This week has been an incredible experience. 9 days of deep technical CCR dives and interesting seminars every night. Sitting around between dives chewing the fat with some of the who's who in the industry has really been just a blast. And to make it even more fun, I've been able to dive with both of my sons on each dive.
We have spent quite a bit of time this winter discussing and practicing our team diving skills and procedures, and I think the time has paid off. Josh and Michael are already excellent divers and diving with them as a 3 man team has been a great experience.
The weather has been on again and off again raining then sunny, but we have not had any dive called due to weather. Most of the dives have been between 300-330 feet, and we have really had a great chance to put the Hammerheads through the paces. Haven't had a single problem with them.
Cayman is a great place with for this kind of stuff, and everyone in attendance has been very friendly and open for discussions about CCRs and tech diving in general. It's been great to rub shoulders with some very experienced guys and listen to their thoughts on various things. Dive Tech has done an amazing job of keeping up with 64 CCR divers! The logistics much just be overwhelming!
We dove today at a place called Hepp's wall and a dive site called "Funky Town". We entered a tunner/cave/swim through at 180 and exited on the reef at 290 feet and kept going down the reef till 312. Incredibly quite and beautiful and relaxing!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
InnerSpace in Grand Cayman
InnerSpace at Dive Tech and Cobalt Coast Resort started officially last night in Grand Cayman. Joshua, Michael and I all arrived on Thursday afternoon after an all night red eye. We weren't complaining however when we got off the plane and were greeted by warm breezes about 80 degrees and beautiful blue oceans!
We were picked up at the airport by the resort and about a half hour later were unloading at Cobalt Coast. Dive Tech really does a wonderful job of putting on this event. 64 CCR divers plus staff this year. All sorts of units here - Inspiration, Evolutions, Sentinels, Hammerheads, Titans, rEvos, Megs, Kiss, and Optimas. They range from the newbies/freshly minted CCR divers to crusty old hands that have been around since the beginning of CCR diving! They divide up the boats so that we have a recreational boat, a normoxic trimix boat and a deep trimix boat. Of course the boys and I opted for the deep boat!
The first couple of days prior to the open of InnerSpace we did some shore dives as warm up. First dive was a 180 footer, later that afternoon we did a 150 footer. The next morning we did a 225 footer in the morning and a 60 footer in the afternoon. Here in Grand Cayman there is a mini wall and then the big wall. In between, depending on whether you are swimming from Cobalt or Light House, the distance swim between in 15-20 mins. each way, so you definitely get some exercise.
On the dive at Lighthouse reef yesterday we were cruising along at 225 feet when we saw a turtle come screaming up from the depth at 300 plus feet. As it got about even with us, it got tangled in a fishing line wrapped around its head and front fin. Fortunately, we were close enough to help cut it free and it was able to swim to the surface unscathed!
This morning the boats started up and we did a 250 foot dive this morning. The group on the boat are all quite experienced divers with several CCR Advanced Trimix instructors and divers. It was fun to not have to worry about anyone besides your individual team! Nice and relaxing with incredible viz and nice and warm! It is very quiet down there with just CCR divers on the wall. I didn't personally see it but other members of the group saw a large hammerhead swim overhead.
Having a great time. Hope to get the video camera out soon!
Regards,
Randy
We were picked up at the airport by the resort and about a half hour later were unloading at Cobalt Coast. Dive Tech really does a wonderful job of putting on this event. 64 CCR divers plus staff this year. All sorts of units here - Inspiration, Evolutions, Sentinels, Hammerheads, Titans, rEvos, Megs, Kiss, and Optimas. They range from the newbies/freshly minted CCR divers to crusty old hands that have been around since the beginning of CCR diving! They divide up the boats so that we have a recreational boat, a normoxic trimix boat and a deep trimix boat. Of course the boys and I opted for the deep boat!
The first couple of days prior to the open of InnerSpace we did some shore dives as warm up. First dive was a 180 footer, later that afternoon we did a 150 footer. The next morning we did a 225 footer in the morning and a 60 footer in the afternoon. Here in Grand Cayman there is a mini wall and then the big wall. In between, depending on whether you are swimming from Cobalt or Light House, the distance swim between in 15-20 mins. each way, so you definitely get some exercise.
On the dive at Lighthouse reef yesterday we were cruising along at 225 feet when we saw a turtle come screaming up from the depth at 300 plus feet. As it got about even with us, it got tangled in a fishing line wrapped around its head and front fin. Fortunately, we were close enough to help cut it free and it was able to swim to the surface unscathed!
This morning the boats started up and we did a 250 foot dive this morning. The group on the boat are all quite experienced divers with several CCR Advanced Trimix instructors and divers. It was fun to not have to worry about anyone besides your individual team! Nice and relaxing with incredible viz and nice and warm! It is very quiet down there with just CCR divers on the wall. I didn't personally see it but other members of the group saw a large hammerhead swim overhead.
Having a great time. Hope to get the video camera out soon!
Regards,
Randy
Monday, April 5, 2010
Taking your time!
The last few years I have become more and more convinced that when it comes to learning advanced technical diving theory, procedures and skills, that taking it nice and slow is better! I know that some guys are into the total immersion, zero to hero mentality, but my own experience as both a student and as an instructor has shown me time and time again, that a gradual, step by step approach usually makes for better internalization and more polished divers.
Sure, it's very possible to do the minimum requirements in the minimum amount of time all in one condensed period, but I do not believe that it makes for superior trained divers. IMHO, the most relaxed and proficient divers are ones that take each level of training one step at a time and have sufficient time in-between certifications and even individual class sessions to improve gradually and methodically. This stuff is not a race, and the first one to the finish line is not necessarily the more polished or skilled diver. Muscle memory and diving knowledge is not gained overnight. It has been my experience, that just like learning a musical instrument or learning a foreign language, consistent, focused, repetitive work on a daily basis leads to more polished skills and internalized theory that over time becomes second nature. There are no short cuts to this stuff, and those that think there are short cuts are usually not long timers in this sport.
I think this is especially apparent in CCR diving. CCR diving is very much a thinking man's activity. The CCR divers that become the most proficient, are usually the ones that have a very good understanding of the basic theory as well as have put in the hours over enough months and even years to really "be one with their units" and know enough to realize what they don't know! Cramming may help university students pass a final exam, but does not contribute to long-term retention. Careful, step by step progression, coupled with ongoing education and repetition makes for a much safer and more enjoyable diving experience. As they say, "practice makes perfect", but probably even more important is "Regular perfect practice, makes for perfect performance every time!"
Sure, it's very possible to do the minimum requirements in the minimum amount of time all in one condensed period, but I do not believe that it makes for superior trained divers. IMHO, the most relaxed and proficient divers are ones that take each level of training one step at a time and have sufficient time in-between certifications and even individual class sessions to improve gradually and methodically. This stuff is not a race, and the first one to the finish line is not necessarily the more polished or skilled diver. Muscle memory and diving knowledge is not gained overnight. It has been my experience, that just like learning a musical instrument or learning a foreign language, consistent, focused, repetitive work on a daily basis leads to more polished skills and internalized theory that over time becomes second nature. There are no short cuts to this stuff, and those that think there are short cuts are usually not long timers in this sport.
I think this is especially apparent in CCR diving. CCR diving is very much a thinking man's activity. The CCR divers that become the most proficient, are usually the ones that have a very good understanding of the basic theory as well as have put in the hours over enough months and even years to really "be one with their units" and know enough to realize what they don't know! Cramming may help university students pass a final exam, but does not contribute to long-term retention. Careful, step by step progression, coupled with ongoing education and repetition makes for a much safer and more enjoyable diving experience. As they say, "practice makes perfect", but probably even more important is "Regular perfect practice, makes for perfect performance every time!"
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Beneath the Sea 2010
I had the opportunity to attend Beneath the Sea 2010 (BTS) this weekend for the first time. I was actually quite surprised at how big of event it was and the volume of attendees! Friday night was kind of sparsely attended but Saturday as the day wore on, it was absolutely packed.
It was fun catching up with some old friends and acquaintances - Tom Mount, Joe Radomski, Steve Lewis, Ted Greene, Mark Nix, Corey Mearns. I was fortunate to get a free pass from Dona at South Pacific Island Travel, so even better, it didn't cost me anything! Seeing all of the cool travel locations, I've got the itch to get out on a dive trip!
Didn't really see anything that was earth shattering new, but there was lots of cool stuff to check out. The new Silent Submersion Magnus scooter looks pretty cool! The speed controls on the handle are way cool!
The North Eastern diving community is certainly a hardy bunch. It was interesting to note that the average age of attendee appeared to be in the late 40s. There were very few young people there. I'm not exactly sure what that tells us - Does it mean that young people are not be attracted to diving or that they just can't afford it? I don't know the answer to this, but I intend to do a little more research into it!
It was fun catching up with some old friends and acquaintances - Tom Mount, Joe Radomski, Steve Lewis, Ted Greene, Mark Nix, Corey Mearns. I was fortunate to get a free pass from Dona at South Pacific Island Travel, so even better, it didn't cost me anything! Seeing all of the cool travel locations, I've got the itch to get out on a dive trip!
Didn't really see anything that was earth shattering new, but there was lots of cool stuff to check out. The new Silent Submersion Magnus scooter looks pretty cool! The speed controls on the handle are way cool!
The North Eastern diving community is certainly a hardy bunch. It was interesting to note that the average age of attendee appeared to be in the late 40s. There were very few young people there. I'm not exactly sure what that tells us - Does it mean that young people are not be attracted to diving or that they just can't afford it? I don't know the answer to this, but I intend to do a little more research into it!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
It must be in the genes!
My two year old granddaughter is hard at work studying for her upcoming cave course! Her father is in the middle of finishing up his Full Cave course, so I'm sure she comes by her fascination honestly!
Next up will be Intro to CCR diving!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ice Diving with Dive Addicts at Deer Creek Reservoir
The four divers were Josh Thornton, Michael Thornton, Mike Nygard and Rich Cherian. We left Dive Addicts about 8:15 AM and got up to Deer Creek about 9:00 AM. It took us about 45 mins. to cut the hole in the ice and then we had to struggle a little bit to get the triangular piece of ice pushed underneath one side so that we could get the divers in the water.
We split the divers into two teams so we always had 3 surface support while there were two divers in the water. One of the surface support was always geared up and ready to splash if there was a problem that required his help. Both divers were tethered together with a climbing rope that was anchored to 3 points of the triangular opening using ice climbing screws and carabineers.
The dive profiles were approximately 110 feet deep for 29 mins. At an altitude of approximately 6500 feet, under the ice, this is a fairly serious dive!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Teaching an Advanced Trimix Class
I just started teaching an Advanced Trimix Class this week to a group of 4 tech diving students. These 4 are all students who have taken previous classes from me so it is fun to watch them progress and develop as technical divers.
I really enjoy teaching Advanced Trimix because it is the highest level of open water training and as such the students must be prepared virtually on every level for extreme diving, including physically, mentally, and emotionally. These types of dives are very demanding and as such, the training is equally demanding.
We spent the first night in the classroom talking about what would be required in the class, and beginning our academic discussions. In this particular class, the academic sessions are typically more discussion than lecture, because the students usually have a firm grasp of the basic academics and now we spend more time discussing various alternative view points and procedures. The classes are usually quite stimulating.
Fortunately, these 4 students are local, so we can take some time spread over a few weeks to really dig into the academics as well as the practical - the diving. Our first dive will be a shallow dive at the Homestead Crater where we will do an assessment of their current skill level as well as string together some more involved complex multiple failure drills. It is usually a somewhat stressful time for the students due to the volume of skills and drills, but ends up being a lot of fun and makes for memorable discussions afterwards!
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