PADI Wreck Course - Is a twinset overkill

[IanDennis]

Senario:

PADI wreck course
4 student divers - either AOW or Rescue
4 dives on the countess in Portland Harbour- dive 4 as per PADI standards is an optional wreck penetration at a ratio of 2:1
Max depth 15m

In my own mind then I would prefer to have the twinset with me in the unlikely even that I need the extra gas capacity.

School that I teach for is saying why not do it on a 15ltr. Whilst this is not unreasonable I still prefer the twins but is it too much for these dives- the sun is out, water is warm enough for a semi-dry- do I really need twins 12's for this?

Be interested to see what other think - especially as its about 10years since I last did the countess and cannot really remember much about the layout.

Thanks

Ian

[Woz]

If you are doing the Countess 4 times I'd take an underwater MP3 player, a waterproof book and a slate with a Sudoku on it. The only bit that you could vaguely call penetration is that swimthrough half way along. Unless me and Janos missed something when we did it. Him on a rebreather and me on twin 12's. Overkill? Oh yes. Mind you both of us tried to get through a hole that we thought might be a wiggle and both of us got stuck and had to reverse out. Team Pork are not built for cave diving, I can tell you.

I'd do it on a single 10. In fact, I'd happily do it on a 7. Scrub that- I reckon you could do it on a couple of side slung 3's.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by dennydiving

Senario:

PADI wreck course
4 student divers - either AOW or Rescue
4 dives on the countess in Portland Harbour- dive 4 as per PADI standards is an optional wreck penetration at a ratio of 2:1
Max depth 15m

In my own mind then I would prefer to have the twinset with me in the unlikely even that I need the extra gas capacity.

School that I teach for is saying why not do it on a 15ltr. Whilst this is not unreasonable I still prefer the twins but is it too much for these dives- the sun is out, water is warm enough for a semi-dry- do I really need twins 12's for this?

Be interested to see what other think - especially as its about 10years since I last did the countess and cannot really remember much about the layout.

Surely it's your choice what kit you dive? Whilst I can appreciate the argument about not confusing the hell out of students by diving unfamiliar kit, I personally feel that once they're past OW level, students should be exposed to non-standard kit configurations - after all, they'll certainly encounter them when they go off diving for real! If it was an OW course then I'd agree with the dive school - stick to the same kit as the students. As it's a wreck course, though, the students should be comfortable enough with their own kit and anyway, a twinset is a far more sensible choice if there's an penetration (abliet very limited) involved...

Personally I'd use the 'safety' card and tell them a twinset will give you extra gas and full redundancy should a student have a problem within an overhead environment. And then, of course, there's also the issue of having to donate gas should one of your students have a problem - in a confined space that's as silty as the Countess, I'd much rather donate from a long hose than an octopus!

But you're right - it *is* overkill for the Countess...

And Woz - sideslung 3s? Ya poof!!!! I'd freedive it and still see most of the wreck...

[Woz]

Ah I see you're teaching it. Well in that case I'd lob on the same as whatever your students are wearing. YD is a big "look at me I'm dead hard I've got a twinset and a 500m long hose and a massive torch" when actually the rest of the world dives a single. I teach in a single and much prefer it. Maybe introduce a pony if you're feeling keen.

Originally Posted by Bardo

And Woz - sideslung 3s? Ya poof!!!! I'd freedive it and still see most of the wreck...

Yeah but you'd bang your head on it in that viz. Certainly if I've been through the wreck in Ploughs Down mode.

[IanDennis]

Yes Indeed teaching it!

If I were to do it in a single then it would be wing, backplate and a long hose- there are some things that won't change

Woz - twin 3's - I thought you might do it on a spare air?

[GaryC]

Originally Posted by dennydiving

Senario:

PADI wreck course
4 student divers - either AOW or Rescue
4 dives on the countess in Portland Harbour- dive 4 as per PADI standards is

In my own mind then I would prefer to have the twinset with me in the unlikely even that I need the extra gas capacity.


Thanks

Ian

4 dives on the countess, doesnt actually give them much experience in Wrecks. What do they learn on the course?

Didnt think you could really do overhead on it???

Gary

[Woz]

Originally Posted by dennydiving

Woz - twin 3's - I thought you might do it on a spare air?

Well in Baywatch they can stay down for hours on one.

When I use a longhose on a single rig I breathe the backup and use the long hose as the octo so the students aren't scared by all the hoses and twinsets and stuff.

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by GaryC

4 dives on the countess, doesnt actually give them much experience in Wrecks. What do they learn on the course?

A fair old bit - zero viz, lines, silt avoidance etc.

Originally Posted by GaryC

Didnt think you could really do overhead on it???

You can drop in by the stern, through the deck girders and swim forward to the base of the capstan. There are a couple of tight bits, LOTS of silt and a few disorientating bits. I think it's an excellent place to teach people wreck diving techniques.

Mind you, the Hood used to be better.

Regards,

Mark

PS. Paging Woz and Janos; if I can get from one end of the C of E to the other I'm sure you can!

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by Woz

Well in Baywatch they can stay down for hours on one.

I never really understood that. Baywatch made me pant more than usual.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by GaryC

4 dives on the countess, doesnt actually give them much experience in Wrecks. What do they learn on the course?

Didnt think you could really do overhead on it???

Gary

Actually I'd say the Countess is a very good introduction to wreck diving as it will teach them the following...

1. Wrecks have lots or sharp, rusting metal that will damage you and/or your kit if you're not careful
2. Wrecks are very silty - fin like a spaz and you'll see f*ck all in no time!
3. The inside of a wreck can be disorientating - ok, ok, you'd have to be a bit dim to get lost inside the Countess but you get the idea...

The other good thing about the Countess is that it actually *looks* like a ship - taking students out to a collapsed pile of hull plating isn't going to enthuse them if it's their first ever experience of a wreck!