A virgin asks...

[frosty the snowman]

As you may have seen in other threads, several of us on YD, myself included, are about to do our MOD!. I wanted to ask those who have done it, what suprised, challenged, or baffled you when you did yours?

[Phoenix]

YBOD MOD1 (IART) - nothing really, I had read the manual and the course standards so knew what to expect.

Boris MOD1 (IANTD) - quite a lot, much more intensive course with a lot more to take in.

Ian

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

As you may have seen in other threads, several of us on YD, myself included, are about to do our MOD!. I wanted to ask those who have done it, what suprised, challenged, or baffled you when you did yours?

First boat dive on the unit (Dive 3 I think...) Descended towards the volnay at my normal, somewhat fast descent speed. About 6' from the wreck took nice deep breath in.... Then met the volnay headfirst at speed. Turned round to see instructors mask filling up with water, where he was crying with laughter, bastard.

The main thing that people seem to hate is going back to being a complete buoyancy numpty, just remember what you were like when you first qualified OC, it's the same again.

When you think that you have made one of the most expensive mistakes of your life, don't panic, it'll be fine in the end.

Any more info PM me.

Danny

[SteveJ]

As you may have seen in other threads, several of us on YD, myself included, are about to do our MOD!. I wanted to ask those who have done it, what suprised, challenged, or baffled you when you did yours?

Buoyancy!!! The worst dives were the early, shallow dives. I found it a real b*stard to stay down on a six meter dive in a surge. Once below 15 metres, things get easier.

Nearly everyone seems to start off with too much lead and then need to put too much air in their dry suit to maintain buoyancy. After a few dives the penny drops, less lead, less air in suit and minimal loop volume.

Stick with it tho' it's brilliant!

[Janos]

I dive a KISS, which has smaller counterlungs, and so bouyancy wasn't so much of a problem for me.

However what I found was the general faffing was back to new diver levels. You know how a trainee takes aaaaages to get ready and always seems to struggle to put their kit on and clip everything off whereas an experienced diver is ready in about five seconds? Well you'll be like the trainee (or I was at least).

Janos

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by Janos

However what I found was the general faffing was back to new diver levels. You know how a trainee takes aaaaages to get ready and always seems to struggle to put their kit on and clip everything off whereas an experienced diver is ready in about five seconds? Well you'll be like the trainee (or I was at least).

totally agree, it did frustrate me i always liked to be self sufficient sorting myself out and taking ages and making people wait annoyed me. The KISS not working for a couple of the dives really really got to me but my instructor was very good at sorting me out.

the course on the whole isn't too difficult and as long as you keep your brain switched on its good fun and pretty enjoyable.

just remember to laugh at yourself.

[Okeanos]

It didn't seem too bad for me, I suppose I was expecting it all to be much worse than it was.

[Gareth J]

As the others have said - Bouyancy is the issue. All those instinctive things you do now don't work!

Try to have the minimum gas in the counterlungs, makes things easier, but its easier said than done!

As said above, it does seem like a big mistake, but stick with it. I originally did my coarse without owning a unit, by day 3 a KNEW I HAD to HAVE ONE.

Gareth
Rebreather novice & numpty

[Sag]

For me it was the amount of clutter and crap on my chest, you either like or hate the AP harness which seems to have a lot of adjustment / clips, each has a long tape which will hang down, get in the way. The breathing hose restrict's view, which can be frustrating when trying to find / untangle the hand set's. Nothing which can't be trimmed or sorted with time. If you need to add more weight, consider putting it on the harness rather than all on your belt, this will stop you hanging out the bottom / wearing the unit round your ears.