Posted by The Dive Guru

As part of your open water training, you learned the truth about common scuba diving myths such as:

Sharks eat scuba divers
You have to be an excellent swimmer to dive
Diving is only for people who live in the tropics
Today we’re going to bust some myths about the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver program.

Myth #1 – I haven’t been a diver very long; I’m not ready to become an “advanced” diver

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is for divers who want to gain more underwater experience while diving with a PADI Professional – or have fun learning new things. In addition to logging more dives, you’ll fine-tune skills learned during your open water diver class, such as navigation and buoyancy.

Myth #2 – The advanced course is more challenging than the entry-level program

The PADI Open Water Diver course covers a lot of material and can be intense. Your instructor brought you from a nondiver to someone who can dive with a buddy on your own. Now that you’re familiar with the basics of diving, it’s time to start exploring and having fun – and that’s what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about.

The Advanced Open Water Diver program is basically five Adventure Dives – think of it like a specialty sampler. You can choose from: wreck diving, underwater photography, enriched air nitrox, night diving, underwater naturalist, fish identification, dry suit diving and many more.

In the Advanced Open Water Diver program, classroom time is minimal – if there is any at all. There’s even an online option. Either way, the main goal of the program is to dive and have fun. There aren’t any tests and you can complete the program in as little as one weekend, or take it one dive at a time. Talk to your instructor about upcoming adventure dives in your area.

Myth #3 – You can’t take a scuba class while on vacation

What better way to try different kinds of diving? Here are some popular dive destinations and adventure dives you could try:

Florida, USA: Wreck, Boat, Underwater Photography, Enriched Air, Peak Performance Buoyancy
Hawaii, USA: Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Photography, Underwater Naturalist, Night, Boat, Enriched Air
Cozumel: Boat, Drift, Underwater Photographer, Night, Fish Identification, Deep
South Pacific: Wreck, Deep, Enriched Air, Underwater Photographer, Fish Identification, Underwater Naturalist, Drift

Myth #4 – I learned how to dive in my open water class

The open water program teaches you the basics and how to dive safely. While many people are “naturals,” perfect buoyancy and underwater navigation doesn’t come easy for everyone. In the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you can fine-tune these skills with tips and suggestions from your instructor. You can also learn to safely explore wrecks, dive to deeper depths and even ride an underwater scooter under the helpful guidance of your PADI Instructor.

Underwater photography is another skill you can learn through trial and error, but this method can be time-consuming and frustrating. A PADI Professional will help you avoid common pitfalls (such as backscatter) and help you get shots you’ll be proud to share.

We a class forming soon. For more information contact us at 970-385-8518 or kim@splashdowndiving.com

I was sent this link and found it amazing and wanted to share. Makes me wonder how much I am really missing while diving. Hope you enjoy.

It has been close to a year since Terry and I have returned from the South Pacific.  There are days when I miss waking up to the ocean, walking barefoot, experiencing the simple life and meeting new friends, but when all is said and done it is great to be back home with family and friends.

Splash Down has been keeping us busy.  Some of you may have noticed changes on the website and there are more to come.  The calendar is slowly getting updated, if you want a class and don’t see it on the schedule please call.  We have added tweeting and linked in to our list of social media, hope you will join us there.  Yes we jumped straight from the simple life to the deep end of technology.

This year we have 4 trips planned, two of which are already sold out.  We do still have room on our trip to Cozumel in June and to Caymans in October.

On March 15 we will be having our “Living the Dream” night.  Whether you are interested in becoming certified or wanting to pursue a career in diving we can help.  Our PADI representative along with several of our knowledgeable Splash Down staff will be there to answer any of your questions.  Refreshments, Raffles and Great Deals will round out the evening.

Happy Diving

Kim & Terry

 

Have you taken the PADI Master Scuba Diver challenge?

I have and its been a great experience and my diving has improved so much by learning new skills and putting them into practice.  Its also been great fun and I’ve dived some pretty cool and amazing places and met so many great people from all over the world with one thing in common.  Diving!

The PADI Master Scuba Diver rating  is not a course in itself, but a set of requirements that need to be met before you can apply:

• 12 years old
• PADI Rescue Diver or Junior Rescue Diver
• Minimum of five PADI Specialty Diver courses
• Minimum of 50 logged dives

Why take the challenge?

One of the best ways to become an active diver is to experience new and exciting adventures. That, in essence, is what the PADI Master Scuba Diver program is about.

By taking part in the broad range of activities possible with the PADI Master Scuba Diver program, you can explore new dive sites, experience new conditions, meet other divers and even try out different types of equipment and specialty gear.

Most importantly, you can stay active, gaining confidence and earn the respect of other divers around you. Upon completion of the challenge you will have the highest non-professional PADI rating in recreational diving.

Along with all these new skills you also get your Master Scuba Diver Certification card, a Certificate signed by PADI’s President and CEO and a sew on Master Scuba Diver badge.

For more information or to sign up for the challenge today, contact Splash Down Diving and take the courses you need to achieve your Master Scuba Diver rating in 2014! 

 

 

Posted by Megan from PADI – Thanks for sharing with us

 

Last September I went on a liveaboard dive trip and saw my first hammerhead shark, followed by a barracuda tornado. I also saw some classic examples of scuba diving bad habits – from experienced divers no less!

Liveaboards typically attract hardcore divers, and the boat I chose was no exception. On average, the people on board had 300+ dives, but a few of these old salts made mistakes that even a brand new diver would consider a rookie move.

Bad Habit #1 – Skipping the buddy check
You ask your buddy, “You ready? Yeah? Let’s go diving.” Everything seems fine until you roll off the boat and discover you forgot your fins, your buddy’s tank is loose, or something even worse.

Forgoing a buddy check takes a shortcut on safety and increases the chance of having to solve a problem in the water.  You can learn more about avoiding and adapting to problems in the PADI Rescue Diver course, but the best thing to do (as we teach during the Rescue course) is prevent problems before they begin with BWRAF .

Bad Habit #2 – Shooting fish butts
There were some very expensive camera rigs on board, but an expensive setup doesn’t guarantee good photos. Especially when the photographer doesn’t know underwater photo basics, or fails to practice good marine life etiquette.

I saw one diver with a top-of-the-line camera system taking a photo straight down over a coral head. I’m no photo pro, but I learned in the Digital Underwater Photography online course that shooting straight down on your subject tends to produce flat, uninteresting images. Perhaps it was an avant-garde shot.

I watched another diver race from one critter to the next – chasing off marine life as he went. The dive guides tried to counsel this diver, but he wouldn’t listen, “This is how I always dive” was his reply. I wondered how many pictures of fish butts he had… and how he ever found a dive buddy!

Bad Habit #3 – Not wearing the right exposure protection
Every time I show up at at a tropical dive destination, other divers laugh at me for wearing a 5mil wetsuit and a beanie cap in 28C/82F water. But by wearing the exposure protection that’s right for me, I never have to cut a dive short because I’m cold.

After a few years diving regularly in California I tried the PADI Drysuit Diver specialty and wondered, “why didn’t I do this sooner?” I imagine the cafe owners on Catalina Island wondered what ever happened to that girl who asked for cups of hot water to dump down her wetsuit.

#4 Wearing the incorrect amount of weight
Picture a brick, the kind used in home building. Imagine carrying it around with you all the time – taking it up stairs, trudging up a hill, etc. Having extra weight on board means your body has to work harder; your breathing will be heavier and so on.

When teaching the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty course, that brick weight is (on average) the amount I take off a diver’s weight belt. New divers often wear excess weight, and get used to carrying it around. But there’s a major downside – too much weight can lead to excess air consumption. The extra weight means the body has to work harder to push through the water, and on top of it many divers swim continuously to keep themselves buoyant. All that extra effort drains your tank faster than necessary.

Drop that brick and extend your dive time! Review your open water materials for how to do a buoyancy check, or ask your instructor about the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty course.

Bad Habit #5 – Neglecting gear service
Woe is the diver who pays half a month’s salary to go on the dive trip of a lifetime and has an equipment problem. When maintained properly, dive gear can last for years. Ask your local dive center about the Equipment Specialist course. You’ll get to know your gear and learn how to perform basic maintenance yourself. That said: some equipment service must be performed by a professional. Use the gear locker section of your ScubaEarthprofile to keep track of when your gear gets serviced.

 

Are you considering Going Pro?  We are beginning the PADI Divemaster course on August 13, 2013.

Already a PADI Divemaster?  Looking to take the next step?  Our Instructor course begins September 3, 2013.

With our resident Course Director (Zane Bilgrave) and our very competent staff we are able to offer the most comprehensive, knowledgeable, relaxed and fun INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE available in the Southwest Colorado area.

Our staff will guide and mentor you through the process of becoming a PADI Professional, ranking at the top of your examination class, by using the 50+ years of combined experience, in education, working abroad, and the dive retail industry, making our course stand alone in its field of 5 STAR CENTERS.

After completing our INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURE and successful completion of the IE (Instructor Examination) Splash Down will use all resources available to help you achieve your dream job whether it be working abroad, on a live aboard or teaching locally.

Becoming a PADI Professional requires a certain commitment on your Instructors part as well as yours, we have put together 2 tentative schedules that will meet the requirements needed to prepare you for your IE to be held on SEPTEMBER 14 and 15, 2013.  As with all PADI courses, there is some room for flexibility , and we can arrange the schedule to meet participates needs as long as all requirements are met.

If you could please check your schedules and contact us with any concerns with the schedule and decide which works best for you as well as confirmation that your will be attending our INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT course as soon as possible so we can have all required materials at your disposal.

Contact us today to secure your PADI PRO ADVENTURE!!

It is time to get a head start on your Christmas shopping.  What better gift to give someone….A lifetime adventure.  Something you can share with others for years to come.

Splash Down wants to help you with your shopping and yes it is only July, but think how fast the first half of the year went by.

We have some great packages on scuba gear and there is something for everyone.  Stop by the shop, say Hi and get the jump start on all your gifts from gear, trips, classes, etc.

Happy Diving!

With an early morning start, leaving Cozumel by ferry at 6:00 AM, crossing over to Playa del Carmen, and then into a van; a group of us were headed for Puerta Aventuras to hop into one of the many small boats heading out to find the whale sharks.

Approximately 12 miles out, it suddenly looked like a floating city, with maybe 40 or 50 boats circling in the water.  It was totally AMAZING to see these mammoth gentle giants swimming all around us.

We rushed to put on our snorkel gear (scuba is prohibited) and were matched up with our guide, when suddenly we were told to jump into the warm Caribbean waters out beyond Isla de Mujeres.  We were immediately surrounded with these beautiful sharks – approaching you with their mouths open widely filling up with krill and plankton.   A little scary at first, but then you realize, they are focused on filling their stomachs (not with you).  There are no words to truly describe how you feel surrounded by these amazing fish!  And then…

You look down, and your eyes are locked onto huge Manta Rays that are swirling all around you – approximately 100 whale sharks and 100 Manta Rays – incredible!  The Rays are swimming up from below, heading straight for you, when they suddenly turn away.  Their mouths are also open wide feeding furiously trying to get their share.  They will swim right at you and then suddenly flip over and swim away…you can reach out and touch them they are so close to you…such a thrilling experience we will never forget!

We definitely will be back next July!

After taking a year off to learn about different avenues that are available to PADI professionals, Terry and Kim have returned to where it all began for them.  Splash Down is their home and the instructors, divemasters and students are their friends and family.  You can learn about their adventures through their personal blog at www.terryandkim.wordpress.com.

We have lots of activities in the works for this summer.  We hope you will follow along through our blog or our website www.splashdowndiving.com.  We look forward to seeing you all soon both on land and underwater.

We just finished week one of the Scuba training for Durango Mountain Camp. This year we have a great group of students. Four returning from last year to continue their training from scuba diver to Open Water certification. We also have four students starting their training to become a scuba diver. Between pool sessions and classrooms, I have really enjoyed the laughter and energy the students have.  Great job to all of the students on their first week. You are all doing an amazing job. Can’t wait until week 2.