Snorkel training session report - sort of

[ancl]

Sorry if this is in the wrong sections, so no problems if Admins move it.

Last night I went across to a training session with a Dutch dive club ( PDIC - ?? ) that I've joined, thinking okay it will be a a bit of swimming and having a drink in the bar afterwards - was I wrong !!

First thing was getting used to being in a mixed changing room, you are talking to your wife, turn round to get your fins and there is a naked lady ( who isn't your wife ) right in front of you ( amazing how the guys in the office want to take up diving since I told them this )

Rundown of the skills in Dutch, with a quick translation for the bits for the parts we couldn't understand ( about 90% but getting better )

Hmm so much for a quick couple of lengths and into the bar, 5 minute swim to warm up, then into skills, first skill was jumping in the deep end holding your snorkel,mask,weightbelt, and fins, and try and kit up at the bottom...ok got that wrong, but gave it a good try, few more lengths.

Next skill weight belt retrieval and putting it back on whilst on the bottom of the pool, more lengths of the pool.

Time for a bit of fun, throwing frisbees underwater through hoops and swimming to the otherside, bit of a laugh.

Now the instructor says mask clearance at the bottom, ermm I hate mask clearances, but it was a demon I defeated, right so you want me to drop to the bottom, remove mask, put mask back on, and clear ? erm can I have a regulator because I'm not going to have enough air to clear ?? okay I'll give it a try, managed to do a few partial clears....I hate this, what time is the bar open ?

On to a few more lengths of the pool, another mask clearing drill, buddied up with another snorkeller to keep an eye on each other, mask off, drop down, put mask on, clear mask and surface, deep breathe, drop down, mask on, holding onto the ladder to keep me down, ok this isn't so bad, just calm down, take it slow, right mask on, head back, blow a bit of air to clear the mask, hang on, its not that bad...come back to the surface. lucky one ? drop down again try it again, after a few goes, had cracked it, managing to clear the mask and surface on one breathe of air - didn't think it was possible.

Few more weight retrieval at the bottom drills, then it was time to get out and head for the bar and practice my Dutch :-)

It was quite enjoyable last night, I think it helps improve my in-water confidence, hopefully in a few weeks I can kit up underwater like some of the other people, but better learn to walk before running.

Kept joking with the instructor saying I didn't know I was training to join the Dutch special forces, as I hadn't done any training like this before in the UK, and they seemed surprised that I hadn't.

Seemed a better way of spending a Tuesday night rather then sitting at home watching Holby City :-)

Andy

[Scuba Dub]

but, but, don't leave it there!
what about the naked ladies afterwards?!?! well? Eh?!
I nekked ladies!

[ancl]

Originally Posted by Scuba Dub

but, but, don't leave it there!
what about the naked ladies afterwards?!?! well? Eh?!
I nekked ladies!

Just wondering if I can get it signed off as a speciality dive ..... [ leave exit stage left ]

[Scuba Dub]

Originally Posted by ancl

Just wondering if I can get it signed off as a speciality dive ..... [ leave exit stage left ]

LOL!
Now. where's Mick F with that video server...

[calski]

Nice report fella!

Sounds like you've cracked the mask clearance although I must admit that you sound like you've cracked this "swimming" m'larkey too!

Ah... remember Middleton Pool, young apprentice... "We've got to do 20 lengths in twelve minutes!"

"Swim like the wind!!!"

Lol...

[MATTBIN]

Adam & I did the snorkel training thing with Bsac, wasnt as tough as yours in Holland (nor did we have naked ladies in our changing rooms) but similar, an eye opener. The examiner was an Arse though, never did get our certs even though we passed, said we'd get them in our books as the Scuba club, being Padi didnt help I suppose.

When I worked in Holland the gym I went to had mixed changing/showering arrangements, very odd.

Matt

[ancl]

Originally Posted by Scuba Dub

LOL!
Now. where's Mick F with that video server...

If only I could get Orange NL to make my smartphone work with GPRS then we might be onto something.....

Andy

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by ancl

On to a few more lengths of the pool, another mask clearing drill, buddied up with another snorkeller to keep an eye on each other, mask off, drop down, put mask on, clear mask and surface, deep breathe, drop down, mask on, holding onto the ladder to keep me down, ok this isn't so bad, just calm down, take it slow, right mask on, head back, blow a bit of air to clear the mask, hang on, its not that bad...come back to the surface. lucky one ? drop down again try it again, after a few goes, had cracked it, managing to clear the mask and surface on one breathe of air - didn't think it was possible.

It's actually a really good way to practice mask clearing as you have to be very conservative with your air but boosts confidence no end and makes you much more efficient at it.
(That's how I learnt to do it way back when taught by a fellow snorkeller in France).

[vid]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Adam & I did the snorkel training thing with Bsac, wasnt as tough as yours in Holland .... but similar, an eye opener.

i think the dutch training is more akin to the "old" school training, dating back to pre 1990's - swimming lengths, kitting up below the surface, tread water, hold ya breath for 10 minutes (or that's what it felt like) ..... fortunately, the training has moved on a bit

we do have a small group of snorkellers who mess around on a club night doing similar things to this (but not as formal) - I think I'll ask if we can start using the dutch system. (now should i also ask if we can go to mixed changing rooms?)

vid (short for VID)