My first class

[stairman]

Good points all around. I too was a book junky starting out and bugged these guys quite a bit with questions and scenarios but the more you know the better off youll be and learning things the hard way in this sport can be hazardous. Good Luck and thanks for your service to our country.

[LCF]

I bought the Cave/Cavern instructional materials from every agency that offers the class, before I took my first classes. I found them all interesting reading, with a lot that was common but some things which were unique to each. I don't regret investing the money.

For practical skills, working on hovering without moving ANYTHING, and maintaining trim while doing simple tasks like mask flood and clear, and air-sharing, is good preparation.

Remember, the class is a CLASS. You are not expected to come in knowing everything they are going to teach you.

[rjack]

On the weight check mentioned earlier...

You want to do this with empty tank(s) not the way some open water agencies try to teach this with a full tank, nose high with full lungs etc etc.

Over 8-10ft of water at the end of a dive, dump your tank(s) down to 4-500 psi. Try taking weight off until you can't sink with a totally empty wing and no gas in your suit (if diving dry). Once you are there, add 2 or 3lbs max, that is "just barely" able to sink and pretty close to the amount of lead you should be using.

Overweighting is common and it makes hovering in good horizontal trim way more difficult than it needs to be. Once you have the correct amount of weight, you, your buddies, or as a last resort (only because class will have started) your instructor can help you adjust your weights to make getting level trim easiest. This typically involves moving lead up or down your torso or switching from AL to SS plates or vice versa.

Richard

[MORGAN]

I bought the Cave/Cavern instructional materials from every agency that offers the class, before I took my first classes. I found them all interesting reading, with a lot that was common but some things which were unique to each. I don't regret investing the money.

I did the same thing and felt that it was money well spent. My tech & cave certifications are all from TDI, NACD, and NSS/CDS, but I've collected a plethora of training materials from other agencies. It's good to have access to a wide variety of perspectives. Being a "student of the game" is part of the fun!

Mike