AboutJesse Scott Expertise I can help you with questions about what to expect when learning how to SCUBA dive; how to select a good instructor and dive shop; and how to begin diving after you have been trained. I can help out with gear questions. I am always happy to discuss topics you learned in training but would like to know more detail. I can recommend additional training and books on SCUBA diving. I can discuss NC wreck diving also. I can also discuss what`s involved in learning becoming more involved in the sport and being a rescue diver, dive master, or instructor. NOTE!! I cannot answer medical questions because I am not a doctor.
Experience I am an SSI Master Instructor and a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. I have over 500 dives in a wide variety of diving environments and scenarios. I have been diving for 10 years. I also teach numerous specialties including Nitrox.
Organizations PADI, SSI, NSS-CDS, DAN, NACD, PSI
Education/Credentials PADI OWSI (Open Water, Advanced OW, Rescue, Divemaster)
SSI MI (OW, Advanced OW; Night, Deep, Wreck, Boat, Nitrox, Navigation, Night, Computer, Search and Recovery, Dry Suit, Advanced Buoyancy Specialties)
Emergency First Response CPR and First Aid Instructor
DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider and Instructor
PSI Visual Tank Inspector
NACD, NSS-CDS Cavern Diver
TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression diver
Awards and Honors SSI Master Instructor
SSI Gold 500 Instructor
SSI Gold 500 Diver
SSI Century Instructor
SSI Century Diver
Question QUESTION: certifying for open water dive #4. ears took a beating equalizing this dive. Dive was this past Saturday ears still hurting a little, concern or not.
ANSWER: Hi Al, I am sorry to hear about your ear trouble after cert dive #4. I want to first ensure you understand that I am not a medical doctor and cannot provide medical advice. However, it should never be the case that your ears should 'take a beating' during ANY scuba dive. If they are still hurting you should consider seeking medical attention and inform your instructor. You should not be re-entering the water at all for dive 5 if they are still hurting.
Proper equalization starts at the surface before even going under water usually with the technique of pinching the nose and blowing gently to put outward pressure on the ear drums. Every few feet (6 to 8) the procedure is repeated before any pain occurs in the ears.
If the ears begin to hurt as you descend, you should be ascending a few feet, equalizing, and then re-attempting to descend.
You should not be diving with any kind of sinus condition or congestion as this will interfere with equalization. It is not recommended that you use decongestants to circumvent this issue.
Again, I suggest seeking proper medical attention to ensure that you have no significant ear damage before continuing to dive #5. Your instructor should be informed of your ear issues as well. Good luck, Jesse
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QUESTION: Although I practice the skill of racing to the surface and manually inflating the BCD I failed this skill on dive 4. Any advise?
Answer Yes, Al. This skill is the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent. First of all, it is NOT a race to the surface. It is still an ascent, which means you should be doing all of the things you would normally do upon any ascent. The difference is that you are potentially in an out of air situation. Most adults can make a CESA within 30 feet of the surface without holding their breath.
Your instructor, upon signaling you to perform this skill will be looking for the following:
- you should immediately take a final deep breath from your regulator
- you should keep the regulator in your mouth at all times
- you should grab your deflation hose and on the way to the surface, purge air from your BC just as you would a normal ascent
- you should take your right hand and place it on your weight belt release buckle, but do not release your weights.
- you should be kicking slowly toward the surface at a controlled ascent rate of 60 feet per minute
- you MUST be slowly exhaling through your regulator all the way to the surface (this is to ensure that you are not holding your breath)
- Upon reaching the surface you must immediately begin oral inflation of your BC for buoyancy (remember you are simulating out of air and you cannot use your power inflator button)
You should have practiced this skill in the pool already. Your instructor will require that your perform all the above steps to pass this skill.
My advice is to think about where your two hands should be upon starting this skill. Then , be sure that you are slowly exhaling little bubbles all the way to the surface with your regulator in your mouth. You can practice orally inflating your BC on the surface before you do any of the other steps if you need to.
You did not tell me why you failed this skill. Your instructor, if he is a good one, should have explained to exactly what parts of this skill that you failed to perform correctly.
