fire diver
07-14-2009, 05:35 PM
I would like to start by saying a large, "thank you" to everyone on this site who gave me advice last year when I advertised for a cavern instructor in my area. I had many recommendations to use SLIM as my instructor. I have to say that he is a great instructor, and very nice guy.
I would also like to give a huge "thanks" to my dive partner, Ben, during the training. He set a great a example of the ideas SLIM explained.
We performed our cavern training dives at Roubidoux spring in MO. The vis seemed great (about 20), the temp was tolerable (55), and I am told the flow was low. If this was low flow, I have my work cut out for me before I attempt during a higher flow. SLIM promised this would be a task-loading experience and he wasn't kidding. Coming into this class, I had dived my drysuit, dove with gloves, ran a reel (in open water), used my can light, and performed airshare drills. Attempting all these things at once made me feel like a brand-new diver all over again.
I had trouble holding my position in the outflow to make my primary and secondary ties, and I had trouble making my ties with the gloves and the can light. Once I got inside the mouth, things went better, but my first dive still felt like a total screw-up. My next 3 dives went smoother for me, but certainly not perfect. I thought it was amazing that SLIM could swoop down from the darkness, and turn off Ben's argon bottle without me even seeing it happen. He even got my can light turned off, but I felt it happen.
Of course I made some S T O O O O P I D mistakes that very likely could have killed myself and my buddy. It seemed like nothing at the time but when SLIM pointed them out on the surface I couldn't believe I had made such gigantic blunders. But that's what training is for. I'd rather make these mistakes now and learn from them so I don't actually die on a cave dive down the road. I have a lot of skills work to do before I take the next level.
So, in the end, it was a great class and a great set of dives. If anybody is in the Ks/Ok/Mo/Ar area and needs training, I highly recommend contacting SLIM through the board here!
I would also like to give a huge "thanks" to my dive partner, Ben, during the training. He set a great a example of the ideas SLIM explained.
We performed our cavern training dives at Roubidoux spring in MO. The vis seemed great (about 20), the temp was tolerable (55), and I am told the flow was low. If this was low flow, I have my work cut out for me before I attempt during a higher flow. SLIM promised this would be a task-loading experience and he wasn't kidding. Coming into this class, I had dived my drysuit, dove with gloves, ran a reel (in open water), used my can light, and performed airshare drills. Attempting all these things at once made me feel like a brand-new diver all over again.
I had trouble holding my position in the outflow to make my primary and secondary ties, and I had trouble making my ties with the gloves and the can light. Once I got inside the mouth, things went better, but my first dive still felt like a total screw-up. My next 3 dives went smoother for me, but certainly not perfect. I thought it was amazing that SLIM could swoop down from the darkness, and turn off Ben's argon bottle without me even seeing it happen. He even got my can light turned off, but I felt it happen.
Of course I made some S T O O O O P I D mistakes that very likely could have killed myself and my buddy. It seemed like nothing at the time but when SLIM pointed them out on the surface I couldn't believe I had made such gigantic blunders. But that's what training is for. I'd rather make these mistakes now and learn from them so I don't actually die on a cave dive down the road. I have a lot of skills work to do before I take the next level.
So, in the end, it was a great class and a great set of dives. If anybody is in the Ks/Ok/Mo/Ar area and needs training, I highly recommend contacting SLIM through the board here!