Warren Car visit
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:22 pm
Well after lots of drills, passing bottles back and forth and enough S-drills to choke a horse I am finally able to dive technical limits. Great instructor, great dives, passed exam, checkout dives and I am finally done.
I was certified in 2008 and shortly after I attended a NWDC club dive and met quite a bit of people. I was sitting in a chair and listening to a man by the name of John Rawlings
tell the story of playing a role uncovering the mystery of the Warren Car, which disappeared in the 1920's. I was in awe and it was then that I realized my direction with SCUBA. I would dive that one day! This car was way out of rec limits and it would take some additional training in order to safely visit it.
Well years later and when I felt that I was comfortable with being underwater, my trim, my piece of mind, and sneak-reading and observation of what will be expected of me as I approach technical diving, I did some research and located an instructor that I wanted to work with.
Long story short I know more about bubbles and different laws that I ever thought I would. I gave myself headaches assuring that I understood what I was being taught. I spent countless hours planning dives on my own just to see the outcome. I did not use tables on any of the exams, I learned the math as this is what I wanted out of the class. (mind you I will be using some tables/tools NOW)
Last Saturday I dived the Warren Car @ 170ffw and it was all that I expected. I was able to experience it with some cool people and the viz was fantastic. The lake was calm as glass, the weather was mild. I don't really know how to put into words what I was feeling but lets just say MILESTONE dive for me. To see that vehicle and know the story and the mystery behind it was an experience I will never forget. For being there as long as it has it is in pretty damn good shape. Much of the wood flooring is still intact, as is the rubber on the wheels and other features. I really look forward to other technical dives and plan to do them as often as possible.
There is still plenty of room for rec dives and photography/video, Bubbles and Suds, and just plain critter viewing, but nice to know that I have options.
Thanks NWDC as if it wasn't for this group my networking wouldn't have been so successful.
Thanks Sound Aquatics for taking me on and Scott Christopher for being an outstanding instructor.
p.s. and I thought just being a SCUBA diver was expensive.....whew
edit: Added Johns name to this, after receiving permission to do so. He is a friend today and I am glad to be able to share with him the experience.
I was certified in 2008 and shortly after I attended a NWDC club dive and met quite a bit of people. I was sitting in a chair and listening to a man by the name of John Rawlings
tell the story of playing a role uncovering the mystery of the Warren Car, which disappeared in the 1920's. I was in awe and it was then that I realized my direction with SCUBA. I would dive that one day! This car was way out of rec limits and it would take some additional training in order to safely visit it.Well years later and when I felt that I was comfortable with being underwater, my trim, my piece of mind, and sneak-reading and observation of what will be expected of me as I approach technical diving, I did some research and located an instructor that I wanted to work with.
Long story short I know more about bubbles and different laws that I ever thought I would. I gave myself headaches assuring that I understood what I was being taught. I spent countless hours planning dives on my own just to see the outcome. I did not use tables on any of the exams, I learned the math as this is what I wanted out of the class. (mind you I will be using some tables/tools NOW)
Last Saturday I dived the Warren Car @ 170ffw and it was all that I expected. I was able to experience it with some cool people and the viz was fantastic. The lake was calm as glass, the weather was mild. I don't really know how to put into words what I was feeling but lets just say MILESTONE dive for me. To see that vehicle and know the story and the mystery behind it was an experience I will never forget. For being there as long as it has it is in pretty damn good shape. Much of the wood flooring is still intact, as is the rubber on the wheels and other features. I really look forward to other technical dives and plan to do them as often as possible.
There is still plenty of room for rec dives and photography/video, Bubbles and Suds, and just plain critter viewing, but nice to know that I have options.
Thanks NWDC as if it wasn't for this group my networking wouldn't have been so successful.
Thanks Sound Aquatics for taking me on and Scott Christopher for being an outstanding instructor.
p.s. and I thought just being a SCUBA diver was expensive.....whew
edit: Added Johns name to this, after receiving permission to do so. He is a friend today and I am glad to be able to share with him the experience.
!
I remember my first dive on the cars and it was pure magic even with a semi-flooded drysuit...