Open Water Course Booked!

[christy2011]

How you's all doing. I just joined the forum.
I recently booked my open water course for March and would appreciate any advice anyone could give me before it starts.

Is there anything I could be practicing or reading up on other than the Manual they provided me with?? Cheers!

[neil_richardson]

just remember 2 things -

1. Dont hold your breath....
2. Dont panic

and you'll be fine...

[micromouse]

3... enjoy it!!!

[Nigel Hewitt]

What do we say?

Learning to dive is the least fun part of it because everybody's courses have to major on the 'things going wrong' side of the game. Once you graduate and get out doing real dives you'll be amazed how nothing breaks, nothing goes wrong and it's just fun.

All those drills do pay off though. First trip away from home and I'm following too closely and get a face full of fin and the mask ends up tastefully rearranged to run from my ear to my chin. However the only thought as I put it straight and cleared it was 'here we go again' so all those repeats really scored.

Have fun.

[Richard Whitcombe]

You dont need to practice anything really. Reading the manual is a good idea. Even better if you can complete the knowledge reviews as well in advance as it'll save time on the actual course.

As long as you're remotely comfortable in the water you should be OK. Are you doing the open water dives in the UK in March? If so, is it a wetsuit or drysuit?

[Steve in Sharm]

Swimming...

[Dave White]

How you's all doing. I just joined the forum.
I recently booked my open water course for March and would appreciate any advice anyone could give me before it starts.

Is there anything I could be practicing or reading up on other than the Manual they provided me with?? Cheers!

Hi Christy,

I have just recently finished all of the pool sessions (I did it in 2 double sessions due to work commitment) and theory. Read the manual they gave you in your pack, don't stray from that one until you know the PADI way as that's what you are tested on. Do the tests as you go along and refresh yourself if you need to. The DVD's can help to supplement the manual (if you got these too). It isn't too bad on the test and you can get questions wrong and still pass so don't worry too much about that :)

The pool sessions were all quite rushed for me although you can go at your own pace if work allows. I just have the open water dives themselves to do at Stoney Cove and we are doing dy suit diving...tried it in the pool and it is VERY different, quite awkward in my opinion. All good fun though and the instructors are generally very good and very supportive.

Try not to worry too much about some of the weird feelings (breathing underwater, isolating your nose, dry suits etc) it gets easier the more you practice. There is an initial feeling of something isn't right as you never normally breath underwater and then a big smile as you realise it is very safe and very controlled and just opens up a whole new world of experience for you.

Enjoy!

[nigelhoath]

I remembering asking a load of stupid questions here before I got wet. However the guys and gals here were kind, very tolerant and helpful :cool:

If I had my time again I would have read the manual beforehand a few times just relaxed letting it sink in rather than seeing it as a back to school swat exercise. As said it is about you understanding. If you get a question wrong they do not shout FAILED, ring a bell and throw you out. It is not an O'level exam. It is about you being safe and enjoying a whole new incredible world :D

And do enjoy because the time will race by and those 'first adventures under' are very special :)