how to handle some of the more serious things that can happen underwater. Download the US Navy Dive Manual (revision 6 is the newest). It has all kinds of information that will make you a better, more confident, and safer diver than your PADI classes. Have fun. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence Last edited by Slims; 06-19-2009 at 07:06 AM..