No nails left

[Scuttler]

On Friday I start my Advance Nitrox and Decompression Procedures course with Mark Powell.

The course text arrived on Monday and I am slowly working my way through it. The first book I picked up was Advanced Nitrox Diving and I nearly phoned Mark up straight away and told him I'd have to delay!!!! The first 20 pages is almost all mathematics!!!!

Don't get me wrong, I have an HND in Electronic Engineering so maths doesn't scare me but it took a couple of read throughs before I understood the way TDI explain things.

With the PADI stuff you're spoon fed what you need to know and that's about it. TDI expect you to think carefully about the information presented.

Anyway.....am busy filling out the reviews and am looking forward to but am quite nervous about the course as a whole.

Wish me luck!

[ScubaSue]

Mark will make sure you understand it, have no fear of that! If he can get me through the maths side of it he can get anyone through

Be more worried about the OOA's he'll chuck at you

Good luck - it's a rewarding course.

S xx

[LisaR]

Best of luck & enjoy

[Mal Bridgeman]

Good luck with the Course.

The AN & DP course I did with Mark was a milestone for me and changed the way I thought about my diving.

Although there is a lot of info about the course on the 'net and YD in particular, don't forget that the course reports are normally written up whilst adrenalin is still coursing through the veins.....so although it is a tough course depending on what you already know and do, don't forget it *is* a course where you are meant to learn stuff

Look forward to hearing how it goes.
Mal

[tom]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

am quite nervous about the course as a whole.

Don't be - it's hard work but you'll get a lot out of it.

[Frankie Price]

Believe me you will enjoy every bit of it with Mark but be prepared for a real tough time.

[edward]

I did my AN & DP course with Mark back in January. In fact, It was the weekend before we met, briefly, on the countess of erme dive. It was without doubt the best course I've ever done in diving.

Mark managed to be encouraging, thought provoking and supportive. I felt very challenged, but in a good way. Marks teaching style is quiet, thoughtful and very 'real world', and geared towards your needs. I couldn't recomend him more.

I was a nervous as hell, but I suspect that is more to do with my nature than the course. Oh, and as the missus wasn't on the course, I was pining for her as well, which didn't help.....

Some of the things I learnt:

*If you have a back-up anything, expect to use it as your primary may well 'dissapear' during a dive. A good lesson that when you need a back-up, you need it now, and you need to be able to work it with no effort.

*if you get more than the length of a long hose away from your buddies, expect an OOA.

*expect the unexpected. listen carefully to any pre-dive discussions for clues as to what might happen....

Anyway, enjoy yourself - like Mal said, the course has been a real milestone for me, and has changed the way I think about diving.

[Lou]

I can only echo what the others have said. Don't be nervous, be excited! This course will stretch you, but it isn't a boot camp as some others are portrayed. Mark is direct and honest, but not bombastic. He will lead you to realise what needs work, rather than destroy your confidence.

It is a great course - best of luck!

[Scuttler]

Thanks for the advice and good wishes guys.

[Letz]

I didn't know you were doing this Scuttler Lots of luck, although I'm confident you won't need it

As for the maths, that was the best bit in my ADN course. I loved it
If you want a swot buddy for that, gi'us a call. I wanna do it again

Oh, and Mark assures me he's not scary like YD threads would have me believe so I'm looking forward to hearing your feelings on that

See ya soon