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Rusty
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Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)

Post by Rusty »

Dearest Lost Knights,

I am currently about half way through my Open Water course, the introductory certification to scuba. While I am living in the caribbean, and the diving here is great, the very sensation of diving has been an amazing addition to my life, and I am aware of scuba shops and clubs in oklahoma city that utilize the extensive collection of lakes to dive in oklahoma. Upon my triumphant return to okc, or during any visits, I would love to have one or more of the lost knights as a dive partner.

While it is 'possible' to dive solo, it is wayyy more dangerous. Diving with at least one other person is quite safe, as the bulk of the training is 'what to do when something goes wrong'.

My scuba lessons here are all inclusive, and cost me a total of $350 US, I believe it is usually itemized in the states, and I have my own mask fins and snorkel, and soon enough my own wetsuit.

It is really, really fun. You don't have to be a strong swimmer, though you may have to pass a brief swim test, as I did, in order to start. I was expected to be able to swim either 100 yards unassisted, or 300 yards with mask fins and snorkel, and then to tread water or float unassisted for 10 minutes. This is basically to show that if you have to ditch your equipment you can either make it to the boat or shore, or stay above water long enough for the dive boat or another diver to rescue you.

It is really amazing, and I hope to get a lot of my various certifications done while I'm here. However, this is a hobby I intend to keep, and I would love to share this with one or more of the lost knights.
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rydi
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Post by rydi »

I would personally like to learn, though money is of course a barrier for me.

I would prefer to do it in something other than oklahoma's muddy shit lakes however. Maybe on a vacation?
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Rusty
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Post by Rusty »

I feel like there's two ways to get into it really, to learn where you live and do it occasionally, and then go to places that have nice diving, or to go somewhere that has nice diving and then learn it there. Lucky me, huh? It's something I"m really into though, and I feel like I'd just as soon have learned during undergrad over several weeks, rather than cramming it all into a short period of time. I'd rather go to a nice dive spot on a trip and already know pretty much what I"m doing, and get to go see the cool stuff right away. It's up to you though.
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rydi
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Post by rydi »

true. it would be nice not to have to learn. i've realized that on vacations you end up spending so much time acclimating and adapting to your situation that by the time it is done, you barely had a vacation, and you want to go again just to do it right.
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Liquidprism
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Post by Liquidprism »

I want to dive in a shit lake, and meat a ginormous catfish or pike or something, and then wrastle it into submission until i get my fucking wish. I cant do this just fishing, I have to invade that monster's guarded lair and prove that I am superior in all ways (No, I don't know why). I believe the fish however should have the home court advantage, as I have far to many advantages already (my dashing good looks, and willingness to use explosives amongst them). Yes, indeed it will be an epic struggle between me and my wily quarry. In the ocean it would be even better, because everything is bigger, and sharks have teeth. If we do it in the ocean though I can only use a knife...okay...deal.
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Rusty
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Post by Rusty »

So, went diving this morning, I finished up my "confined" dives, which are the second phase of the PADI open water certification course. The first part was classroom theory, the second part is practicing procedures and skills in a safe setting, and the third part is conducting several actual dives, during which you eventually excecute some of your new skills. I have now finished my confined dives, and probably this weekend I'm going on my first "real" dive.

In the states, confined dives usually happen in a swimming pool. Here we use the shallow end of the ocean, so of course once we finished my skill training we went on a little 20 minute excursion into the reef.

Lemme tell you, this stuff is awesome. I've been an avid snorkeler for a long time, and while I enjoy chasing schools of fish for hours and hours, this is a whole new level of awesomeness. There is something uniquely awesome about being underwater and not feeling the need to come up for air. Right now, it's somewhat physically taxing. It uses slightly different muscles than regular swimming does, so I feel sore in odd places. And trying to get close enough to see everything without smashing into it is another matter entirely.

What I like the most about it, even though the fish and sea life are awesome, is the feeling of doing it. Being semi-weightless and interacting in a truly three dimensional environment is something I had only imagined being able to do.

I reiterate my hearty recommendation to any interested in learning scuba, ever. Do it soon. I balked at starting before college, I balked at starting during college, and I put it off for a year even while I was down here. All of that seems like dive time lost now. Had I started way back when, I would be able to do the really advanced dives by now.

Even if you feel like oklahoma doesn't have any awesome dive sites, it's worth doing just to learn the skill. Once you're certified, taking a trip somewhere for the diving alone is a real option, and I would honestly have rather already known what I was doing when I started diving here.

I'll ask to see if someone can get photos next time I go, so I can post them here.
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