Dive now in Puget Sound... This unprecedented heat wave may have lost lasting ecological effects.

Hello divers, students, and those thinking about learning how to scuba dive.

While many of you have been enjoying this unseasonably hot weather, for those of you that haven't, I've got some news for you.

I dove in the Puget Sound yesterday and the water temperature to 35 feet was 70°F. Yep, unbelievably and unprecedentedly warm! If anyone has been reluctant to dive in the Pacific Northwest, now is the time.

The water had at least 40 feet of visibility and I saw an amazing variety of life that is usually spread out through different times of year, different depths, temperature ranges, and times of day.

With that said, this unprecedented heatwave could be a sign of trouble for the Puget Sound. While there is over 3,000 miles of coastline in the Sound, I've been told that this kind of heatwave could generate a massive die off.

It would be terribly sad to see so much of what I love disappear. I dove the Great Barrier Reef in 2009 and saw coral bleaching below 90 feet and during that entire time I was there, I only saw one Blacktip Reef Shark.

If you want to come see what I've seen, let's go diving... If you have avoided diving in the PNW, now is the time. If you've been putting off learning, let me teach you.

One of the greatest resources on the planet, one that is in our own very back yard, might not be here one day.


--carlos

Oregon's 25 Best Swimming Holes (for monkey diving)

http://www.outdoorproject.com/blog-news/oregons-25-best-swimming-holes

Oregon's 25 Best Swimming Holes

we will be visiting several for monkey diving this summer...

SCUBA "Cross-Over" or "Make-Over"

We've all heard about all the "makeovers" in the marketplace, but it is very likely that you haven't heard about a SCUBA makeover. This subject was brought to my attention from a diver back East that is going to this event: Extreme Scuba Makeover. I think the idea is sound and in some instances a good idea...

 

 

 

 

I've had a similar concept in the works for a couple years, but no one has taken me up on the program yet: Specialty & Levels

NEW... Open Water Cross-Over:
Already certified, but feel that something was missing, didn't learn enough, or you feel that your skills need improvement? Do you think you needed more class or pool time and now want a little more than just a refresher course? I'll take you through snorkeling and skin diving exercises, swimming styles, and self-rescue techniques. Additionally, we'll practice dive buddy rescues skills, emergency swimming ascents, buddy breathing, and air sharing. Don't remember how to do dive tables or weren't taught them? Let me teach you! How about pre-dive planning, buddy checks, ascent techniques, buddy communication, or post-dive debriefing? Don't know what your SAC rate is, know how to calculate it, or what to do with it? Do you remember what an emergency buoyant ascent is? If you answered "no" to any of these, then the "Open Water Diver Cross-Over" is for you! 


The question really is, "who would take the Scuba Cross-over? There are few points of view to consider, if not more... The student didn't think they learned enough, the student actually didn't learn enough, the student's program was lacking, and perhaps even that they didn't even finish their program. At first, one might think of a "refresher" but is there a difference?

Different agencies focus on different skills needed to accomplish prior to completion of a scuba diving program. Additional skills might not be what is actually needed as much as the student has fears, roadblocks, or anxieties to overcome. I feel that one of the most important aspects of scuba diving is confidence. Practice builds confidence, practice builds competence and fluidity. It is very realistic that skills will degrade if not practiced. One of my favorite articles is, "Addressing the Issue of Diver Competence," written by Alex Brylske.

No Dumb Questions

Addressing the Issue of Diver Competence

Written by
Alex Brylske

"Divers are initially qualified through a certification process, but they remain qualified only through continued experience. In no field can certification alone guarantee competence. The overwhelming majority of the horror stories that you and I have both witnessed come from these "occasional divers." With lengthy downtime between dives, skills will decay. This is why divers should understand the implication of curtailing their diving for long periods, and be willing to admit and accept the need for some remedial measures."











One of the reasons this is at the forefront of my thoughts lately is that a diver (in one of the areas I frequent) recently died on her first open water dive after certification. The autopsy revealed that she drowned, but as usual in cases like this, the circumstances of incident might really never been know. Sadly, the thing that stood out was that eight additional divers went in the water together. Buddy teams are of major controversy as some feel that divers should only have one other on their "team." Similarly, many feel that emergency skills should have more emphasis during training. In all actuality, it is realistic to think that after initial training, all but instructors will not practice or recite in thought: controlled emergency swimming ascents, air sharing ascents, emergency buoyant ascents, buddy breathing, mask clearing, and regulator recovery skills. As of April 14, 2015 I have logged 1,425 dives and have been diving since 2006. In this time (outside of advanced specialty training and those exercises) I have never lost my mask, I have never lost my regulator, I have never had to ditch my weights, I have never ran out of air underwater, and I have never had to do a rapid, uncontrolled ascent to reach the surface. I didn't enter the professional side of diving until 2008 and had logged several hundred dives by then.


So, what does the student, or potential student do before, during, or after their certification? I think the thing that stands out to me the most is, MEET YOU SCUBA DIVING INSTRUCTOR...!!! Not on the first day of class, but before you sign up. It doesn't have to be face-to-face, but at least talk to them. I know that this is problematic for dive shops (except for the small mom and pop shops) that contract their instructors or are not employed at the shop full-time, but I think that the person who is going to teach you life saving skills and techniques should be someone you like, someone you feel comfortable with, and someone that will insist you earn that certification outside of pressures to buy equipment, keep up with others, and will insist that you take more classes if your skills are lacking.






http://jcaelitescuba.com/links/links.htm
http://jcaelitescuba
JCA Elite Scuba
Learn to Scuba Dive

DIVER EQUIPMENT & TRAVEL CHECKLIST

Scuba Diver Equipment and Travel Checklist to help you remember what to bring on your next dive trip...

http://jcaelitescuba.com/diver-checklist.txt

 

DIVER EQUIPMENT & TRAVEL CHECKLIST


Are you getting ready for your upcoming Scuba or Snorkeling 
trip but think you might be forgetting something? Look over 
these check lists to be sure that you have everything you 
need for your excursion!


 
***EQUIPMENT***
 Regulator/Octo 
 BCD/Weight Pockets 
 Weights/Weight Belt 
 Computer/Gauges 
 Compass 
 RDP/eRDP 
 Cylinder 
 Wetsuit/Dry suit 
 Lycra Suit 
 Booties 
 Gloves 
 Hood/Beanie 
 Knife and Sheath 
 Mask/Defog 
 Snorkel and Keeper 
 Fins 
 Scuba Certification Card 
 Logbook 
 Slate/Pencil 
 Surface Signaling Devices 
 Wreck Reel 
 Dive Watch 
 Equipment Bag 
 Camera Equipment 
 Desiccant Packs 
 Dive Lights – Main Light, Backup Light, Tank Light 
 Goodie Bag Accessories: 
 First Aid Kit 
 Save-A-Dive Kit 
 Dry Box 
 Fin Strap/Mask Strap 
 Mouthpiece/Zip Ties 
 Master Scuba Tool 
 O-rings 
 Gauge Retractor 
 Extra Batteries and Bulbs 
 Spare Mask 
 Dive Destination Book 
 Marine Life ID Book Float with Flag 
 Game Bag 
 Spear Gun 
 Lift Bag 
 Microfiber Towel


***TRAVEL & PERSONAL ITEMS***
 Airline Tickets 
 Dive Insurance 
 Emergency 
 Phone#'s 
 Money 
 Passport 
 Photo ID 
 Vaccination Cert. 
 Vouchers/Itinerary 
 Prescription
 Medications 
 Decongestants 
 Motion Sickness
 Med. 
 Doc’s Pro Plugs 
 Dry Ear Drops 
 Swimmer’s Ear Med.


***BEACH ITEMS***
 Beach Towel 
 Hat 
 Windbreaker 
 Beach walkers
 Sandals 
 Sunglasses 
 Sunscreen 
 Swimsuit 
 Rash Guard 
 Insect Spray

An "Advanced Open Water Diver" is More Than Just a Certification Card

When scuba diving is just one of many activities that one can occupy with their time, commitment to the sport and training can take on many forms. Some students will take their beginning
certification and just dive for a while. Learning to become proficient takes time and being able to master those skills may take many years. Realistically, a new student is given very little to
learn in order to receive a scuba diver certification. Diving often and regulary, getting feedback from peers, and taking specialty classes will add to the diver's knowledge and skill base. Those
new skills will open their eyes to other diving opportunities (deep, night, search & recovery, wrecks, nitrox, drysuit, etc.).

As to the number of dives required to become an advanced diver, this is somewhat of a misconception. Some agencies will award their advanced certification with as little as five additional dives (nine in total) while others make their divers wait until twenty-five logged dives. More dives has a practical benenfit. The more you dive, the easier it gets.

As like in other sports, as your skills improve a divers will need gear tailored to specific diving environments. Attitude, ability, and confidence is important, too. While it's impossible to
quantify attitude and confidence, that is where an experienced instructor can evaluate how the diver is doing, how far they've come, and what they still have to work on. Continuing to need work
also doesn't mean that a certification can't be awarded, because like one's initial scuba diving certification, skills will improve over time and with ongoing practice.

I've chosen to make six specialties the foundation of becoming an Advanced Open Water Diver. The specialties I start my students out with and require as a prerequisite: Night Diving, Deep
Diving, EAN Nitrox, Drysuit Diving, Navigation, and Search & Recovery. These specialties will prepare the diver for incredible and diverse diving opportunities. While each specialty requires a
minimum of a couple dives, often, specialty dives will be combined and skills will start to overlap to help the diver to learn to task many activities at once and for many of those skills to become second nature. Twelve dives is the foundation required to complete the course requirements but should not be a guarantee of an advanced diver certification.

What kind of equipment is required for these specialties? While I don't sell equipment, and I believe that owning one's own equipment fosters continued diving and confidence in that equipment.
Just because a diver can't afford to purchase all the equipment at once, is not a valid reason to not start an advanced diving program. Very often rental equipment is available yet when not,
inexpensive yet quality alternatives are easy to find. When I dive, I carry all of the equipment necessary if not have it at my disposal to use on subsequent dives.

My primary equipment, includes my regulator system, plate and harness, wing, drysuit, dive computer, compass, dive light, reel with line, signal marker buoy, whistle, and scissors. I have a dive slate and pencil but don't always bring it with me. I also can carry an extra mask and a redundent breathing system when diving alone or in advanced diving conditions. My fins attach with spring straps. Not only does it make donning them easier, but reduces the chance of breaking a strap. If I dive with a redundant breathing system, the regulator hangs round my neck on surgical tubing that is fashioned around the mouthpiece of the regulator. Easy enough to cut off if necessary and flexible enough not to constrict my breathing. If in the event of an emergecy, the attachment points can be pulled off (not attached so tight that I could get caught by something else).

My regulator system includes my first stage, a primary second stage and an alternate second stage. This is standard to the industry although configuaration may change and routing and positioning
is flexible and can vary. I use to dive with an integrated alternate second stage, but I don't anymore to be consistent with how new students learn and typical rental equipment. My alternate
second stage is on a longer hose and is attached to me with a quick release that will stay fastened and conveniently available, but can be deployed immediately and conveniently. I use an analog
pressure guage which is attached in a location that is visible without having to seek it out, move it, or disconnect it. Attachment options vary with all equipment but everything is attached in a
manner that it is out of the way and free from possible entanglement but can be disconnected easily in the event of an emergency.

I wear a dive computer on bungee cord and it is on my arm and sits a little above my left wrist. The bungees make it easy to put on even with thick gloves and I don't have to worry about a buckle
coming undone and losing it. My compass is also on bungee cord and I wear it on top of my right hand. I've found that this position keeps it always available and when I hold my hand out in front
of me, I have the proper perspective to see it and the numbers indicating the direction I'm going but also keeps my field of view facing forward and in the direction I'm going. Having to look down
at a compass is like texting and driving -- don't take your eyes off the road! I always take a dive light with me. It doesn't matter if I'm diving in the daytime, a dive light helps one look into those cracks and crevices where all the critters are and it is a great tool to communicate with. It too is attached in a manner that can be removed and used but if necessary can be let go without worry of loss. A bungee cord is used to keep it stowed and out of the way when not in use.

A reel with enough line for at least twice the depth of any planned dive and a signal marker buoy hang from my right hip. Each is attached separately so each can be used independently. While
leaning forward or when in diver position, the signal marker buoy and reel don't hang below my stomach to prevent touching the sea floor or entanglement. A whistle is attached on my right shoulder
but can be removed if necessary. I always leave it attached to avoid dropping it. It can even work underwater. It is close enough to my mouth that if I do not remove it, I can still use it.

Scissors are brought on every dive as well. It lays flat on the top of the corregated airway of the low pressure inflator system attached with a couple bungee cords. It is easy to deploy and use
if necessary. The dive slate would go high on my left arm (if brought, as I'm right handed) and is usually turned down to be out of the way. The dive computer could be set opposite of the slate if
both are being used and both can be rotated at the same time.

I use a stainless steel plate as this reduces the amount of extra weight I have to carry and offers lots of attachment points. Being metal, I also don't have to worry about wear. During recreational dives, I use a harness system that is fashioned from two inch wide nylon webbing and allows various positioning of d-rings and buckles. I have metal buckles that can release the shoulders if needed. I have two large loops for my arms and one that comes around for my waist. Around the two pieces that come around my waist are two integrated weight pockets with a quick release in order to ditch the weight.

Everyone always tells me how much equipment I have, but I look at them and tell them how much equipment they are missing. An easy entry to this gear would include and in the order of what I
believe should be bought (even if everything else is preliminarily rented:

10ft bungee cord ($3)
2 snorkel keepers ($6)
1 scissors ($5)
2 brass ($5)
1 storm whistle ($10)

NIGHT (most dives shops don't rent lights)
3 dive lights ($100)

SEARCH & RECOVERY and DEEP
1 wrist slate ($10)
1 signal marker buoy ($20)
1 finger spool with 150ft line ($25)

NAVIGATION (some rental systems have compasses)
1 compass ($50)

(prices can go up from here)


Divers take for granted that a dive light is necessary during a night dive, but most don't think about lights during the day. Light technology has come quite far in the last few years and with advancements in this technology, the prices have dropped considerably. I've bought lights that cost over $700, but now lights with that kind of power can start under $100. Light kits with a primary light, backup, and a tank light can start around $100, too.

A signal marker buoy and line is not only indispensable for drift dives, but doing mid-water ascents. Doing a mid-water ascents takes a lot of practice, and until that point in time, deploying an SMB at depth can make it a little easier and safer. Spools are made from PVC and are virtually indestructible. Reel quality varies, but if you are going to invest in one, don't buy a cheap one. Not only can cheap ones break a lot easier, they also get fouled more often. Make sure you reel has at least 150ft of line and that the line is braided, not twisted.

Invest in a pair of EMT sheers or scissors. They are inexpensive and will cut through anything. Most divers spend too much on knives and most of the time cut themselves rather than use them as an effective tool.

Bungee cord can be your friend if used properly. It takes a little of the tension off the items it's holding on to, but gives a little as to prevent breaking. Buy a long length and keep it in your save-a-dive kit for all occasions.

Bolts snaps made of brass can be purchased at hardware stores. Stainless steel bolt snaps are marine grade and quality ones are easily found at marine specialty stores.

Compass quality can vary incredibly. I am partial to the Suunto SK-7, but will have to look at the SK-8 as it is brand new for this year. A good compass should be able to glow in the dark, have a viewing window, two lubber lines, a rotating bezel, and fine azimuth delineation.

Snorkel keepers make great ways to attach equipment to a d-ring and are easy to pull the equipment out and away or just break clean off in the event of an emergency. An inexpensive addition to any save-a-dive kit, as well.

When you are ready to buy scuba diving equipment, slow down...

I've worked with dive shops since I first learned how to dive. Some of them are great! As with many things we're looking to buy, especially things that we don't know much about, a lot of us refer to the internet to give us some general insight -- what we want, where to get it, and what will it cost. While some may come across a dive shop through sheer luck, others just pick the first at the top of the page or pick the cheapest. Scuba diving is not one of those products that the consumer should opt for the cheapest, easiest or quickest. Fit is important and you should buy within the price range that you want and for the type of diving you plan to do. There is also a high drop out rate in the industry -- people want to do other things with their time. If you are going to make an investment in scuba diving equipment, it should not be impulsive.


So, is it is okay to rent equipment? Of course. Some rental gear is quite good. Having your own equipment means that it is likely to fit you better, be the right kind of equipment for the places you are diving, be in perfect working order, and be modern. The best part about owning your own equipment means that you are probably going to be familiar with it because you are using the same equipment and configuration every time and you are likely to go diving more often than not. The thing you have to remember about rental gear is that the configuration may be different with each rental, each shop, and each location. This means that you have to be able to be flexible, be able to conform to it's limitations, be okay with poor fit, and expect that it will be well used. If the dive shop will rent it to you for your training, then it has to be safe enough to keep you from drowning. Equipment will perform differently diving to 10 feet in a warm pool than to 60 feet in the colder ocean. Also, remember that all of us are uniquely shaped and contoured!


So, is it okay to buy used equipment? Sometimes... As with all used scuba diving equipment, be sure to have a technician look at it, test it, and in the end, service it... I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU FOR FREE...!!! It is life support equipment, after all. A mask that doesn't fit you properly often leads to your whole dive experience being a bad one. There is a lot of pressure pushing against you when you're diving. If you have the wrong fins and are caught in current, will they help you swim to safety? Snorkeling and scuba diving equipment don't always cross-over. In the end, if you buy before finding out what kind of gear is going to work best for you, that decision may end up costing you more in the long run. While the dive shop is a great source of information, it isn't always the best one. Have you ever gone into a place to buy something and the sales person knows nothing about what they are selling? It happens in scuba diving, too. Don't let that old saying trap you either. "I've been doing this for 30 years!" The gear you buy is not going to be 30 years old and as equipment changes and improves, it is going to be different. Anyone that is not aware of all the current benefits and features cannot sell you the right equipment. That means that they have to know it, dive it, read the instruction manual, and in many cases, have taken it apart and serviced it!


As a professional dive instructor, I don't want you to be in "cheap" products. There is a difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive." I can help you find gear that fits you properly and is safe for you to use. "Is the glass in your mask tempered?" "Is your regulator balanced?" If you talk to fellow divers, friends and family, and even check online, it is likely that some of that information could be based on opinion, one person's personal experiences, myth, sales pressure, and some of it is just flat out wrong. See if you can get a consensus about the information you are looking to validate. It will help with the final decisions you make. Your instructor is the expert in his or her field. Their experiences, education, training, and perspective is invaluable. They've devoted their life to this industry!


If you can't find what you are looking for, ask the instructor or dive shop if they can recommend a person or place that can meet your needs. Yes, while I hate to admit it, I don't know everything! That doesn't mean that they are going to do the legwork for you, nor does it mean that you should patronize every shop in town or on the internet. There is an incredible value in developing a relationship with an instructor or two... a shop or two. Not only will you develop a trust and comfort, but you will have someone to dive with and perhaps even make some great friends! Diving is more than just a sport to many, it is their passion, and a lifestyle. Many have overcome fears, met challenges, achieved milestones and seen some of the most amazing and beautiful animals -- been to and seen some of the most amazing places on earth!


Some have argued that without the dive shop, diving would disappear. As the consumer, be assertive. Instructors and dive shops are authority figures. If you feel uncomfortable about something, tell them. Be sure to ask about their return or exchange policy on products, policy on canceling classes, or withdrawing from the program all together. While it is necessary for many instructors and shops to plan their month to month expenses on the students that enroll, equipment that is purchased, and day to day revenue, there must be responsibility on both parties -- ask if you don't know because they can't read your mind. Should I then just stick to buying everything on the internet? I would not. There are something's and sometimes when the internet is easy. The internet is not as fast as you think, either. If you buy something and it is not right for you, the time that it takes to return it and find something else eats away at valuable time that can be better spent. Most importantly, the internet does NOT always offer the best prices! YES, you heard me. There are times that the local dive shop will match or beat that price. I don't recommend walking into the shop and telling them what you will pay, but you can tell them what you can afford. Sometimes you might even get more bang for your buck and even better, as that relationship builds, there are face-to-face benefits that the internet just can't offer!

It's okay to ask for things in writing. Don't rely on "he said, she said." Send e-mails so that there is a paper trail. If you agree to their terms and conditions, it is fair for them to expect you to fulfill your part of the bargain. You can help to make your experience as fulfilling as possible by letting the one's you are working with know how things are going. Scuba is often totally new to the student. If it takes you a little longer to learn something, the instructor and dive shop will help you get there.


When you are ready to buy scuba gear, get a hold of me so I can sit down with you and go over everything that is right for you! It is free. You like FREE, don't you?

How many students in open water scuba diver class are too many...

Many traditional educational classes include a practicum, lab, requires group participation and a presentation. Scuba diving education is similar. After the educational component from which the student learns about the physics and physiology of scuba diving, the underwater environment, techniques, about waves, tides and currents and much more, students go to "confined" water or the pool. The instructor demonstrates the skills that the student will repeat. These new in-water skills introduce the student to the equipment, how it operates, how to manage the skills necessary to operate it, and even how to overcome innate anxieties or fears the new student may have. Breathing underwater is not a natural process, but with practice becomes easier. Some skills, like mask clearing are easier for some students than others.

 

After the student has demonstrated to the instructor that they understand the principals of the skills, can adequately show them to the instructor, and after numerous dives, the student becomes a diver. There is a lot of debate as to what level the student should be able to demonstrate the skills. Some say that the student should "master" them before moving on to the open water, but I think "mastery" of skills takes longer than most realize. Before my cave certification, I thought my buoyancy was pretty good. When you have only inches above and below you in which to move without kicking up silt and disturbing the ceiling, a "mastery" of buoyancy is truly required. With that being said, if the student had to master skills (like buoyancy) prior to receiving their certification, confined water and open water would be very much longer than they currently are. The average student could spend six to ten hours in the pool and their open waters dives, depending on location, could be as short as twenty minutes. I've seen instructors that limit certification dives to fifteen minutes. I have to say, and I'm sure most will agree, in an hour of water time, mastery is impossible! 

 

 As I mentioned, "adequate" is really a better word describing where many students get to by the end of their class. There are several factors that influence this as well. How many students are present at one time during pool and certification dives is really my focus. As with most other programs, often, class is taught for the "lowest common denominator." That is really disappointing. What does that mean? It means that within the bell curve some will do poorly, most will do adequately, and some with do very well. Even if only two were doing poorly, the extra attention needed to bring them to adequate means that the instructor's attention is devoted elsewhere. The other two that are doing very well are often not given as much attention as they deserve because the outward appearance is that "they got it." An inexperienced instructor could consider the students that do very well needing less attention. This is a mistake. At this point, it works out that now 50% of the class (if 8 are attending) are now falling behind. This is unacceptable. The student deserves more!

 

In my opinion, class size should never be larger than four students at a time. Even when students proceed with ease, keeping an eye on four divers is precarious. Once the student is ready for the open water, they should posses the skills and confidence necessary to make a safe ascent to the surface where they would establish positive buoyancy and wait for the instructor with the other three to arrive. Needless to say, I know that every instructor has had at least one experience where they looked back for a student and they weren't their. In the early days of teaching, that shot of adrenaline that suddenly shot through my veins caused me to think of the worse case. Today, I have far greater confidence in my students as a NAUI instructor than I ever have. That momentary anxiety never manifested in an accident or a student getting hurt, but it goes to show that in large groups an individual can disappear in two kick strokes in the low to no visibility of the Pacific Northwest.

 

I decided that this meant I take one or two students out at a time. NO EXCEPTIONS. Coming to the assistance of one diver is precarious but two is difficult. I want the student to have lots of water time. That can mean shorter dives, but more of them. It could also mean doing longer dives and still more of them. The greatest benefit to the student that the instructor can do is to say to them, "you need to dive more with me before I issue your open water scuba diving certification." Additionally, I always recommend that these new divers limit their depth to sixty feet while they practice slow and steady ascents and descents, learn to manage their gas and dive time, and start to get the hang of good buoyancy.

 

I am not just an instructor, but I am a mentor. I encourage new divers to come to future open water weekends (which are free) and meet new divers, come dive with me on a regular and ongoing basis, and let me find dive buddies for them with a little more experience that I know and trust. Trust is earned in scuba diving. "Trust me" dives have gotten divers injured, or worse. Its a sad fact that some push too hard and too fast and want to do it all before they are ready for it. Recently, I had a student tell me they want to go cave diving. Not cavern diving, but full cave. While the enthusiasm was great to see, what bothered me was that they thought they were emotionally ready for cave. Cave skills are quite simple. Cave attitude is not. That means that "gung ho" has no place in cave, let alone in any type of diving. Patience, practice, confidence, and dives takes time. Years.

 

So what do large classes and really mean? Large classes are often predicated on the "funnel verses tunnel" system. Hope that if enough students go through the program that the dive shop will get more gear sales. I'm lucky to find dive shops that I partner with that share my perspectives. "Dive, dive often, and when you're ready for gear, we'll be here." And when they do have large classes, they have Divemasters in the water to be an extra set of eyes. I've never taken a technical dive class that had more than three people in it. A technical diving specialty doesn't preclude the chance of accidents, but my experience is that technical instructors require a higher degree of competence. Similarly, most technical classes require additional gear and are often more expensive. My advanced technical training classes costs ranged from several hundred to over two thousand dollars each and the trips to get to those locations ran into the tens of thousands. This is not to mean that spending lots of money is a key factor in safety, but few are willing to pay these costs without the devotion to scuba diving.

The last thing that I have to mention is the lack of many instructors to get their students to get to know each other. I've seen instructors take the group out as a whole, descend, surface in fifteen minutes, swim back to the shore, and dive over. I have to ask what experience they got from that. To make matters worse, the instructor is often away doing other things during the surface intervals (on the phone, on the internet, hanging out with their friends) rather than interacting with their students and making sure that no one is feeling alone and left out. There are divers that dive alone, but for the most part, divers want to talk about their experiences, share them with others, and be part of a community. I can't emphasize enough how setting up equipment, briefings, finishing two open water dives, and logging dives should take the entire day. To that point, I've seen divers with the look like "no one came to my birthday party," sitting alone by themselves, waiting for the torture of this experience to finally be over.

Learning to scuba dive used to take months. It was an arduous journey of trails and exhaustion. Much of the standards have been cut short or all but thrown out. Ask any diver that learned fifty years ago and they tell you stories that mimicked "military-style boot camp." I say all this with trepidation, but I care. I care about my students, I care about their safety, and most of all, I want them to continuing loving this sports their entire life. With drop out rates statistically reaching 80%, learning to scuba dive is not a great financial commitment but it's an emotional one. Please devote a year to decide if you like it. Let your skills develop and dive a lot. Try to dive one weekend a month. While that's only half of what I really want you to do, I will feel better knowing you have been practicing those important skills I taught you and your hours in the water has turned into days in the water (or better).

Safe diving my friends.