twin set diving

[justme]

not sure if this is the right place for this. mod's please move it if it isnt
Whats the best course for learning to dive on twinsets an do padi do a course on it? and roughly how much is it to do the course

[big_si]

I would recommend contacting Mark Powell (on YD as 'Mark Powell' ) of Dive-Tech: TDI and BSAC Nitrox, trimix and technical diver training courses with instructor Mark Powell and talk to him about a twinset familiarisation. Excellent instructor as many will agree!

EDIT Here's a link to the course details and price

[futureechos]

I've had my twins about 2 months, still practicing shutdowns.

I've found many posts on here very useful, there's the same article posted on YD somewhere but this is the link I have to hand. Worth a read before and after getting the twins:

Team foxturd: The Art of Shutdowns

Helped me, hope it helps you.

FE

EDIT: Found it here The Art of Shutdowns - A Garf Rant. (DOH)

[The Duck]

Intro to twins course is always worth looking at if you're new to twins.

Mark Powell is a great instructor for courses and I *think* he was charging £120 on the last course he advertised but please check as I could be wrong.

Martin Robson is another good instructor and Phil Short has a very good reputation.

[Bottle Maker]

Why do peaple sugest a course for new twin set divers and not new users of ponies,
On a sensable note go and get some advice from a reputable instuctor before spending any money on hardware £120.00 seams like a lot of money but you can easily waste far more than that buying equipment that is not suitable for the sort of diving that you want to do.

Graham

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Bottle Maker

Why do peaple sugest a course for new twin set divers and not new users of ponies,

I was wondering that.
I didn't do a course on a pony.
I didn't do a course on a twinset.

We are too hung up on 'courses'. Education and learning are not synonymous with courses. I am happy to go to a man I trust and paying them to teach me something however a lot of the best things I have learnt have come from people who would never have considered charging me. Frankly, a lot of things you need to know to dive a pony or a twinset are not complicated and do not rate a 'course'. What you need is time in the water diving one.

[NotDeadYet]

I have to agree, forget doing a course. I'm sure the instructors are very good but someone who regularly uses a twinset (and uses it right) will be able to give you everything you need to know in about half an hour, especially if you can persuade them to go diving too.

[Bottle Maker]

[quote=nigelH;853198]I was wondering that.
I didn't do a course on a pony.
I didn't do a course on a twinset.

We are too hung up on 'courses'. Education and learning are not synonymous with courses. I am happy to go to a man I trust and paying them to teach me something however a lot of the best things I have learnt have come from people who would never have considered charging me. Frankly, a lot of things you need to know to dive a pony or a twinset are not complicated and do not rate a 'course'. What you need is time in the water diving one.[/quote

I agree with you Nigel but with out good advice it is easy to make costly mistakes, if you do not have friends who are in a postion to offer this advice it is better to pay somebody.

Graham

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I was wondering that.
I didn't do a course on a pony.
I didn't do a course on a twinset.

We are too hung up on 'courses'. Education and learning are not synonymous with courses. I am happy to go to a man I trust and paying them to teach me something however a lot of the best things I have learnt have come from people who would never have considered charging me. Frankly, a lot of things you need to know to dive a pony or a twinset are not complicated and do not rate a 'course'. What you need is time in the water diving one.

AIAI, Mark's 'course' is more along the lines of a familiarisation rather than a formal course. He will also bring different equipment to try, which can prevent making an expensive mistake.

In the 'olden days' there was probably a more experienced diver who could be trusted to impart useful information, take you diving on a regular basis, give you a clip round the ear if you did summat daft and generally build you into a mini-me and hopefully instill good practices.

However, todays diver has easier access to information - more magazines, DVDs, and the damn internet where most of us spout absolute rubbish all day. I do agree with Big Si, in that if a good grounding is required, together with unbiased information - in the absence of a 'well-informed & practised buddy' or a good club instructor who can impart the basic information in an unopiniated style - £120 spent with Mark is probably the best value for money you could wish for.

Getting in the water and diving a twinset is going to build experience for sure - lets hope they are all positive experiences!

Di

[weazelz]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

I have to agree, forget doing a course. I'm sure the instructors are very good but someone who regularly uses a twinset (and uses it right) will be able to give you everything you need to know in about half an hour, especially if you can persuade them to go diving too.

& if you're new to twinsets, how do you know if they're using it right? they might think they're using it right, but have put it on the wrong way up