Depressed & Defeated

[MartyC]

Originally Posted by neilh

Great post Marty and I feel for you mate, I really do!


I guess you've got a couple of options depending on where you want to go now. If you've got a spare set then you could invert one to use on dives where you want to know you can shutdown if you need to and the other which you can dive as a big single and practice.
I need to get some practice in myself so more than happy to sort out some Blue Lagoon evening trips

Cheers Neil, Ha, I had thought about getting another set but I finance Phill enough I think!
I'm gonna invert the set and finish the course, then look at my options and take time to reflect before I move on - I need helium
Its quite amazing for me as some one who always says "I never get narked" to be put into a situation where I clearly am, and I know it, but can't do burger all about it, talk about brain turning to treacle

[yellowduke]

Marty,

I know exactly how you feel mate. I have been on the course twice and have yet to pass. I couldn't do shutdowns for toffee last time round even though on other days i have done them no problem at all. I'm not going to rush back into it though as i think you need regular practice before going on the course. Practice is something i haven't had the time for for a very long time! Next year maybe.

It will all come right for you in the end mate.

Jim

[neilh]

Originally Posted by MartyC

Cheers Neil, Ha, I had thought about getting another set but I finance Phill enough I think!

Originally Posted by MartyC

I'm gonna invert the set and finish the course, then look at my options and take time to reflect before I move on - I need helium

Ahhh - but you'll probably be wanting another set anyway then. Last thing you need is to line up some trips to the Blue Lagoon or some 15-20M bimbles and have a set full of expensive He as your only option

[principia]

Originally Posted by neilh

Ahhh - but you'll probably be wanting another set anyway then. Last thing you need is to line up some trips to the Blue Lagoon or some 15-20M bimbles and have a set full of expensive He as your only option

Isn't that what a single 12 is for

J

[neilh]

Originally Posted by principia

Isn't that what a single 12 is for

Do people still dive those?




Fair point tho

[ardhill]

Marty, you paid for the training, not a ticket... I should know

Seriously, if all you wanted was the ticket, then you are gonna be well P'ed off, but now that you have had another night's sleep and are feeling brighter. Maybe you can get your mind around to the fact that you got 'exactly' what you paid for and went for - the training. You didn't fail, you just need more time practising

If your heart is set on DIR, then don't invert mate. Dive with the manifold closed and use them as indies till you are happy with your shut downs, you don't want to have to change trim, hoses and most importantly, muscle memory for a stop gap. Dive uprights with the manifold closed as your stop gap. I started diving inverts because I needed to - my suit wouldn't allow me the movement. Now I have a new suit and I dive inverts because I choose to. But I am not looking to go down the DIR route, so it makes no difference to me as long as I am safe and comfortable. I am sure some of the more skilled divers, particularly those with experience helping others to do shutdowns could spend some time with you and help you out. If you want to dive DIR, you need to dive uprights!

BTW, well done on surviving even through the uncertainty and dismay.

[MartyC]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Marty, you paid for the training, not a ticket... I should know

Seriously, if all you wanted was the ticket, then you are gonna be well P'ed off, but now that you have had another night's sleep and are feeling brighter. Maybe you can get your mind around to the fact that you got 'exactly' what you paid for and went for - the training. You didn't fail, you just need more time practising

If your heart is set on DIR, then don't invert mate. Dive with the manifold closed and use them as indies till you are happy with your shut downs, you don't want to have to change trim, hoses and most importantly, muscle memory for a stop gap. Dive uprights with the manifold closed as your stop gap. I started diving inverts because I needed to - my suit wouldn't allow me the movement. Now I have a new suit and I dive inverts because I choose to. But I am not looking to go down the DIR route, so it makes no difference to me as long as I am safe and comfortable. I am sure some of the more skilled divers, particularly those with experience helping others to do shutdowns could spend some time with you and help you out. If you want to dive DIR, you need to dive uprights!

BTW, well done on surviving even through the uncertainty and dismay.

Cheers Paul,
I did the course for the experience, to further my skill set and get the ticket - can't get higher O2 without it! but essentially its not about the bit of plastic, although I have lots in my log book holder
As far as muscle memory, ha, they have nearly 46 years of not doing shut downs to counter yet
Seriously I need about another 2 - 3 inches of moment in the shoulder, I should say shoulder rotation, to put my hands in the right spot to ba able to turn the valves properly, so that's what I'm working on and will keep working on, its funny during fundies I got the left post no problem and I struggled with the right, this time...weird all change, being cold and tensed up obviously didn't help, oh and angry too, I got well mad when I couldn't reach. LOL
I'm feeling a lot better about things now, thanks for all the support

[tom]

Originally Posted by MartyC

its funny during fundies I got the left post no problem and I struggled with the right, this time...weird all change, being cold and tensed up obviously didn't help, oh and angry too, I got well mad when I couldn't reach. LOL

When I did AN&DP (also with Mark) I had problems with the shutdowns on my first dive - I'd practiced doing them many, many times and knew it shouldn't be a problem, but I was sitting there struggling just the way you described, cold and tense with shoulders hurting, and really really angry. I think lots of us have had the same experiences.

After the dive I realised that my thermals were restricting my movement, so I cut the sleeves off and next day everything was fine Not that that anecdote really helps you much, but basically keep at it and you'll get there.

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by MartyC

so that's what I'm working on and will keep working on, its funny during fundies I got the left post no problem and I struggled with the right, this time...weird all change, being cold and tensed up obviously didn't help, oh and angry too, I got well mad when I couldn't reach.

Me thinks the "powell effect" was working on your dives

He has a way of stressing you and your abilities beyond what you can endure. And do do it only by showing up on the dive

I have been considerably less stressed (and thus more able) on dives where the brown stuff has hit the whirly thing for real, than diving with Mark

[Mark Powell]

Hi Marty

Don't be too hard on yourself. I didn't use the word fail because I really don't see you as having failed the course. Remember all the positive things from the debrief? The shutdown was really the only thing that you didn't nail.

All other aspects of your diving improved hugely over the course and you showed good skills, judgement and improvement in every other part of the course. In many areas you easily exceeded the required standard. I have had people on courses with poor buoyancy control, no team skills, poor communication and no problem solving abilities, these are more difficult to fix than your problem.

In order to finish off you need to find a way to be able to shutdown in an emergency. There are a number of ways to achive this and any one of them would be acceptable.

You are nearly there and we will work on it to make sure firstly you are diving with the confidence to be able to do a shutdown easily in any circumstances and secondly to get you those tickets.