Yippee - I'm an Ocean Diver!!!!!

[hilrosepaul]

It's not a question, but...............

I got hooked on diving after last year's Go-Dive try dives and I finally got my last two Ocean Diver drills performed to an instructor's satisfaction at Ecclestone Delph today; so I can finally call myself a 'qualified' diver - Even if the DO hasn't signed and stamped the page in my Qualification book yet.

Thanks again to the instructors and diving members of Trafford Sub Aqua Club (BSAC 0584) for putting up with my wobblers and incessant questions, etc

Sports Diver Exam next week - can't wait!!!

Paul

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Adrian Kelland]

Well done Paul.

Adrian

[Tony F]

so I can finally call myself a 'qualified' diver

Congratulations! :)

[Mike Halligan]

Well done, Paul.

[Simon Rogerson]

Congratulations Paul. Judging from the tone of your email, you're about to have a lot of fun.

[inet-projects]

Well Done,

Can I ask what your worsed experience for your self was during the course ?

Regards

Dave

[hilrosepaul]

Passed the SD exam tonight, and the DO signed off the OD qualification - woo hoo!!!

:D :D :D :D

[IainC]

Passed the SD exam tonight, and the DO signed off the OD qualification - woo hoo!!!



Congratulations!

Iain C.

[Dilys]

Well done Paul - that was a quick transition to SD. Like you, I've just passed my OD and now eager to do some dives proper!

[Alan Taylor]

Passed the SD exam tonight, and the DO signed off the OD qualification - woo hoo!!!

:D :D :D :D

Magic!!!! Paul. It does get better than Capernwray.

It's a whole new world down there, every dives a new adventure:)

PS How much was the round at the cricket club?:D :D

[hilrosepaul]

Cheers Dilys - I've still got the Open Water section of SD to do.

I passed the OD theory last November; and its taken me 7 months to get the open water complete - I have a feeling the SD stuff could take longer

:)

Cheers

Paul

[hilrosepaul]

We are at the John Alker now - I got away with buying a round - there were 4 new OD's last night

:D :D

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

You do realise it only gets MORE addictive now...! Seriously you sound like you're loving every minute - keep it up!

[NickBCotswold]

many congrats on the OD paul!!!!

Oone comment/question though - something i dont understand.....

not critisising in anyway but if its taken a while to complete the open water part of the OD course and you've only just qualified, then why the rush to SD??

I passed my OD in 4 months start to finish this year and am enjoying getting 20-30 dives under my belt (warm waters abroad PLUS uk dry suit diving) and thus getting experience (plus its nice to dive for leisure for once, nice and relaxed, rather than the stressful qualifiying dives and drills!)

I then plan to start SD training end of the season......

guess its each to their own, but dont you want to get out of the training mode for a while, take a breather and enjoy some pleasure dives, partucularly if like me you struggled with one or two of the OD drills?!!

Nick B

[hilrosepaul]

Hi Nick,

I'm not in a rush to do SD, but.............

From a personal point of view, SD contains more skills such as DSMB delpoyment, navigation, dive marshalling, deco planning which are not in the OD syllabus; which may well improve my diving and the whole diving experience

My club encourages progression to SD for a few reasons, particularly that Sports Divers are more autnomous and can dive together, so when planning club dives, pairing SD's is with buddies easier than pairing OD's (or so I am led to believe).

Having said all that, its not a race and I'll finish the SD when I finish it

Cheers

Paul

[NickBCotswold]

hi paul - makes sense I guess - especially doing the theory bit!

also guess it depends on your local clubs resources! with ours we still have 5-6 in OD training, and so available instructors are thin on the ground (our club try to do 1to1), however theres plenty of SD willing to buddy with me, so like i say, i'm getting to enjoy leisure dives.......

congrats again tho, and sounds like you're having fun!! If you're anything like me, your bank balance keeps taking hits each month soaking up more and more kit! (I also find doing the research and then hunt for a deal nearly as addictive to the actual diving!, lol!)

Nick B

[john1959]

Congrats next move Sport diver. Enjoy your safe dives

[carwyn.humphreys]

Well Done Paul, Best of luck with the SD open water!

Carwyn

[hilrosepaul]

Well, did my last drills and Assistant Dive Marshall at Capernwray today - I've finished my Sports diver!!!! - :D :D :D :D :D



TBH for a while there I thought I would never make Ocean Diver, let alone Sports. Now all that remains is to get the DO to sign off the qual sheet in my book. get it stamped and sign up for the fun dives next year

Here's to diving for fun in 2008!!!


Chuffed? More Like BL***Y ECSTATIC!!!!

BTW That tow is a killer

[Ben Panter]

Brilliant news - well done Paul!

Ben

[bakerstreet]

Congratulations :)

I remember my Sports Diver and Club/Ocean Diver not taking that long, but I have been doing my DL since 2005 :o. Diving and instructing got in the way.

Hoping to get my DL finished by the end of the year. Think I will have a drink to celerbrate :D

[bakerstreet]

I passed the OD theory last November; and its taken me 7 months to get the open water complete - I have a feeling the SD stuff could take longer

Dont worry, I have been doing my Dive Leader since 2004 :D

Congrats on passing you OD :)