Update Coming soon.... 

Hello my lovely followers, I am very sorry for not posting an update for a couple of weeks now. But sadly things at work and home have been a bit busy so I haven't had time to fully update the blog. 

But don't worry, I haven't given up on the course I am just behind with my home work. 

I hope to have an update for you all very soon........

DIARY OF A TRAINEE OCEAN DIVER - PART 3 So today is Thursday....

DIARY OF A TRAINEE OCEAN DIVER - Week 2

Figuring out fins....

So today is Thursday, which would normally mean that it is Bracknell Sub Aqua club night, which means jumping into the pool and getting wet.  But today it’s felt less like a club night and more like a club day! The reason for this is because today before going to work I had to pack the car so that I can leave work and go directly to the club.  So the reason it has felt like a club day…..rather than a club night, is because the morning pat down on the walk to the car of house keys, car keys, lunch, laptop and coat took a bit longer than usual, mainly because it included some unusual items - mask, snorkel, dive bag, cylinder and BSAC course materials!

Theory lesson - Ocean Diver Training

The first lesson is very simple and a nice introduction, as it introduces you to the club you have just joined and the BSAC organisation.  It’s not too taxing and is very interesting to learn that Bracknell 434 has some national BSAC instructors as members.  To be honest it’s an honour and a pleasure to know that you are being taught by some of the best in the organisation, even more so when you realise that they are not doing this for a paycheck every Thursday, but for their love of the sport.

Sheltered water training – Being Underwater

This is how it's done!

The pool session was very much a carry on from last week’s lesson about how to kit up, with the main element of the lesson focusing on the basic skills.  We had an added element of excitement as this week as we were joined by a fellow trainee, our instructor (don’t worry mum’s and dad’s he has got his Ocean Diver qualification amongst others).  He is a new instructor and is taking this opportunity to pass on his skills and experiences, but also at the same time gain his instructor qualification, so with our instructor and his own mentor it was almost a one to one learning experience.

Happy finning :)

The main objective poolside was getting kitting up, with the odd helping hand when you are not 100% sure where something goes, and the main objective in the pool was to understand the basics you will need while underwater.  The biggest focus was on our finning technique and making sure we get that correct now, so you don’t develop bad habits which are very tiring and waste precious air when you are underwater! 

Next week is balance and trim…..I’m looking forward to it!

DIARY OF A TRAINEE OCEAN DIVER - PART 2

Week 1 – Kit allocation

Well it’s Week 1, and this week’s meeting was all about being given your training materials and finding a kit that fits, for you to do your training in.

First off we went through all of the materials BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club) give you as a new diver. They give you a fair amount of things, scuba manual, training pack, dive log, class notes and record book.

It was very interesting to hear about all the things you have to fill out, collect, make sure you bring with you and keep safe.  The record book and dive log books being the most important things to keep safe. Reminds me, I must get a new passport photo. This is very important as you need one of these before anything can be signed off.  It’s used to make sure that the record book that’s getting the signature from the instructor is being signed off for the correct person. – Plus I’m sure some of the more experienced divers use it as proof of how long they have been diving. Or just an embarrassing photo from many moons ago……..

After going through everything that comes in the pack it’s time to work out what kit you’re going to get.  Working out what BCD suit fits you along with what cylinder, regulators, fins and lead weight belt all fit correctly.

It’s mostly a case of putting it all on, and having one of the instructors look at it, checking the fit, and adjusting it.  But once you have been giving it and it fits it’s time to give it a quick dry test. By dry test I mean, make sure the regulators work, make sure the BCD jacket inflates, and the pressure gauge works etc….

It’s a lot of kit and going through all the course material, the demo of how to put it all together (done by the instructors quickly to save time and to make sure it’s done correctly) takes the good part of 2 hours. And then the last 20 or so minutes is Q and A.  Just encase like me you want to jump ahead and ask how to clean and store it all; basically make it all water tight and dunk in the bath overnight.  

But I have to say that the strangest part of the whole experience is driving back home with it all in the back of your car.  Knowing that you have 15KG cylinder full of air in the back of your car, and wondering where the safest place to keep it is.  And working out how you’re going to remember to go and get it filled up.

Having now moved the cylinder around the house to find the optimum spot, it is still very strange to walk into the room where it’s kept and see it.  I guess I’m just not used to having it in the house, I’m sure as my training processes it will become part of the furniture.  Good thing really, could do with some more in my house :-)

DIARY OF A TRAINEE OCEAN DIVER - PART 1

Dipping of my toe into the deep world of scuba diving……

This is the first in what will be a large set of posts about my experience of gaining my BSAC Ocean Diver qualification with Bracknell Sub Aqua Club 434.

But before we jump into the deep end of the pool, I would like to start at the shallow end. Dip a toe in
and tell you a bit about myself and how this all came about.

A little background about who I am and what got me into diving:
I am a 24 year old recent graduate; I graduated from Kent University about 2 years ago and I now work for a data backup company.

Where did it all start from?

From a young age I had an interest in scuba diving, it all started when I was given the chance to have my very first try drive. After the initial introduction to all of the gear and having a BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) that very much swamped me, I was allowed to put my head underwater and was told to breathe.

Now at that young age it was a bit hard to understand that you could only breathe through your mouth, so it wasn't a very successful dive, but I was 12, so I now forgive myself. I have to admit I have been hooked on the idea of scuba diving and have been looking for an opportunity to learn to dive ever since. So now that I am done with studying, it’s time to go diving!

What attracts me to scuba diving?

Have you ever been in a shower or bath and never wanted to leave it? Not because the bathroom is cold, or that the water is so lovely and hot, but because you just love the feeling of being surrounded by or in water? – If you have then we have something in common, a love of water and if I could I would spend all day every day in water…..or just be a human duck.

But having never really grasped the concept of swimming while holding my breath and having my head underwater, the idea of swimming has never really appealed to me. So what makes scuba diving so attractive, exciting and thrilling for me then I hear you say? It’s simple, being able to be underwater without having to worry about holding my breath. You take away the fear of having to hold your breath and swim, and I can relax and enjoy being underwater.

Why dive, why not snorkel?

Snorkeling is good fun, and I have done it in the past. But I was never able to go down deep and see what was at the bottom, on the sea bed.

Having now met the members of Bracknell Sub Aqua Club and having the pleasure of enjoying a try dive with them, I am now a full member of the club.

I am undertaking my Ocean diver course with them as well, so now that you know a bit about me and my love affair with diving. Let’s get to the interesting part, the course.....part 2 coming soon!