dive kit for the sea

[Jules]

oh and by the way where are you doing your AOW? When i did mine about three years ago I had dived in the sea abroad but never in the uk (had done about 20 uk quarry dives so was ok with driving the drysuit). And the condition of doing AOW with the school i used was that I wanted to do it in the sea. That way I had a dive master for my buddy for my first 5 sea dives and it alleviated a lot of worry. There is no point doing AOW in a quarry since it is mostly diving and you wont get any new experience from it. just my logic..

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Andy the Commie 2

Uprate your car for your extra kit

Hey. Delete that smiley!
That was one serious hit on the cash-flow.

nigelH

[SCUBA Chick]

Originally Posted by Scubanut

As for the car, Santa will be bringing me a nice shiny top box, just for clothing mind, nowt spectacular

If you've been a good boy he will

[justme]

i'm doing my AOW over in tenerif with scuba 1

[tom]

Originally Posted by Julia C

the condition of doing AOW with the school i used was that I wanted to do it in the sea

VERY good point Jules - I was in a similar position, no UK stuff (other than an OW course at Stoney), so I also used my AOW as an introduction to UK saltwater conditions. Strongly recommend doing this if possible.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by justme

i'm doing my AOW over in tenerif with scuba 1

Ask your instructor to spend a bit of time with you sending up an SMB. Tell them your going to be UK diving and need this even at OW level. Pay extra if needs be. SMB deployment is not covered at OW or AOW level which is a disgrace. I didnt have official training untill I hit Advanced Nitrox

ATB

Mark Chase

[shades]

Good sense of hummer and patience, as you may be stuck with some right Muppets from time too time on a day charter boat.

[Zdu]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Ask your instructor to spend a bit of time with you sending up an SMB. Tell them your going to be UK diving and need this even at OW level. Pay extra if needs be. SMB deployment is not covered at OW or AOW level which is a disgrace. I didnt have official training untill I hit Advanced Nitrox

That's a great point. I was lucky as on my AOW the instructor went through the whole process on each dive and had me deploying at the end of the course.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

I didnt have official training untill I hit Advanced Nitrox

I don't think I've ever had any training on DSMB deployment. I just read the caveats about not being attached to the thing and being prepared to let it go if the reel jams and went and did it. OK the first few tries were a bit floppy as I was shallow and I didn't get much exhaled air in before it wanted to leave but it worked. The Buddy DSMBi I have now just makes it all too easy.

nigelH

[Allan Carr]

I have my DSMB attached with a velcro link. This is strong enough to hold the reel but comes apart easily if the reel jams. Works really well.