what steps should one take...

[offroadr1]

Along the path to full cave certification. Right now I am open water certified. Full cave is my future goal. Im not interested in getting there as fast as I can. Im more interested in getting there effectively. Basically what I am looking for is an outline on the best way to get from the point I am at now, to where I want to be. What kinds of habits I should avoid, what kinda of gear i should look out for/avoid. What kinds of skills should I focus on to better prepare myself.

I am learning sidemount now. I have a hollis sms100 and so far I think that it is great!. My dive buddy is walking me through it now. She has been diving for several years and is cave certified. I have asked her a million questions already, but figured I would post up here to take some of the burden off of her.

Full disclosure:" I am not interested in penetrating caves/caverns before I am trained to do so. I already know the allure of it, but am well aware of the risks. Frankly, Im not ready to take those risks. I just want to be as prepared as I can be on my first day of intro class. If my instructor tells me Im not ready, then Ill work till I am ready. Just hoping to have a good foundation so that maybe that will not be the case.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[bpcfire1]

BUOYANCY, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY TRIM. Those are some of the most important things that need to me mastered at any level. Get very comfortable with all your gear to the point that its all second nature. Nothing is better than any time in the water.

[TONY CHANEY]

Bouyancy, bouyancy and a good frog kick.

[offroadr1]

Lately I have been able to get into an every other week dive pattern. Hopefully, I will be able to keep that up! My frog kick has already received some critique from my dive buddy. I feel like I am very feet heavy. I am constantly feeling like i need to hold them up. I just bought some dive rite fins from another member, so maybe they will help with that feeling. Right now I am using Akona marathons. I kind of hate them. They are heay, and dont seem to move water very well.

[bpcfire1]

Have you taken a SM class or had a SM diver look at your setup to make sure its right. You can go lighter on fins, but you can move cam bands and all kind of stuff to help with feet heavy part. You can add weight, restrict the air in the wing, and alot more.

[offroadr1]

My dive buddy has been using sidemount for quite a while. She has been working with me to get everything sorted out. Apparently, I look better in the water than I feel.

I do have another question though. Is it ok for me to stow my hoses on the cylinder and deploy directly from left and right rather than route both 2nd hoses around my neck? I do not care to have hoses around my neck. I was considering purchasing a left side 2nd stage for this purpose.

[hunabku]

Be able to hover in one spot while horizontal and not moving anything at all. Then be able to perform tasks doing the same thing.


In other words:

BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, BUOYANCY, TRIM, etd.

And don't rush it. if it takes three years and you do 200 dives on the way all the better.

[rddvet]

Step 1: Save lots of money
Step 2: Save more money
Step 3: Dive and work on buoyancy, esp while doing tasks
Step 4: Save a little more money
Step 5: Take advanced open water or a buoyancy course, or both
Step 6: Work on buoyancy and trim
Step 7: Start spending all of that money you've been saving
Step 8: Take Cavern or Cavern/Intro
Step 9: Ponder how you ever were able to save money before, and also how you have more gear than you ever thought a diver could own
Step 10: Dive and work on your buoyancy more because you realize your trim wasn't as good in your cavern class as you thought it was before class
Step 11: Spend your last $30 to stay in a run down hotel that hasn't been upgraded since the last murder in what you once thought was a podunk town but is now you're favorite place to be, and be happy about it because you get one more day of diving in
Step 12: Post a thread on the forum asking if there's another 12 step program to help you kick your cave diving habit because you're wife and dog complain that they never see you and your addiction keeps you broker than if you had a cocaine addiction (no pun pertainining to any certifying agencies intended)

[offroadr1]

LOL. The things i could have done with the cash i have already spent on diving... Good investments as far as I am concerned though. AOW course should be in the near future. I dont have a drysuit yet, so it may have to wait for warmer weather. Dive Alabama is not very far from my house or work so it is quite convenient to train there. What sorts of tasks should I attempt to do. Up to this point I mostly practice a few drills, and do some sort of training on every dive, rather than just look at fish/objects. Last weekend she had m us do an out of air drill and practice navigating back to our entry point while sharing air. It was a great demonstration of why I need 7" of rubber hose stashed away.

[TONY CHANEY]

If you are starting to feel like you are getting the hang of things then try some reel and spool work. Dive in some very dark places and practice light signals.