Whos the person to talk to on this? Im thinking of doing it this spring. No experience at all.

Also wheres somewhere to get gear around Raleigh?

10/15/2008 2:59:09 PM

there's a scuba store at the corner of Jones Franklin and Tryon at the Food lion shopping center

10/15/2008 3:40:04 PM

PE 226 - Skin and Scuba Diving I
prereq: PE 221 - Intermediate Swimming

I wanted to take Scuba, til I found out I've gotta take swimming classes too.

10/15/2008 10:44:29 PM

They will wave it I know. Just have to be able to swim. Id talk to the instructor though. Ive got 221 so no worries for me.

10/16/2008 9:40:04 AM

there was never any mentioning of swimming classes when i took it and it let tme sign up without having the prereq. But the first couple of days we swam for long periods of time and they were like "if you are having trouble then you need to drop the class or practice on your own time."

10/16/2008 9:55:11 AM

There's no swimming class requirement, you just have to be able to swim, obviously.

Here's the website and syllabus, you can look at Rever's and Coach Browns. I took 226 with Rever, 227 with Coach Brown, then TA'd for 227 with Coach Brown.
http://courses.ncsu.edu/pe226/common/syllabus_fall_2008.html

Who are you thinking of taking it with? Personally, I would take it with Coach Brown. He's an amazing teacher, a little more demanding of his students, but it pays off it the long run.

How comfortable are you under water? I think this is really important. Yes, diving is fun, it's totally amazing, and probably the most unique and enjoyable experience you can do, honestly. However, if you freak out when you hold your breath underwater, or you can't swim well, then maybe you need to start getting ready for the class now.

Also, you need to make sure you have time probably right before exams for a three day trip out to the quarry to do your check out dives. He'll make sure your other teachers know it's an excused absence, but some majors absolutely can't miss class.

You can get your gear from a number of different places. Down Under in Cary is a good shop. Personally, I would wait and get your gear until you go to your first class. They have specifics on what they want you to get. If you're a gunner, and want to start practicing early, all you need for class is a Mask, Fin, Snorkel, and set of booties. You'll rent the rest of the gear at the end of the semester for your checkout dives. For fins, do not get full-footed fins I would personally recommend Scubapro JetFins. They're a little pricier in the shops, but you can get them for almost half cost at http://www.leisurepro.com For a mask, get something that fits your face well. I don't recommend you get mask, or booties online. For the snorkel, you want something that does not have a purge valve. If you get one with a purge valve, they'll just duck tape over it. More recommendations on gear type are in the syllabus.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer. Also, CharlesHF does a lot with the program and knows infinitely more about it. Good luck, and if you can get in and decide to take it, I hope you enjoy it. I may even be helping out with your check out dives!

[Edited on October 16, 2008 at 10:45 AM. Reason : link]

10/16/2008 10:45:18 AM

The class is cool in general for getting certified and a LOT of water time...

but it's not NEARLY as awesome as when one of the open water certification trips was to Key Largo...

10/20/2008 10:58:01 AM

Take it at Gypsy Divers. The staff there is second to none.

10/20/2008 12:36:07 PM

^ I really don't recommend taking it at a dive shop. While I am sure their instruction is good, it can't be comparable to the amount of time you get in the water by taking it with the university. You also can't beat the cost by taking it at State.

I do miss the Key Largo trips, but there's definitely been a lot of improvement in the classes too. You really can't go wrong taking the class at State.

10/20/2008 12:44:03 PM

First, thanks for all the advice!

Gzusfrk, One of the notes when you sign up is be prepared to swim with gear first class. Can you refute that statement (I understand swim, but Im looking gear here).

I havnt done much swimming lately, so I will sersiously start putting that in my workout. Im pretty good in the water and am in decent shape (ride my bike to Centennial and back to WV every day several times a day, plus other workout stuff).

10/20/2008 3:21:12 PM

Quote :

" One of the notes when you sign up is be prepared to swim with gear first class. Can you refute that statement (I understand swim, but Im looking gear here). I havnt done much swimming lately, so I will sersiously start putting that in my workout. Im pretty good in the water and am in decent shape (ride my bike to Centennial and back to WV every day several times a day, plus other workout stuff)."

What I believe they are referring to here is just to be ready to swim the first day of class. Typically you do a swim test on the first day. You swim laps, tread water, pick a 10 pound brick off the bottom of the dive well (9-13 feet), and one underwater swim the length of the pool.

You will not need to purchase gear for this class other than mask, fins, snorkel, and booties. I don't think MFS is required for the first day unless something has changed. According to the syllabus, those are required by the fourth class meeting. I'll send Coach an email and double check for you though.

I think the main purpose of that statement is to prevent having people show up who aren't dressed to get in the pool.

10/20/2008 5:07:20 PM

Quote :

"Take it at Gypsy Divers. The staff there is second to none."

Obviously you haven't gone to many places...

Why pay $$$$$$$ to take it at a dive shop with limited time, from people with limited experience, whose goal is for you to get a C-card and for them to fatten their wallet?

I assure you that they can't teach you at a dive shop in 1-2 weeks what we can teach in an entire semester at NCSU.

10/20/2008 5:54:53 PM

Make SURE you wear an appropriate bathing suit the first day of class...

when I took it 6 years ago I didn't know this and had to check out the Carolina blue and ENTIRELY too small bathing suit from the gym... sucked horribly...

then I was briefly going to take it again as a refresher course this semester (until I found out no key largo... ) and accidentally wore a bathing suit that didn't tighten up properly... and had to wear the SAME DAMN Carolina blue bathing suit 6 years later... JEEBUS I was embarrassed...

swim test is swimming down and back breast stroke and then doing whatever for 15minutes as long as you don't stop and/hold onto the wall... not terribly difficult for anybody... but not incredibly easy either. also have to swim the short length of the pool entirely underwater which some people had difficulty with but isn't that difficult over all

10/21/2008 8:58:19 AM

Quote :

"If you get one with a purge valve, they'll just duck tape over it."

why?

10/21/2008 11:40:24 AM

Quote :

"why?"

Purge valves encourage poor technique and are a crutch for people who can't properly clear their mask or snorkel.

10/21/2008 12:53:33 PM

seems a little ridiculous to duct tape over it -- i could maybe see it being used as a 'crutch' in a mask, but does it really affect technique for clearing a snorkel aside from just making it a little easier?

10/21/2008 10:06:08 PM

It is a crutch from clearing a snorkel. It teaches new divers that the blast clear is the only effective way to clear the snorkel, which is not the case. The displacement method is a better and more efficient way to clear the snorkel. The purge valve makes clearing too easy, and the students don't learn the fundamentals of snorkel clearing. While it seems like a minor thing to focus on, if a student can't clear a snorkel without a purge valve it shows they aren't thinking about their diving, they aren't relaxed in the water, and they aren't slowing down enough. There's a whole lot more that should go into clearing a snorkel than simply getting the water out.

Aside from all of those things, a purge valve can also leak, they tend to make the snorkel more expensive, and they're harder to clean.

[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 10:20 PM. Reason : ]

10/21/2008 10:20:18 PM

Quote :

"seems a little ridiculous to duct tape over it -- i could maybe see it being used as a 'crutch' in a mask, but does it really affect technique for clearing a snorkel aside from just making it a little easier?"

As Gzusfrk stated, we teach the 'displacement clear' method at NCSU. This takes very little effort, is very effective, and uses much less air to clear than you would need with a purge valve.

Here is a video of a student from several semesters ago performing several mask clears and a displacement clear on his snorke.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy3SEv4djwY#

10/21/2008 10:30:53 PM