Quarry swimming in April

[DiscusnAfricans]

It was a pretty nice weekend. Temps in the mid to upper 60s, sunny during the day except for some rain saturday afternoon.

Recently found out about a quarry lake in New Windsor, located in Carroll County. Surface temps were around 57 degrees, with temperatures towards the bottom (average 50 foot depth) in the low 40s. Probably not the most ideal conditions for swimming, but I decided I'd give it a try anyways. Wasn't too cold wearing a full wetsuit and hood...

So why was I swimming in 50 degree water in April?

To get my open water SCUBA certification! I am now a certified diver and can start practicing my new hobby. The quarry is interesting and has some cool stuff buried in the bottom. It is maintained by a local Dive shop, and they've put stuff in the lake as "learning tools" or interesting stuff to explore. Everything from an old Jeep, to a schoolbus, sailboat, even a TV. Visibility wasn't great, but it was still fun. Fishing is prohibited in the quarry, so there are some plump bluegill and bass down there.

It was a great experience and I'm looking forward to getting out and doing some more diving. Anyone interested in where to go can contact me if they want more information for the shop I took my class through.

I know Sarah (Longstocking) is an avid diver. Anyone else in the club dive? Cool new way to get up close and personal with the fish you enjoy. Maybe one day I'll be able to dive in the Rift Lakes...

 

[mchambers]

Interesting coincidence. My son and I just finished scuba classes and e-learning, through Blue Planet at Dupont Circle in DC, so the next steps are training dives somewhere, perhaps along the lines of what you did.

 

[Tony]

Congrats Mike (and Matt as well). That's pretty awesome.

We've been toying with the idea of getting certified for a while, but Maria has been hesitant. I think some serious progress was made when Anton was in town. He's a big time diver and I think that Maria hearing how easy and fun it was (from someone other than me) may have peeked her interest a bit.

How long is the course? How much does it run? Where are you guys taking the course through?

 

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Congrats Mike (and Matt as well). That's pretty awesome.

We've been toying with the idea of getting certified for a while, but Maria has been hesitant. I think some serious progress was made when Anton was in town. He's a big time diver and I think that Maria hearing how easy and fun it was (from someone other than me) may have peeked her interest a bit.

How long is the course? How much does it run? Where are you guys taking the course through?

ITS VERY FUN AND EASY TO LEARN. MY WIFE AND I WENT THROUGH THE COURSE TOGETHER TO GET CERTIFIED. SHE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.

 

[chriscoli]

Woo Hoo, Congrats! My husband has been trying to get me to become certified as well. He really misses it!

 

[dogofwar]

I used to be certified (my college room mate was an instructor) and dove for a couple of years after college...but probably need to get re-certified.

I wish I had the free time

Matt

 

[skanda]

How much does it cost to get certified with the company?

 

[mchambers]

Learning diving

Congrats Mike (and Matt as well). That's pretty awesome.

We've been toying with the idea of getting certified for a while, but Maria has been hesitant. I think some serious progress was made when Anton was in town. He's a big time diver and I think that Maria hearing how easy and fun it was (from someone other than me) may have peeked her interest a bit.

How long is the course? How much does it run? Where are you guys taking the course through?

We did ours thru Blue Planet, http://www.blueplanetdc.com. My wife researched some of the local instructional programs and thought this one was well reviewed compared to some of the others. You definitely want to do some research before you choose an instructor.

We had two 4 hour pool sessions, at Trinity University in NE DC, near Catholic University. We did two Sunday afternoons, group sessions, two weeks apart, but they offer individualized sessions and different times for courses. I thought the instructors were good. The pool is a little small and shallow for diving, but the instructors dealt with that limitation pretty well.

Looks like our elearning and pool sessions cost about $400 per person. (I've been trying to block this out, since this is for my son, for high school graduation, and I'm trying not to think about the cost.)

We also did some required elearning, a standardized course, thru PADI:

https://www.padi.com/elearning-scuba-registration/default.aspx?irra=880

This was arranged by Blue Planet. The elearning took some time. I'd guess I spent 6-8 hours doing that.

You also need a mask, snorkel, and fins (and logically booties to go with the fins). We already had masks and snorkels, from snorkeling trips, so went to Dupont Circle and got fitted for and purchased booties and fins.

The next steps are 4 open water dives, over two days. Not sure if we'll do that locally or on a trip. Looks like we could do it locally for about $200 each.

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

Congrats Mike (and Matt as well). That's pretty awesome.

We've been toying with the idea of getting certified for a while, but Maria has been hesitant. I think some serious progress was made when Anton was in town. He's a big time diver and I think that Maria hearing how easy and fun it was (from someone other than me) may have peeked her interest a bit.

How long is the course? How much does it run? Where are you guys taking the course through?

The course I took was one classroom session, 3 pool sessions, and 2 days of open water diving. The classroom and pool sessions ran about 2 hours each, the open water days were probably about 4-5 hours. I'll give you some details on cost options later.

There is actually a dive shop in Gaithersburg somewhere. Its called "Atlantic Edge Dive Center." I don't know anything about them, but it would be the most convenient option. They had a group there this past weekend, so it looks like they use the same location for certification dives.

I took my class through Undersea Outfitters in Finksburg (South of Westminster). The pool sessions were done in a Merritt Athletic club in Eldersburg. Nice group of people, very easy to work with and understanding of noobs. Would recommend them to anyone interested.

Hope you can talk Maria into it, its very fun and not hard when you're taught by experienced people.

I used to be certified (my college room mate was an instructor) and dove for a couple of years after college...but probably need to get re-certified.

I wish I had the free time

Matt

Certification doesn't expire, so you're actually still ok. Some locations won't allow people to dive without a certain amount of experience, but that depends on the shop and location. They offer refresher courses for people who just want to get reacquainted.

Free time isn't very available for me either, just found the time to squeeze it in. I can't imagine where your time is spent. Put Siena in a scuba rangers class and you'll have the excuse to do some brush up for yourself.

 

[dogofwar]

I think that I did NAUI certification... but it's been awhile (like "The Spin Doctors" were the biggest band in the world awhile).

I did my open water dives in murky reservoirs in upstate NY. Cold and dark.

Good idea about Siena - she'd be game!

Matt

 

[thedavidzoo]

Got certified in a large lake in Germany in 1990. Been diving in various places including the Mediterranean, Red Sea Egypt, and my favorite: 3 weeks based on a tiny island in the Maldives (soon to be underwater). That was AWESOME I even met my husband on the bus trip to go diving off the coast of Spain. He had been diving way more than me and in more places.

Well, after my last dive (honeymoon in Jamaica, not much to see off Negril) in 1995, and 2 young kids, and many moves, I haven't been diving.
One day when the boys are a little older I will dive again! I miss it!!
I just happened to pull out my old fins to show my son the other day. I can't believe I bought ALL my gear, including wetsuit, in PINK way back then!

Yes, if you have the chance to learn, GO FOR IT! Especially with global warming, over-fishing, etc. decimating those awesome coral reefs and the fish populations in the world. See it before it is gone, as they say...DO IT.

 

[chriscoli]

soooo, here's my question for all of you divers: PADI vs. NAUI...and why?

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

I think that I did NAUI certification... but it's been awhile (like "The Spin Doctors" were the biggest band in the world awhile).

I did my open water dives in murky reservoirs in upstate NY. Cold and dark.

Good idea about Siena - she'd be game!

Matt

soooo, here's my question for all of you divers: PADI vs. NAUI...and why?

I wasn't thinking about the fact that are different organizations that offer certification, so I'm not sure if they're all lifetime.

I believe my certification is SSI, unless that falls under PADI or NAUI. Are some considered "better" than others?

 

[mchambers]

PADI vs. NAUI

soooo, here's my question for all of you divers: PADI vs. NAUI...and why?

Here's one explanation:

http://yourmomsbasement.com/mydiveb...adi-choosing-the-right-certification-for-you/

 

[Pat Kelly]

I have wanted to do that for 30 years.
9 years ago I had Tracey talked into doing it before we went to Hawaii. She was good about it until she found out about the test in the quarry up here. Scared her off.

 

[Avatar]

Go to the Florida Keys

With the money you save on certification you'll just about break even. Not aware of much difference between NAUI and PADI, more so as they both teach the same stuff, use the same gear, etc.- only real issue might be if they're both recognized worldwide, am guessing Sara will know, know that I've never had anyone tell me anywhere in the world that my PADI certificate was no good.

Get wet! It's all good, and about as close to an off-planet experience as one can have. Did an open water dive in the North Pacific once trying to see what was dragging down a net - hit 140 feet and still couldn't see where the net bottomed out so my buddy and I decided just to hang out for a couple minutes. Light was so diffuse was hard to tell which way was up save for watching the bubbles, water was really cool and still as we'd swum below the thermocline (which is something of a rush) and I started grinning so hard after a minute that it was hard to keep my regulator in my mouth. My brief glimpse of the "rapture of the deep" but I get it.

First dives should ideally be in water that has high visibility (clear) and lots of critters - I'd have been spooked as well to take my first dive in a murky quarry, still not sure how Sara and her Man manage it in the rivers. Just remember - you almost have to work at it to drown in salt water since it's denser than a human body. Not to say it can't be done, just that it's a comforting thought and helps mitigate panic which is probably the thing that does in more people in the water than anything else.

Tony: I think Maria would just kill it once she did her first dive. I took my slender wisp of a girlfriend to the Keys a few years back and bought her certification training as a birthday present. Six months later she'd already taken so many additional classes on her own that she's technically way more qualified than I am. Underwater may be counter-intuitive, but once you're there, it's almost as good as it gets. Invokes something way back in our genetic memory as well, like coming home - thus do I imagine.

 

[dlfn1]

got certified (PADI) about 6 yrs ago through atlantic edge in gaithersburg.
best dive so far.....molokini crater hawaii. being able to hear the whales sing while diving.
pretty certain PADI and NAUI are recognized worldwide.

 

[fishman13]

Quarries are dangerouse dont drown

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

I have wanted to do that for 30 years.
9 years ago I had Tracey talked into doing it before we went to Hawaii. She was good about it until she found out about the test in the quarry up here. Scared her off.

Pat, you can take all of the training dives (pool dives) locally and ask for a "referral" from the course instructor, and they will give you the paperwork and location for a dive shop at a destination location where you can take the certification test and be complete.

For instance, there was a young girl in my class that was maybe 70 pounds soaking wet. The shop didn't have a wetsuit that properly fit her, so when she got in the water, she got very cold quickly and had to stop. The instructor talked to her parents and will give them a referral to test in NC or Florida the next time they are on a trip. There is always a way, see if you can talk her back into it. Those new hips would be put to good use underwater!

First dives should ideally be in water that has high visibility (clear) and lots of critters - I'd have been spooked as well to take my first dive in a murky quarry, still not sure how Sara and her Man manage it in the rivers.

While it would be nice to test in clear and calm water I think learning in a less than perfect environment is actually better for starting off. The instructors mentioned that if you can become comfortable in a murky quarry, clear oceans will seem like a breeze. Having wildlife around is nice, but during your certification dives your focus would have to be on the instructors. The quarry was a little intimidating, but I got through it unharmed and was happy how it turned out.

 

[mchambers]

Molokini

got certified (PADI) about 6 yrs ago through atlantic edge in gaithersburg.
best dive so far.....molokini crater hawaii. being able to hear the whales sing while diving.
pretty certain PADI and NAUI are recognized worldwide.

We snorkeled there two years ago. It was amazing. I'm sure diving would have been far better.

We did hear humpbacks singing while we were snorkeling just off the beach in Maui, a few steps from our condo.