Tag: PADI

New site, new home, & out of the Guard

Moving my blog site, buying a house, and closing out the Military chapter of my life. Making big plans to get back into SCUBA.

Just putting up a real quick note just to get things rolling and verify my account is all properly set up.

So I’m 80% of the way through getting this new blog set up and looking the way I want. I need to do a lot of work on the photos section. My SCUBA blog was previously at divingbrian.wordpress.com. That will probably stay up a few more weeks until I make sure that everything is looking good and then will have a single redirect page.

I’m finally moving from being a renter to a home owner. Some time next week I should be closing on my first ever house. Very exciting, very scary. And once I close there is a lot of time that will go into doing some electrical upgrades and installing networking etc.

I’m also now officially retired from the Michigan Army National Guard. I had been burning out on that for some time and I am fully embracing the beard. Still undecided on what to do with my hair. This should mean more free time but work is going to be crazy into the fall.

Next year will be my return to SCUBA. I think I’m going to try and do some refresher training this fall, the PADI ReActivate will probably be a real no-brainer but it will make the new dive shop I’m going to (old primary shop closed) and make them more comfortable when I try and get Deep and Wreck certified next year. My gear has been unused and well stored since last service so I’m comfortable just doing the tank vis. I’ll probably only vis 1 tank and get the rest done in the winter to have them all ready for a full dive season.

Discover Rebreather

Last Saturday I had the chance to do a discover rebreather dive at an area pool with Aquatic Adventures of Michigan. I got to try out a Poseidon MK VI. Both Tom and Steve are very knowledgeable and were very helpful in answering any questions.

Having done a fair amount of research prior to taking this and listening to the presentation at Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival I expected that it was going to be something I enjoyed. I underestimated just how nice it really was.

First off I am a bit of an air hog. My SAC has been improving over time but it is still a bit high; on a CCR this is no longer an issue. Longer bottom times and less weight to haul around. Both good.

Fixed PO2: Having a good understanding on the benefits of nitrox – mostly more bottom time. The CCR takes the benefits to its max while not impacting max depth the way nitrox will.

Weight: Diving HP120 tanks when doing open circuit the weight difference is amazing. Less gear to move to the dive sight, the gear you move weights a LOT less. The other thing about having less bulk is I felt way more maneuverable in the water. The ability to flip, roll, and hang upside down was great fun.

Only drawback was that, as the instructors pointed out, buoyancy control is totally different. I had some major issues initially with starting to become positively buoyant when I didn’t want to. I had this mostly sorted out by the end but I know it would be a major focus when I take the rebreather class.

The price isn’t as bad as it might seem if you plan on diving enough and with tri-mix. Which is my intent in time.

All I all I loved the experience and have added a Poseidon 7 to my wish list and the class as the next one to take after I take shipwreck and deep.

My SCUBA wish list would really be helped out by winning the lottery even more so than before.