If it has been a while since you did a Tec dive - some sort of decompression, no Trimix . . .
What would you do for a shake-out dive? What drills? and, of course, why?
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Prescription for a Shake-Out Dive . . .
If it has been a while since you did a Tec dive - some sort of decompression, no Trimix . . .
What would you do for a shake-out dive? What drills? and, of course, why?
I go down and do a practice dive. Carry a bottle. Do S-drills and valve drills, and gas switches, and ascents. Then I figure I'm brushed up, because I can share gas, manage my valves, do a gas switch, tolerate some task-loading, and nail my stops.
"What other sport is there where a cute woman has trouble getting rid of her underwear?" Doppler
A lot depends on what you define as a --Tech Dive-- and what kind of kit you want to work up to,(i.e. doubles with stages and multiple deco bottles or one deco bottle), how deep you're going, what conditions you want to dive, and the type of dive (penetration, just to have a look see, etc.).
Also, what is a while? Couple of months, a year?
Personally, if I had any apprehension, I'd start light and work my way up to the level I wanted to achieve. If it's just a shake-out to go deeper, that may mean going with my dive buddies to dive locations at 130 with just one deco bottle (out here the Palawan is perfect for that -- and perfect for practicing running line). Next go to 150 (Moody, Caissons, Infidel) than 180 (UB88, Catalina Sub Tower), then past 200 (Grumman Goose, Sacramento). Fortunately, I have access to a pool, and it makes it easier to train and do drills if I see an area that needs work ---which for me is usually everything :-(
I think everything is open to practice and achieving a good level of comfort (valve drills, s-drills, basic 5 (or 6 for some)...
You may also want to seek out a tech instructor that can help get the rust out.
A lot would depend on how my buddies feel about my level and if they feel comfortable diving with me. Their input would be important. The whole process may only take one dive for you or several. Maybe just some time in a pool. I don't know. My suggestions are based on me... hope it's helpful, with the understanding that YMMV
Cheers
Fate is the hunter that seeks the unprepared.
what we do when it's been a while cave diving (more than a month, less than, say...eight) is plan our first dive in an area with a big basin, like orange grove. then we toodle around checking buoyancy, checking weighting, clipping & unclipping, putting our hands on cookies and scissors and wetnotes. when we feel good and feel each other looks comfy, we check our gas and do a small simple dive.
'sometimes I think Michael Jackson might have been right....' Lynne
Well, Tech Deep to me is below 150. Shallow is basically anything under 80'. If its been awhile since I've been below 150', and the only dives I've done have been shallow dives with no bottle switches, etc. I'd try to schedule a moderate dive to 90-120' where I can do the deco on backgas easily. I'd take one deco gas, and maybe one bottom stage, and just do the dive, and see how I handle the switches. If I feel shaky, I'd just do the dive on backgas.
But this is for me, and what I've done in the past. It is very rare that I've gone more than 6 months out of the water in the past 10 years, and that was due to my son being born.
Tom
Diver Steve knows his stuff!
Those dive locations are a pretty cool tool to evaluate dives based on depths. Thanks for that info.Originally Posted by kevfin
LCF and Marci nailed what I have been doing . . . I wanted to see if there were any points I was missing.
As far as academics I also review my notes from my Tech 1 class and browse thru my logs... trying to remember the lessons learned on those dives so I do not repeat any errors or bad habits.
Today I went to look at Drysuits... and came home with a tube of Aquaseal :(
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