Be Prepared! Diving First Aid

Diving first aid is similar to normal first aid with a few differences. The most important difference is that a diver learning first aid must include the training to administer oxygen. Why? 100% oxygen on the surface is the universal treatment for decompression sickness. Anything higher than an Open Water Diver certification requires a class…… Continue reading Be Prepared! Diving First Aid

So that’s where I parked?

Day 2 at Beaver Lake was a beautiful day. We arrived at around 9:30 and got ready for our second day of certification dives. There were a few more skills to practice, which we all accomplished quite easily. There were fish to play with, which we all did. Sights and Buoyancy The dive park has…… Continue reading So that’s where I parked?

Certification Dives, Day One, In Which We Play With Fish!

Rental Gear I went to Diventures on a Friday to pick up my BCD, wetsuit, and regulator. Our certification dive instructor, Jerod, was going to bring tanks and weights for us to use. Callie grabbed a regulator and then we realized that due to my . . . size, the larger rental BCDs were not…… Continue reading Certification Dives, Day One, In Which We Play With Fish!

Open Water Diver Class, The Finale

I want to be able to say that the rest of the class was mostly uneventful but that’s not true. The class was good, and I learned a lot, but I also had some complications. Practicing Skills The rest of the class was all in the pool. The pool exercises were supposed to be Saturday…… Continue reading Open Water Diver Class, The Finale

Open Water Diver Class, Act Two

After the fitness tests, we learned how to set up the tank, buoyancy compensator, regulator, and weights. Each of these takes some explaining and I’m going to go through that, so you’ll know what to expect. Tanks The standard scuba diving tank is 80 cubic feet. It’s a cylinder that’s around 7.25 inches in diameter…… Continue reading Open Water Diver Class, Act Two