Equipment Exchange - Top Tips?

[BigB]

The whole idea behind the skill is that you need to figure it out for yourself. This is purely an exercise to see how you cope with stress. I do not even tell my DM's about this beforehand ! They get the briefing and have 1 minute to discuss above water and then must go down and do it!

next you will need the answers to the DM exam ??

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by BigB

The whole idea behind the skill is that you need to figure it out for yourself. This is purely an exercise to see how you cope with stress. I do not even tell my DM's about this beforehand ! They get the briefing and have 1 minute to discuss above water and then must go down and do it!

next you will need the answers to the DM exam ??

This is the kind of reasoning that read to my post pointing out that you don't have to exchange weightbelts, some Instructors just love making this exercise difficult. The standards say you can have up to 5 minutes to discuss the exercise but you choose to give them 1..hmm

Ian

[Rod]

Originally Posted by iani

The standards say you can have up to 5 minutes to discuss the exercise but you choose to give them 1..hmm

Ian

Yes a MAXIMUM of 5 mins, 1 min makes it more of a challenge.

[Conor]

FYI from the standards

Allowing excessive preparation reduces the stress and the
effectiveness of the exercise.

DOh!

[Dive In Paphos]

I believe that a kit exchange should be done with a minimum amount of briefing/conflab between candidates. The whole excercise is designed to gauge reactions to problem solving. It also serves as a yard stick to see how candidates perform when unexpected problems arise and how they cope with the stress that accompanies it. The idea of a short brief is ideal, as candidates can not possibly work through every "What if" scenario.

I think that people forget that this excercise is carried out in a controlled enviroment. If things do go belly up, an Instructor is there to sort out.

One of the key pointers in the excercise is for the Instructor to brief, that variation from normal diving practice is acceptable.

There are no practical applications at all for Kit Exchange other than the reasons listed above.

Originally Posted by Paul Sharman

No offense but i would hope that would be deemed as a non starter.

A little lateral thinking on exactly what constitutes 'Exchange' Works

Wise words, why do people want to get ahead of the game on this is beyond me. It is meant to test and for candidates to learn from their mistakes.

Just my 2 bob's worth

Jonno

[Tony F]

I'm not sure I understand the concerns here.

Firstly virtually any candidate looking at the DM course will know they are facing the equipment exchange. So, to some extent or other, they will be considering how to deal with this well before the exercise starts.

Secondly, if it all goes nipples skyward the candidate will get another go so clearly therefore PADI will be aware and accepts that this gives a time for reflection.

This isn't like an exam, there isn't just one answer it's a skill to be learned. It could even be agued that the DM course builds problem solving skills in this way and that preparation is one of those skills, asking for advice is a kind of preparation. Being prepared naturally reduces the stress but that's the point.

I don't see a lot wrong with giving tips for this, it's a completely different aspect to seeking answers to the exams.

[MattyBoyUK]

I'm half way through the course myself and have completed this exercise three times. As mentioned above most DM candidate know this is coming up so I practiced it a couple of times. These both went well using the following order (and starting in own kit)....fins,weights,bcd,mask.

When we had to do it for real we were asked to do a 3 way exchange, which was actually easier (I'll let you find out why).

Anyway my tips would be: check the kit fits you both (including length of weight belt aswell as fins) and ensure you designate one of you as the reg controller (we swapped halfway when the scuba unit swapped) this is important for when the other person has their mask off.

hth

Matt

[Tony F]

Originally Posted by MattyBoyUK

(including length of weight belt

Hmmmm...... buddy breathing, without fins maybe and incorrectly weighted......... doesn't sound like a very good idea.

I think Ian has already pointed out swapping weightbelts is not part of the requirement.

[yellowduke]

Some interesting responses there guys. I never thought asking for tips would get any debate at all! As one or two people thought the kit exchange has been something that I and all the other DM trainees I know have given thought to and talked about. I have already thought how I can change my usual pool kit to make things easier. Best advice so far is to just take all the time we want, after all it isn't a race. Of course getting a good mark isn't just about swapping the kit over, there is also the leadership aspect to consider. I also don't want to crap on my buddy by being the guy with the plan and being the boss. I would rather we both looked good!

I don't know how much use this is as a stress test. After all we are aware that we have to do it from day one. We choose when we do it and have plenty of time to think about it and get tips! If you don't get a great score then you can do it again. There is no time limit. Where is the stress? The only bit where i see a problem is the mask exchange but then I have a cunning plan!

Now of course the next question is has anyone got the exam answers handy? Well actually I already have them as they are in the IDC pack. Now for the odd one or two people whose blood pressure has just spiked let me explain. PADI push the whole business idea through the DM manual and encourage DMs to be instructors. To that end the manual tells you to go out and get the IDC pack and start reading as it helps with the DM course, apparently, and also gives you a head start when it comes to the IDC.

Now on the DM exam front, well the exams and answers are in there
If I wanted I could just memorise the pattern of boxes to black out or the letters of the answers. That would get me through the DM exam and if that was all I wanted then fine, I just paid near £300 for the test paper and answers. Of course my sights are set a little higher as I am already paid up for the IDC so I guess I will need to learn all this stuff anyway if I have any hope of passing the IDC and IE.

Nitey Nite,

Jim

Angelic DMT

[MattyBoyUK]

Originally Posted by MattyBoyUK
(including length of weight belt



Hmmmm...... buddy breathing, without fins maybe and incorrectly weighted......... doesn't sound like a very good idea.

I think Ian has already pointed out swapping weightbelts is not part of the requirement.

....

Sorry just to clarify for some: when exchanging individual kit items I meant that you put them on immediately after swapping so yes you would have fins on.
In regards to being incorrectly weighted??? All I meant was to make sure your buddy's weight belt was long enough to go around you!! I didn't say anything about the amount of lead on the belts.

Ok so the belt swap may not be a requirement but it's hardly the hardest part and it makes the exercise alot more complete but then I guess it depends on if you're just ticking boxes.