Tips for Intro Class...

[eraurotc2014]

Going to take my Intro class in mid AUG. I am looking for any pointers that would help me excel in my class with the all great Tracy!

I have about 40 cavern dives under my belt and feel very confident in my buoyancy and SAC rate. What should I practice in my next few cavern dives before my Intro class?

Anything and everything is much appreciated! Safe diving…

V/R
-Corbin

[stairman]

Relax and move slowly while tying in the reel. Give yourself time to think and realize its not a race. Listen to predive briefing and ask questions beforehand. Good luck and have fun!

[pink arrows]

Read a course book before you go. The more information you already know the less you will have to try to soak up. If you know the basics it is easy to pick up on details, plus you can focus on actual diving. Good luck and have fun! If you need to borrow something pink or sparkly for luck just let me know! : )

[Unregistered User]

I agree with Stairman: get used to running some line, and take your time. IMO, above all else (and no matter what the ancillary task me be) think neutral buoyancy.

[flyguy199]

Have your buoyancy, trim and propulsion squared away. Practice running line, try to relax and take your time. Have fun.

[Greenwood_60]

Practice hovering completely still. Sort out whatever gear, trim, fit, etc., issues are required to be able to do that before class. Make sure you can control your position in the water column with your breathing very well. The rest is easy. Get familiar with different types of reels and how they all lock down, so you don't have to learn that while trying to hover in the flow. Start whatever you are doing with the line/reel before you get to it (especially in flow). If you have to stop to tinker with a reel, turning in to the flow helps. If you screw up, calmly stick with it until you get it, and stay off the bottom. Have fun. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done.

[stairman]

He had stated that he was confident with his buancy, or that would have been the first thing I would have said. Hands flailing to turn or otherwise should also be suppressed. On airshare, lights out exit, donor stays to the rear and pulls out all of the longhose for the recipient. Be sure its above all other hoses and gear. As the recipient , you exit first, and with one hand on the line I like to have the hose running thru the same hand so it doesnt get pulled out of your mouth, and always have a hand on your backup before handing off the longhose, by the hose fitting and not covering the purge with your hand. Also as the recipient, you may want to clip off your not needed long hose, so in the drill it doesnt get off your neck and behind you to get caught in a crack or something. At least tuck it under a shoulder strap but practice clipping and feeling for things in the dark. For lostline drill, be sure to tie off the safety to something that wont move or pull loose, and feel for the flow with your face, so you go across the tunnel and not down it. This is easier in a highflow. Stay low with the reel and reach high with the freehand. This is the hardest drill and usually the last, and when you find the line, tie off the safety to it, put a line arrow pointing out and turn on your light. At this point your usually done. Lost buddy and valve drills are no brainers. Good luck/have fun/dont worry/be happy.

[navycaver]

If you have an idea of where you are going, go there and scope out your primary and secondary tie offs. Pick an alternate for each incase your 1st choice is already used. Obviously staty in the Cavern Zone. As others here have stated the reel work is important. If you get flustered at the start of the dive with the line, it can throw off the enitre run.
Do not change anything on game day. Stick with what has worked for you unless your instructor ask you to change something.
Most of all HAVE FUN!

[Benthic]

If your buoyancy and trim are sorted, and you have 40 cavern dives under your belt then you should be pretty well set. I'm assuming you used a reel for those 40 cavern dives. If so, then all you need to do is show up for class, with your gear ready to go and with you ready to learn. It's the instructor's job to teach you the skills you need. There's no need to learn them before you go to class. Enjoy the ride.

Brian

[Greenwood_60]

If your buoyancy and trim are sorted, and you have 40 cavern dives under your belt then you should be pretty well set. I'm assuming you used a reel for those 40 cavern dives. If so, then all you need to do is show up for class, with your gear ready to go and with you ready to learn.

Brian is correct... I had 40 or 50 Cavern dives before taking Cavern & Intro together, so all the reel work was new to me. Are you taking Intro in doubles or a single?