Things to do in the pool...

[trevor]

Here in Saudi Arabia we have been rather spoilt by having regular access to our own beach.
However, due to the problems in Iraq we can no longer go there for security reasons.
Apart from the obvious excercises like mask-clearing etc to maintain skills I was wondering if anyone had any fun type activities/games etc that you do in pools?

[AQUABIN]

Here in Saudi Arabia we have been rather spoilt by having regular access to our own beach.
However, due to the problems in Iraq we can no longer go there for security reasons.
Apart from the obvious excercises like mask-clearing etc to maintain skills I was wondering if anyone had any fun type activities/games etc that you do in pools?

We used to have a torpedo thing and a ship that would explode when struck by the torpedo, we got it from a dive shop but I havent seen one for a while. Hunt the fluff is good fun!
Do you have any aquariums that might like your help?
Matt

[Nick McV]

There should be some infor lurking on this form of 'Underwater Hockey', where you push a small padded lead disk around using bats that look a bit like a wooden kitchen spatula.
Two teams, mask, fins & snorkel, score by getting the puck to the other end of the pool...

[Alan Taylor]

There should be some infor lurking on this form of 'Underwater Hockey', where you push a small padded lead disk around using bats that look a bit like a wooden kitchen spatula.
Two teams, mask, fins & snorkel, score by getting the puck to the other end of the pool...

Much more fun with a blacked out mask and a long pole

Keep on pushin'
Alan

[Nick McV]

Much more fun with a blacked out mask and a long pole
Alan

Ah, now that's a different game - it can also be played whist wearing seal skin lined manacles (mink ones go too soggy). :-0

[nevil adkins]

Apart from the obvious excercises like mask-clearing etc to maintain skills I was wondering if anyone had any fun type activities/games etc that you do in pools?

Trevor,
Apart from 'normal' stuff like practicing IFC style pool training sessions, brushing up those infrequently used snorkelling skills and doing lengths to get/keep fit...

1) Get some (empty) plastic drinking bottles and put a small weight inside such that they are just stable standing on the bottom of the pool. Now practice running a distance line route from one to the other, without touching the bottom or sides and without pulling over the bottles - you need good buoyancy control, finning techniques, line handling techniques etc. Now blindfold the divers and get them to follow the route without pulling over the bottles. You could extend this by setting up a course with junctions marked out cave diving style, doing the course feet-first (i.e. finning backwards), whilst sharing an AAS, etc.

2) Lay out some objects on the bottom of the pool and 'survey' them, producing an accurate map - I believe this is done on the NAS Marine Archeology Course.

3) Learn underwater photography / videography. Produce your own videos of demonstration pool teaching lessons.

4) Practice eating a banana or drinking a drink, whilst simulating a deco stop. Depending on the depth of the pool you could set up a deco station and teach correct protocols for gas switches, etc.

5) If you have the relevant kit, run a Rebreather Awareness Course, Full-face mask course, etc.

6) Borrow a Cruise Missile and learn how to defuse it....

Have fun
Nevil

[TrevorM]

Here in Saudi Arabia we have been rather spoilt by having regular access to our own beach.
However, due to the problems in Iraq we can no longer go there for security reasons.
Apart from the obvious excercises like mask-clearing etc to maintain skills I was wondering if anyone had any fun type activities/games etc that you do in pools?

Last year we bought an underwater frisbee from SimplyScuba. Quite expensive, but good fun - excellent for helping buoyancy.

T

[trevor]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. We'd love to hear any more you may have. I particularly like your first five ideas Nevil though we may not have to borrow a Cruise Missile as we might get a Scud for free!
:=Apart from the obvious excercises like mask-clearing etc to maintain skills I was wondering if anyone had any fun type activities/games etc that you do in pools?

Trevor,
Apart from 'normal' stuff like practicing IFC style pool training sessions, brushing up those infrequently used snorkelling skills and doing lengths to get/keep fit...

1) Get some (empty) plastic drinking bottles and put a small weight inside such that they are just stable standing on the bottom of the pool. Now practice running a distance line route from one to the other, without touching the bottom or sides and without pulling over the bottles - you need good buoyancy control, finning techniques, line handling techniques etc. Now blindfold the divers and get them to follow the route without pulling over the bottles. You could extend this by setting up a course with junctions marked out cave diving style, doing the course feet-first (i.e. finning backwards), whilst sharing an AAS, etc.

2) Lay out some objects on the bottom of the pool and 'survey' them, producing an accurate map - I believe this is done on the NAS Marine Archeology Course.

3) Learn underwater photography / videography. Produce your own videos of demonstration pool teaching lessons.

4) Practice eating a banana or drinking a drink, whilst simulating a deco stop. Depending on the depth of the pool you could set up a deco station and teach correct protocols for gas switches, etc.

5) If you have the relevant kit, run a Rebreather Awareness Course, Full-face mask course, etc.

6) Borrow a Cruise Missile and learn how to defuse it....

Have fun
Nevil

[Alan Taylor]

There should be some infor lurking on this form of 'Underwater Hockey', where you push a small padded lead disk around using bats that look a bit like a wooden kitchen spatula.
Two teams, mask, fins & snorkel, score by getting the puck to the other end of the pool...

Have a word with Southsea SAC Branch 009 they invented it in 1956 and roumer has it that some are still down there.

Alan

[nickjb]

4) Practice eating a banana or drinking a drink, whilst simulating a deco stop.


Any tips?

[nickjb]

- Try mask removal (or some of the other usual skills) while neutrally buoyant rather than knelt on the bottom.

- Try to read your guages without your mask on. Cup your hand over your eye and blow a bubble into the space. If you have it right then the bubble will sit in front of your eye and you can read your guages through the air pocket.

- Learn to blow bubble rings

[nevil adkins]

:=4) Practice eating a banana or drinking a drink, whilst simulating a deco stop.

Any tips?

Food to be eaten on a deco stop needs to be
1)high energy
2)easy to chew (with a reg in your mouth)
3)easy to unwrap and preferably in a biodegradable wrapper in case you drop it
4)impervious to water in both the wrapped and unwrapped state

hence a banana is ideal. No special technique is needed. Peel it, dv out, banana in, dv in, chew banana, avoid biting off your dv mouthpiece.

Drinks for a deco stop are a bit more tricky. You need to get a drink in a container that will collapse as you drink from it. The best ones I have found are "CapriSun" fruit juices that come in a flexible foil bag. Standard tetra-pak fruit juices are also possible although they dont collapse completely. You could take the foil inner out of a box of wine and refill it with whatever liquid you want.

Technique for use:- insert straw (try to retain the plastic package it came in) and place your finger over the end of the straw. Dv out, suck from straw, dv in. Keep your finger over the end of the straw when not drinking and you will minimise any contamination with seawater.

It can be a bit fiddly, especially with cold hands and if the deco bar is bouncing up and down, but it is worth the effort to quench that parched throat.

Have fun.

Nevil