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Scuba Forum / General / July 2005Returning to scuba after 7 years
I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get back into diving now (I live in CA) and was wondering if it would be a good idea to take a refresher course, or go through the entire certification course again. Or, I could just read a book to refresh my memory. Opinions? Thanks. > I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, > Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Opinions? Thanks. Or you could just get your equpment and go jump in the ocean... Darwin will help you figure it out... >> Opinions? Thanks. > > Or you could just get your equpment and go jump in the ocean... Darwin > will > help you figure it out... Maybe Darwin is helping, he's smart enough to ask for a second opinion. Curtis In article <fMfAe.407937$cg1.218454@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, \"Magilla\ <cavey_curtis@$$> wrote: > >> Opinions? Thanks. > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Curtis And since he's asking, and no one seems to be answering, maybe it's time to actually have an on-topic discussion. Plin - you'd probably be better off taking a refresher course at minimum. California is a big place, but if you tell us where you live, someone might be able to suggest a good instructor that's local to you. > And since he's asking, and no one seems to be answering, maybe it's > time to actually have an on-topic discussion. I suspect that we've discussed this one quite a few times before... My personal belief is that if you learned it the first time, it'll come back to you real quick once you jump into the water... It's kind of like swimming -- if you haven't been in the water for a few years, so you take a refresher swimming course? Then again, I started diving back long enough ago that teaching yourself was not that strange of a concept... > > And since he's asking, and no one seems to be answering, maybe it's > > time to actually have an on-topic discussion. > > I suspect that we've discussed this one quite a few times before... My > personal belief is that if you learned it the first time, His first instruction was at a Philippine resort. I wouldn't make that assumption. it'll come back to > you real quick once you jump into the water... It's kind of like swimming -- > if you haven't been in the water for a few years, so you take a refresher > swimming course? Then again, I started diving back long enough ago that > teaching yourself was not that strange of a concept... > > And since he's asking, and no one seems to be answering, maybe it's > > time to actually have an on-topic discussion. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > swimming course? Then again, I started diving back long enough ago that > teaching yourself was not that strange of a concept... So if you've not flown in 7 years, what do you do? Just hop in & hope it all comes back? :-) Sides, I think the FAA has some requirements regarding that. And yes, I'd lerarned some bad habits since my swim courses as a kid. Took an adult swm class to break 'em. Maybe a friend could've helped - course they have their own stuff to do. :-) Dennis > So if you've not flown in 7 years, what do you do? > Just hop in & hope it all comes back? :-) Well, flying is a bit more complicated than diving, so we're not exactly comparing apples to oranges here... > Sides, I think the FAA has some requirements regarding that. Yeah, they do... Technically, all I would need to do to be 'legal' would be to get a flight instructor to go up with me to sign me off for a BFR just like I have to do every two years anyway... If you own your own plane, there's nothing physically preventing you from just getting in the plane and flying it again... Of course, I would wonder about a plane that had been sitting around for 7 years unused... > Well, flying is a bit more complicated than diving, so we're not exactly > comparing apples to oranges here... At it's most basic, one stick and two pedals. How complicated is that? Lee >> Well, flying is a bit more complicated than diving, so we're not exactly >> comparing apples to oranges here... > >At it's most basic, one stick and two pedals. How complicated is that? > >Lee needle, ball and airspeed.  Signaturedillon Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way of life. And a damn fine one, at that. > At it's most basic, one stick and two pedals. How complicated is that? As I've said before, any idiot can get a plane off the ground and fly relatively straight and level... Landings are where it counts... I don't think that I would have much of a problem after not flying for 7 years, but if someone had only flown enough to get their license and then took 7 years off, they *might* have a problem... You might bounce the first couple of landings, but probably nothing so major that the plane wouldn't be able fly again... Now, if you want to factor in flying in busy controlled airspace and haven't flown in 7 years, maybe you should consider starting out at the less busy uncontrolled fields until you build up your confidence... What I would suggest to the person if he is really concerned about being out of diving for 7 years would be for him to get some equipment and start out in shallow lake or pool and progress to deeper dives as his comfort level increases... Probably a boat dive on a rig in 300 ft of water would not be a good starting dive... On the other hand, Darwin will be there to help him sort it out... <evil-grin> > > Well, flying is a bit more complicated than diving, so we're not exactly > > comparing apples to oranges here... > > At it's most basic, one stick and two pedals. How complicated is that? > > Lee I hear the ground is pretty hard when it hits really quick. >So if you've not flown in 7 years, what do you do? >Just hop in & hope it all comes back? :-) > >Sides, I think the FAA has some requirements regarding that. The FAA requires a formal review every two years. However the analogy is flawed for serveral reason: Flying an airplane is much more complicated that SCUBA diving. A flying accident is likely to cause more damage to more people. The knowledge needed to fly safely changes much more quickly than the knowledge needed to SUCUBA dive safely. SignatureCharlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA (hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying) All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's. >> And since he's asking, and no one seems to be answering, maybe it's >> time to actually have an on-topic discussion. > I suspect that we've discussed this one quite a few times before... My > personal belief is that if you learned it the first time, it'll come back [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > swimming course? Then again, I started diving back long enough ago that > teaching yourself was not that strange of a concept... I tend to agree with you except for two things: 1. Not everybody is comfortable with self training. 2. We, or at least I, don't know how different the diving he plans to do is from what he was previously trained to do. Lee > minimum. California is a big place, but if you tell us where you live, > someone might be able to suggest a good instructor that's local to you. Diving in California is quite a bit different than the diving in Boracay. I believe Plin would be better off taking the course over again. It's been 7 years and there were only 5 dives. Thanks, guys. I'll sign up for a refresher course at a minimum. Yes, there are significant differences in diving conditions b/w tropical Boracay and So Cal (water temp and visibility). Plus, I'll probably be diving the kelp forests out by Anacapa, and it'll definitely be helpful to get a local's insight into the local conditions and environment. I'm in the Ventura/Oxnard area, if anyone can suggest a good dive shop for lessons. I don't suppose Sport Chalet is the best place for this, or is it okay? > I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, > Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Opinions? Thanks. At a minimum, take a refresher. Though after 7 years, it'd likely be equivalent to a full course. Dennis > I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, > Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Opinions? Thanks. Hook up with a local dive club (ask here for some pointers) and choose a mentor. >I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, > Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get > back into diving now (I live in CA) and was wondering if it would be a > good idea to take a refresher course, or go through the entire > certification course again. Or, I could just read a book to refresh my > memory. Opinions? Thanks. It depends on how confident you are in your own ability to dive without refresher training. In making your decision, I suggest you consider how different the diving was where you learned and last dove versus where you are and plan to dive now. If it's significantly different, particularly in regard to thermal protection, something that has significant impact on buoyancy, I suggest you at least take some kind of refresher course. If you can find a shop you like, you might even ask if it's OK for you to sit in one a course being given to others. You don't need a card, you just need knowledge. Lee Most likely he's just Open Water certified. I would go and take the Advanced Open Water class. Let the instructor know you have been out of it for a few years. He will do the quickie mask clear equalization speech etc. as well as keep a closer eye on you while you do the AOW dives. Go have some fun. It would be nice if a simple answer to the basic questions was presented rather than the Bull Sh*tting that is done. If you don't like the question or done have a proper response why bother to post an answer. John >>I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, >> Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Lee > It would be nice if a simple answer to the basic questions was presented > rather than the Bull Sh*tting that is done. If you don't like the question > or done have a proper response why bother to post an answer. Neither life, nor diving, is all that simple. If you don't like the responses of others, don't read them. Lee > John > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> >> Lee >>If you don't like the responses of others, don't read them. The problem with your logic is that one must read the response to determine its merit. You and now I have just wasted two posts on this thread that have nothing to do with the original thread. All those who read them have wasted their time to do so and decide they were stupid So why not abstain from making the STUPID posts in the first place. As an additional note, why did you respond to my post? You posted two proper responses and my post was in no way pointed at you! John >> It would be nice if a simple answer to the basic questions was presented >> rather than the Bull Sh*tting that is done. If you don't like the [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >>> >>> Lee > >>If you don't like the > responses of others, don't read them. > > The problem with your logic is that one must read the response to determine > its merit. You and now I have just wasted two posts on this thread that have > nothing to do with the original thread. All those who read them have wasted Welcome to Usenet. > their time to do so and decide they were stupid So why not abstain from > making the STUPID posts in the first place. Lead by example? :-) > As an additional note, why did you respond to my post? You posted two proper > responses and my post was in no way pointed at you! Looked to me like it was - after all, you were replying to Lee's post. You should make it clearer - particularly when using pronounds such as "you". (note, in the above, "You should" refers to John Cassara. Dennis > John > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > >>> > >>> Lee > The problem with your logic is that one must read the response to > determine > its merit. You and now I have just wasted two posts on this thread that > have > nothing to do with the original thread. The problem with your logic is that you presume to be the judge of value. I've not wasted any posts. You may have. > As an additional note, why did you respond to my post? You posted two > proper responses and my post was in no way pointed at you! Then it would have been a lot better if you had not posted it directly above my response. Lee >>>> It depends on how confident you are in your own ability to dive without >>>> refresher training. In making your decision, I suggest you consider [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >>>> >>>> Lee > Most likely he's just Open Water certified. I would go and take the Advanced > Open Water class. Let the instructor know you have been out of it for a few [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > rather than the Bull Sh*tting that is done. If you don't like the question > or done have a proper response why bother to post an answer. Give someone an answer, and they've gained a bit of knowledge. Teach someone how to find the answer, and they've become far more capable. Lee takes the second approach. And his evaluation process applies to far more than jsut diving. Dennis > John > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > > > Lee > Give someone an answer, and they've gained a bit of knowledge. > Teach someone how to find the answer, and they've become far more capable. > > Lee takes the second approach. And his evaluation process applies to far > more than jsut diving. Hmmm... So which approach do I take? <evil-grin> > > Give someone an answer, and they've gained a bit of knowledge. > > Teach someone how to find the answer, and they've become far more capable. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Hmmm... So which approach do I take? <evil-grin> the approach that has the highest probability to offend the greatest number of folks? ;-) Dennis > the approach that has the highest probability to offend the greatest number > of folks? ;-) Damn... And I thought I was being subtle about it... > > the approach that has the highest probability to offend the greatest > number > > of folks? ;-) > > Damn... And I thought I was being subtle about it... Thats my job... > > > the approach that has the highest probability to offend the greatest > > number [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Thats my job... You're fired. I went 13 years without getting wet. I took the advanced OW course which got me back into a pool first and then out on some supervised dives. I also re-read the OW manual. Play it safe, meet some other divers, have some fun. > I got my PADI licence 7 years ago while on vacation in Boracay, > Philippines and have only been on about five dives. I'd like to get [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Opinions? Thanks. > I went 13 years without getting wet. I took the advanced OW course which got > me back into a pool first and then out on some supervised dives. I also > re-read the OW manual. > > Play it safe, meet some other divers, have some fun. In this case, I think a key issue is that his training and his only diving experience has been in warm, tropical waters, while his new diving environment is much colder and much less forgiving. It's tough to have fun when you're into something you didn't expect. SoCal diving is a world away from diving in the Philippines (and yes, I have experience in both places), and we've seen quite a number of people with just tropical dive experience get into trouble here trying to get used to much colder water and much poorer visibility. Scott's suggestion of a dive club is probably the best (at least in my opinion), but barring that, I'd suggest a good instructor in the Ventura/Oxnard area. Sport Chalet wouldn't be my first, second, or third choice. If the OP can't find one here, then a post to either www.diver.net or www.scubadivernet.com might help (these are two SoCal dive forums). Another newbie question - is the OW Manual typically included in the price of the certification course? I never received one (I don't think it was available through the school I used)) and bought a scuba book on my own. I suspect that the standards of instruction in the Philippines aren't the same as in the US...another good reason to retake the course. (meaningful replies only, please...there's enough BS in this thread already) > Another newbie question - is the OW Manual typically included in the > price of the certification course? I never received one (I don't think [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > (meaningful replies only, please...there's enough BS in this thread > already) It's my experience that manuals are included with the courses in the US, and are not in Thailand or the Philippines (both PADI and NAUI). >Another newbie question - is the OW Manual typically included in the >price of the certification course? I never received one (I don't think [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >(meaningful replies only, please...there's enough BS in this thread >already) It depends on the shop. Some shops in the area charge $75 for an OW class, then hit you with charges for things like materials, rental gear and air. Other shops actually charge enough to cover those things and even pay the instructors enough to buy a soda at the dive site. Signaturedillon Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way of life. And a damn fine one, at that. > ? I went 13 years without getting wet. I took the advanced OW course which got > ? me back into a pool first and then out on some supervised dives. I also [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > third choice. If the OP can't find one here, then a post to either > www.diver.net or www.scubadivernet.com might help (these are two SoCal dive forums). I'm not familiar with Sport Chalet instruction but their prices on equipment are quite good, which is also a factor, because when you take your course from a dive shop there is pressure to buy gear from that dive shop. Also the Sport Chalet dive club I belonged to in San Diego had interesting meetings with good speakers. On the other hand their regulator service leaves much to be desired. Adam >I got my PADI licence 7 years ago . Nope. A "licence" is issued (typically) by a government and gives you permission to do something. PADI and other dive agencies issue "certifications" indicating that you meet a certain level of competency. Please dont' confuse this -- I don't think that I or many other divers want an increas in government regulation of our sport! >good idea to take a refresher course, or go through the entire >certification course again. Or, I could just read a book to refresh my >memory. Seek out a local instructor or dive master and ask him/her to do a dive or two with you. The level or review you need will quickly become apparent. SignatureCharlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA (hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying) All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's. |
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