11 replies to this topic

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

There are divers (I'm one of them) who dive several times a year, but easily go 6 months without diving at all (I call this work interference). I still typically get 50 or so dives done in the 6 months I am able to go diving. There are others who, for many reasons, can go a year or even more in-between dives.

All of us know the phrase "use it or lose it", and the general consensus is that if you do not dive for extended periods of time, a refresher course is highly beneficial. Not just for your sake, but for your buddy's as well. But, what is "an extended period of time"? Is there a hard & fast rule, or does it differ for each individual? And, what does a good refresher course entail?

There are also dive ops who ask that divers using their operation to demonstrate some basic skills before allowing you to dive with them. Many comply without a second thought, but I have seen others loudly complain about this practice, feeling insulted or like they're being treated like children. In today's litigation-happy atmosphere, I understand why the dive ops ask us to demonstrate that we know what we're doing, at least with the rudimentary skills. Have you been asked to demonstrate your basic skills, and if so what was your reaction to the first time you were asked to do so? Do you think more dive ops will be doing this in the future? Do OW or AOW divers comply without a second thought, while DM's and instructors feel the insult, or vice-versa?

The goal, I'm sure, is to keep us and those we're diving with from becoming a diving accident statistic. What are your thoughts on these issues?

[Victoria]

My first priority right now vis-a-vis diving IS a refresher course. The surface interval I've been suffering through has been a bit over four years. I want to be sure that I remember my skills, and fill in gaps that may be identified! I've only got 28 logged open water dives, so it's a safe bet that there are things I need to relearn. I would expect that a diver with 500 logged dives since 2000 (when I was certified), and the same length of recent surface interval as mine, would not necessarily NEED a refresher course though it would prolly still be beneficial.

[Parrotman]

I have over 600 dives under my weight belt but I have no objections to doing a check out dive. However, in all of the places that I have been diving and with all of the "checkout dives" that I have done, I can not really say that any of them have been more than a cursory jump in the water with your gear on so that they can say that we did it.

Last summer I was diving at AKR on Roatan. Not my normal choice of a dive location, too many people, too commercial for my taste. They require a checkout dive while still at dock. They have you gear up and jump in. This was the most bizarre checkout dive that I have ever been on. Nine of us jump in the water, the water is pretty shallow and I was not happy with my weights so I sit on the bottom for a minute to take a weight off my belt, while I am sitting there doing this I am watching the other divers. One of them is floating on the top with her head down like a duck, another is trying to clear his mask and then of course there is me who is sitting there. This whole scene lasted all of 3 minutes and the DM was signaling the OK sign everybody back on the boat.

What was the point?

As far as a refresher course, I think that really depends on the diver. The longest I have gone between dives was six months, but when I jumped back in the water it felt like 6 days.

J

[ScubaSis]

I seem to take one trip a year to dive. I like to go to a local dive hole to refresh myself, but last year it just didn't happen. It's looking like it won't happen this year either before I go on a trip the end of April. Last year before my trip I did go to my DM for a little refresher and was so glad I did. He asked if I had any specific questions and we got in the pool. He had me go over all the basics and just in talking with him he reminded me of a few things I had forgotten about. I have only been diving for 3 years and have about 35 dives logged so this was very helpfull for me. My refreshers like this do not cost a thing and I get some very much needed pool time in between trips. My DM is .

[BeachJunkie]

I would definitely fit into this category. I have a little over 50 dives and have been thinking about diving every day. But that isn't going to cut it. I am also planning on purchasing an entire set of new gear. Over a year out of the water, lack of experience (I consider anything under 100+ dives inexperienced... even more in some cases) and a whole new setup are definitely going to call for some serious refreshing before I go on a legitimate "dive". I'm pretty sure that I can go to the Gardner pool on post (indoor pool) and put the 15 foot deep end to good use figuring out my setup and weighting. This will be greatly benefitial. I'll go over the basic skills I haven't used in a long time, practice a bit with the new gear and work out my weighting issues, and work on some boyancy techniques from my OW classes. It will be a nice little warm up. Then some fresh water dives in the shallow area of the quarry (where I plan on freezing to death) will round it out. After that I'll feel more comfortable diving to deeper areas and going on a trip. I can't friggin WAIT!! ARGH! SO CLOSE NOW!

As far as check out dives at a resort, I can understand it. But I would think they'd be a bit more in depth than the ones described. I remember my first boat dive. The DM gave a nice dive brief, explained that people weren't to touch the coral and make sure to keep their gear secured and not dragging on things. As soon as the dive started, I decended to about 35 ft and looked down. To my horror, there was a fat guy in nothing but swim trunks and his dive gear, literally STANDING straight up, on the reef, looking around. Some people just don't get it I guess. These are the kind of people that need to be doing checkout dives. That being said, I don't think any dive op can really afford to tell a diver they can't go on a trip because their skills are lacking. This goes into ethics and and many other things so I'll cut it short there. But in short, yes, I think checkout dives are good.

Wow, that was a serious rant with no real topic adherance. Sorry.

[Capn Jack]

I have been pleasantly surprised how many divers come through our shop for a refresher (our agency calls these "Scuba Reviews"). And, even more pleasantly surprised how happy they are after the fact. Most make a comment to the effect they would either have "wasted" a dive on vacation getting used to their gear again - or more frequently - felt they were much safer now since they had reviewed all of their skills.

As a plug - our shop of course charges for reviews, but I will do them for friends gratis. However, since this is one of the very few courses divemasters are allowed to deliver without supervision - I would encourage everyone to pay their hard-working DM for their time.

[Diverbrian]

All that I got out of my last refresher course was a dinner . That is all right. As far as I know, the client was happy with the help and I learn every time that I work with someone.

I have been limited in my water time myself due to buying other things and simply not having time lately.

[divzac]

Although my diving is year round and reasonably stable, I do not mind letting a resort or dive op check me out. I never know what little trick that I might pick up and if nothing else, they can check me off their list and focus their efforts elsewhere. Its all good.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

One question I have not seen answered yet is, what does a refresher course entail? Instructors, can you enlighten us? Maybe some of our members have been out of the water for a while, and just don't know what the refresher course really will do for them.....

[Dive_Girl]

One question I have not seen answered yet is, what does a refresher course entail? Instructors, can you enlighten us? Maybe some of our members have been out of the water for a while, and just don't know what the refresher course really will do for them.....

Scuba Reviews (from my agency PADI) include a knowledge review session and pool skill session.

The knowledge review can be conducted in a few different of ways depending on theri schedule or desire. Participants can elect to review knowledge starting with independent study of a PADI Scuba Tune-Up workbook. The participant and instructor may then use class time to focus on discussing any sections of knowledge requiring remediation (typically the dive tables). Participants may elect to forgo independent study and on the night of the class session they may either take the 4 Open Water quizzes or take the Open Water Final Exam. The participant and instructor may then focus in on any missed questions to remediate.

The areas of scuba knowledge covered in a review are:

Safe diving practices
Dive planning fundamentals
Problem management
Breathing air at depth
Recreational diving and dive tables: basic knowledge
Recreational diving and dive tables: dive planning

The pool skill session covers practice of the following basic scuba skills:

1. gear set-up
2. Predive safety check
3. Deep-water entry
4. Weight check at the surface
5. Snorkel to regulator exchange
6. Proper descent using the a five-point method
7. Regulator recovery
8. Remove and replace mask
9. Air depletion/Alternate air source use
10. Regulator free-flow
11. Fin pivot (a buoyancy skill)
12. Proper ascent using the five-point method
13. Remove and replace weight system underwater
14. Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA)
15. Hover
16. No-mask swim
17. Remove and replace weight system on the surface
18. Remove and replace scuba unit on the surface

Any certified diver from any agency may of course take a PADI Scuba Review course, such as I am certain similar programs from other agencies allow for the same. After successful completiong of a PADI Scuba Review, participants receive a PADI Scuba Review verification decal for their certification card.

[VADiver]

Scuba Reviews (from my agency PADI) include a knowledge review session and pool skill session.

The areas of scuba knowledge covered in a review are:

Safe diving practices
Dive planning fundamentals
Problem management
Breathing air at depth
Recreational diving and dive tables: basic knowledge
Recreational diving and dive tables: dive planning

Hey, isn't there an on-line course for this?