Welp, everyone voted and the majority said again, “behind the Orange Curtain.”
An event for the K2 Family, Divers and Non Divers Alike
Lets all meet at Heisler, fun starts at10a (I will prolly arrive around 11a so dont give me crap) with a dive at 12a, 2:30p, and for the most hardcore of all of us 4p. In the meantime catching up with old and meeting new friends, family friendly and snorkeling for the nondiver also.
This is going to be a pot luck so please sign up with stuff you are going to bring for yourself and others. This is K2 family so I am sure generosity abounds.
Umm, let me say again, this is a BBQ so bring sompthin’ or pony up to our Goddess in charge Amie for a portion of the convestibles.
Finally, some of you got lobsterized last time, so ping me if you want me to bring rashguards, hats, sunglasses and stuff for you (better safe than sorry)
Brian is bringing his kids, Im bringing my kids, Sean is bringing his kids, so let me stress FAMILY DAY AT THE BEACH, and us divers will try and not hog the benches.
This Post was written by, and seeded from Duane Johnson of Precision Diving On February – 26 – 2009
I recently had a conversation with a potential student about how I teach team diving techniques compared to what is taught in traditional diving classes. It occurred to me that many divers do not know the difference between team diving and buddy diving. They feel that if they stay with their buddy and can air share in an emergency, that is team diving. It is not, team diving is much more than sticking with your buddy and helping out in an emergency.
First, let’s define buddy diving as it is taught in traditional diving classes. When people go through these classes, they are taught to stick with your buddy, do air shares, and some basic buddy rescue skills. While these skills are important, it does not take the place of working as a team. Buddy diving, is simply looking after each other. The buddy is just there. It doesn’t do much for the safety of the team nor the objectives of the dive. One of the biggest areas where buddy diving fails is in the pre-dive planning stage. In traditional PADI diving classes, students are normally taught BWRAF as their pre-dive plan. That is an acronym for: BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final OK. There is no discussion as to how they will descend, swim around, communicate, when to thumb the dive and ascend. This is where buddy diving breaks down.
So, what is team diving? Let’s use the analogy of a football team. US football, not soccer that is. In football, the team works together to work their way down the field to score a touchdown. Everyone on the field has a job to do in order to ensure success. If one area of the team fails, then the quarterback gets sacked, the running back fumbles the ball, or the team must punt away the ball. If an offensive lineman does not do his job effectively, then the quarterback or running back can, potentially, get hurt. The same is true for team diving. The team must work together to ensure the safety of all members of the team. Next time you watch a NFL game, watch the offensive linemen. They are always pointing to something, shouting at each other, etc. The quarterback reads the defense and may change the play at the line of scrimmage (i.e. call an audible). This is an excellent demonstration of constant team communication. Each member of the team knows where other teammates are at at all times. Just as in diving, we must be able to effectively communicate to let the team know where we are at, what to look out for, etc. We do this with passive and active light communication.
To ensure team success, the entire team must be on the same page. Not just in knowing what is expected, but in skill and experience level. Inexperienced divers can learn a great deal from experienced divers, but they must learn it at their current experience level before moving on to something more aggressive and out of their level. This is one aspect of diving where people get into trouble. They simply try to do dives, or take classes, that are above what they are really capable of handling. The problem is they don’t know when to put the brakes on their diving and say, I need to get better before moving on. They don’t do a honest assessment of their diving skills. I had to learn this the hard way, see here.
As part of the pre-dive plan, the team must get together and determine how the dive will get done. They must determine what the goal of the dive will be, who will lead, what the gas plan is, etc. For shallow reef dives, this can be very simple and take only a few minutes. For complex decompression dives, it can take days.
The Team that Descends Together, Stays Together
The majority of diving problems occur during the initial descent of the dive. As a team, it is important to stay together during the descent. There are multiple team descent techniques that can be employed, depending on the water conditions. This is where you need to have learned team diving from a good instructor to knows team diving protocols, not reading off the internet.
A good number of diving accidents have occurred when diving alone. Now, that doesn’t only mean solo diving. It includes when buddies lose contact and separate from one another. If the team descends together and gets to the target depth, then the leader can communicate to the team the direction to swim. This helps keep the team together and swimming off in the right direction. In other words, everybody starts the dive together.
Lending a Helping Hand, or Two, or Three
When the proverbial crap hits the fan, I want my team members there to help me out. This shouldn’t be confused with being self-sufficient. If I’m having a problem with a gas leak, my teammates can see my valves where I cannot. They can tell me which one to shut down, or just do it for me if I am dealing with another problem. They are there to provide me gas, if for some reason I need it. In other words, my teammates must be on the same page as me so that we can prevent small issues/problems from becoming larger (i.e. the incident pit). When diving as a team, all resources become team resources. This includes equipment, gas, etc. But it also includes that person’s experience. This is where solo diving courses fail because the diver solely relies on their own, possibly limited, experience. When I’m diving with less experienced divers, I’m able to prevent or foresee potential problems they may have based on my past diving experiences. A diver’s education and experience level is a big resource one can bring to the table in the team environment.
The bottom line is that divers shouldn’t be fooled by instructors/dive stores who are claiming to teach team diving. Nine times out of ten, they are only talking about buddy diving and not team diving. Do your homework and ask the all important question, “How?”. An instructor who truly teaches team diving will be able to teach more than just the “buddy system” and teach how the team can achieve it’s goals, including teams with more than 2 or 3 people.
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There are a boatload of small and large e-tailers as well local dive shops nationwide and internationally where you could spend your hard earned dollars. . . .
. . . and you picked us! It is a privilege to earn your business and you deserve to be treated like an honored guest. . . welcome to K2, where we will treat you like a friend first, and a customer second.If you are a new customer, prepare to be in awe!
Our ratings are running approx one review per 120 transactions, so you are looking at the love we have gotten from over a thousand giddy customers. How can we make you part of the K2 Family? We stand for good ol’ customer service, and stake our reputation on it!
Warranty
K2 is an authorized Dealer for all products we carry so your amazing spank brand new thingamwhiz comes with the full Manufacturer’s warranty. That means, if it breaks, we exchange it out for a new one, upgrade needed, we handle it for you, if there is a grey area, we will go to bat for you with the manufacturer. The other guys, welp, the other unauthorized grey market guys with the spectacular low prices. . . g’luck!
Like your iPod, scuba gear is backed by manufacturer’s warranties. If you buy from K2, an authorized dealer, you will be notified in the event of a safety recall. The warranty is much more important with scuba gear, as this is life support equipment and Murphy ( of Murphy’s Law) is following you around at 130 feet of seawater. Every year the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) finds several scuba products that require recall. The Aqualung Titan was the latest recall September ‘O8. Please click the above link to read about it.
You may return all undamaged items purchased at K2 SCUBA Dive Center and K2Scuba.com within 30 days of the original delivery for a complete ‘no questions asked’ refund.
We will also accept your return up to 60/90/120 days from date of purchase. Here is how it works:
60 days and after you will receive a 75% K2 Scuba store credit towards future merchandise.
90 days and after you will receive a 50% K2 Scuba store credit towards future merchandise.
Up to 120 days-upon receiving your return product, you will receive a 25% store credit towards future merchandise.
With every purchase, no matter how big or small, you will receive a gift from us as a way of saying thank you for the privilege of serving you, our customer.
Zero Risk Proposition/ Guarantee
We guarantee you will LOVE your Oceanic, Pinnacle, and Xcel diving equipment (and a host of other manufacturers) or we will buy it back from you. Dive it, play in the bath tub or pool for 30 days, WE WILL BUY IT BACK from you. . . or exchange it with no questions asked.
Perfect Fit Guarantee
Can’t decide which size wetsuit, mask, or BCD to purchase because you are b’tween sizes?
Afraid of buying stuff because it looks good on the model, but maybe not yourself?
You get the box home and excitedly open it only to discover that you HATE the color?
Well, we want to calm your fears. You have ZERO RISK and we endeavor to make you smile with the K2 Perfect Fit Guarantee! Give us a call, and we will send you out what will please you. We don’t rest until you are gleefully happy! Please read the complete terms and conditions here.
Delivery, Shipping and Handling
We have deep stock of the products we carry, so when you order, we ship within 24 hours, and you can count on a confirmation email with a tracking number.
If we don’t live up to this promise, call me, Tevis Verrett at 818 982 2652 and I will personally look into your order and call you back with the fix. I will also send you a special gift to say thanks.
We never add a handling charge, nor are there surcharges; that is fleecing the unsuspecting customer and it’s just wrong. What you pay up front is what you pay. . . and no hidden charges! (remember, treating you like a friend)
Setup & Installation of Gear
It is all about customer service! This is the K2 difference, and you don’t have to wonder what condition your product will arrive in when you receive it . We will either assemble it before it leaves the warehouse, or send it to a K2 instructor local to you, or. . . do nothing because you are an experienced diver. The Big Picture. . .you have options, and you have the SAY, and we ask YOU!
Deliverability and Availability
If the reason you came to us is because you want your item, you want it now, and you don’t want to wait for it… you came to the right place. We understand that you want it right now. Often, discounters have lower prices, but are” oh-so- sorry-we’re-out-of -it”, so they try to sell you something else. So please don’t be fooled by competitors who have deeply discounted prices, because their deliverability or availability of those products just might not be there.
Customer Support
It is what K2 is all about. we aren’t done until you are gleefully happy!
Technical support
Youbought the latest SuperBangWhiz Dive Computer from us, and have questions. You bought a pair of drygloves and need help installing them on your drysuit. We are here for you BEFORE and AFTER your purchase and we are privileged to be your local diveshop. . . this is what separates us from the discounters.
Part and parcel of the K2 Difference is that it is our sincere endeavor to make your shopping convenient, easy, and a fun experience to shop, travel, and learn with us. Don’t you deserve the luxury of fun in your experience of purchasing your dive gear?
I am a fairly new diver. I have just enough “training” to get myself the confidence to get myself, and others into trouble. Luckily, I am also fairly self aware and have recognized the above mentioned shortcomings. I have found that SCUBA is a highly unregulated (I will get to this in a minute), rogue, and often shady industry (I will discuss this further also).
SCUBA was one of my BIG dreams from child hood. It was also the last to be checked off the list and, for me, the most enjoyable and relaxing. Having acquired several aviation licenses and recognitions including pilot and maintenance inspector licenses and been employed in the aviation industry, I found that the last one had to fall…SCUBA!!
I found my SCUBA school at a travel and leisure convention and accepted a training offer that I couldn’t refuse. $150! What could I lose? A lot as it turns out. It, of course, is not written that they expect you to buy all of your gear from them right away at exaggerated retail prices. The instructor I had was very good and caring and took great effort to take care of his students but was also a loose cannon. Bored with teaching, he soon found himself unemployed after a quick Mexico run for a girl while the boss was away on business. This left me without an instructor I knew or trusted to finish up my last boat dive (beach diving was not part of the curriculum for some reason…hum!!)
I ended up with some numb nut who was probably an extra in fast time at Ridgmont High and never grew up. Needless to say, my final boat dive was neither extraordinary, nore was it a learning experience. All this after spending alot of money on equipment that was functional but not standardized and didn’t it fit my needs (another issue with SCUBA today. Standardization of the equipment is crucial to aviation cockpits and should be so for scuba. Both are potentially life threatening endeavors).
As a newbie to the industry, it is my feeling that there needs to be standardization for the basic diving rig. This would serve two functions. 1) The new initiate to the sport will feel more comfortable with the purchase of gear and more confident that they are purchasing something that will last them throughout there training and serve them in the type of diving they plan to do most. 2) It will provide a safety feature for the buddy diving. Knowing where your equipment is one thing, but knowing where your buddies gear is located is crucial!! If you both have the same rig or same configuration, this will be a no brainer.
As for the shady side, there will always be crooks, grifters, and cons out there. This is becoming more and more evident in the financial markets every day. This culling may filter down to the scuba world as the money supply gets tighter and more scuba shops go out of business. Only the strongest, most innovative, and most client focused will survive. This is where building and becoming a scuba community will be the standard for the future of the sport (Friend first, meal ticket second might be the future). Being treated fairly, giving the information readily, training, and support systems to keep the new and initiated in the water are the best ways to keep learning, upgrading, and active in SCUBA.
I hope that the industry figures out these concepts before the diving community becomes nothing but the old timer crags that have faught over the scraps of the sea floor since its inception. I tip my hat to these brave men as they have pushed the bounds so I can be a safer diver and have fun toys to play with safely in the water, but their needs to be a revolution in diving. Lets start here.
This was written originally by my good friend, John Flanders an amazing Master Instructor Extrordinaire and Principal of Academy of SCUBA, located in Peoria, Arizona.
I’ve been diving for 20 years and while I’ve thought about that question (how to choose an instructor?), I don’t think I’ve really come up with an answer. I think the answer to that question is a derivative from the answer of “what makes a great diver” or “how do you know a good diver from a bad diver”. Obviously, a great instructor turns out great divers! Then the selection process begins.
Stepping out of Scuba for a minute, I thought I would draw a comparable to golfing. While I enjoy golfing, I am certainly not a great golfer. Why? I know how to play. I have most of the knowledge to make it from tee number one to hole number eighteen.
I’ve taken lessons from a professional. This is the list I came up with:
1. Passion: My passion lies in other places. Most of my spare time is spent Scuba Diving or teaching Scuba. Between my family and other occupation, that leaves very little time for anything else. Thus, golf becomes a distraction or social event more than something I am passionate about doing. I know, like most people, passionate golfers. They are crazily obsessed. And, when they meet another passionate golfer, it’s like they have known each other forever. I often wonder if that is how outsiders (to Scuba) perceive Scuba Divers hanging out at our shop. Without passion, you can never really be great at whatever you’re doing.
2. Dedication: Would I go golfing in terrible conditions? Would I blow off a business meeting to go golfing? Do I dedicate myself to going out weekly (or more often) to hone my skills? Do I dedicate funds to upgrade my equipment and education? Do I dedicate much of my free time to read (books, magazines and Internet) about theories, concepts and new trends in golfing?
No. Without dedication to something I am passionate about, I can never attain a level of true mastery. I can never be a great golfer.
3. Training: Above I discussed dedicating myself to honing skills. This is a huge part to becoming a great diver. Not only practicing skills, but immersing yourself in the theory behind the skills as well. It’s one thing to know how to take a mask off and put it back on; however it is completely different when you put mask removal into a real world scenario. e.g., a mask coming off in the ocean is usually preceded by a kick in the face (or a leak.). Getting back to golf, great and passionate golfers head out to the driving range religiously.
During lunch, before or after work, on the weekends. Most golfers spend more time on the driving range than actually on the golf course. Do Scuba Divers spend more time running skills and drills than actually Scuba Diving? Would Tiger Woods be a great golfer if he didn’t continue training on a driving range? Why does Tiger Woods (arguably one of the greatest golfers ever) have a coach? Should, we as divers find our mentor, our coach, to help smooth out our rough edges, just like Tiger. Yes.
( a sidenote: we at K2 have weekly beach dives that are mentioned here on this blog, as well as on Facebook. Please ping us and come join a place you can call home.)
4. Experience: I was having a late dinner after class last night talking with another instructor. We were talking about the proverbial “advanced diver” who hasn’t dove in ten years. Would that same person be considered an advanced golfer if he hasn’t golfed in ten years? If a golfer never played more than 1 or 2 places, would he be considered an advanced golfer? To truly bring your level of expertise up, you need to experience a vast number of environments and do it frequently. Breadth of experience on a frequent basis is the sign of a great diver.
Back to Scuba!
Above are four (of many) key elements that lead to becoming a great diver. So, how do we translate this in identifying a good instructor versus a bad instructor?
First off, you are hiring someone to train you to become a scuba diver. Thus, doing a little due diligence or interviewing is a good idea. If you are not comfortable with a person during the “interview” process, then you probably won’t be comfortable with them in a learning environment.
(if you find yourself being pressured or given a hard sell by a dive shop or instructor, walk away. This is all about your safety, and none about their pocketbook.)
One of the ways that I get comfortable with new divers is to do a Discover Scuba with them. Low investment for the
customer (around $20) and a good way to get to know each other before investing time and money in a full blow class.
Part of the interview process is to get to know if the Instructor is a great diver. Use the four attributes listed above and whatever list you generate to determine that. Ask questions, like where have you dove? Where was the last place you went fun diving? How often does your instructor take courses (to learn new skills)?
Video Courtesy of my friend, Duane Johnson (he is the one with the spot on buoyancy and trim and schweet finning techniques) of Precision Diving, Naperville Illinois
Just because he’s an instructor doesn’t mean he should stop learning. Have him/her talk about his/her mentors/role models. Talk about what makes him passionate about Scuba. Talk about equipment. How much does he own? How often does he upgrade his equipment? Would you trust a computer technician if he came to fix your computer and you found out he was still using Windows 95?
You’re taking an open water class, what does he see as valuable components to that class? What does he expect his students to take out of that class? When he answers you, does he just talk about skill mechanics or does he bring it into the real world? You can guess what the right answer is here. Can you talk to one of his other students (friends who dive are great sources for finding great instructors)? What are his thoughts on advanced education?
Most important, follow up with the question “why”? If he gives you a sales pitch and doesn’t have value sets behind the statement, then he really doesn’t have any thoughts on advanced education … just the party line.
Another thing you have to think about is how you plan on diving. Do you want to get into Photography, Wrecks, Caves, Cold Water Diving in San Diego, or maybe even a naturalist/environmental bend? Does this instructor have the skill sets to train you in the style of diving you want to pursue?
What I am really describing is someone who is a role model, a mentor, a trainer, and a good dive buddy. An instructor who can help you attain the level of diving you desire. An instructor who ‘lives the dive life’. An instructor who solidly advocates ongoing involvement and interest in your dive career (whatever that looks like).
When you find that instructor, stick to him like glue. Refer your friends and family.
On a separate note: I am a huge advocate for continuing education. It exposes divers to new skills, environments, and other divers. But most importantly, it keeps them learning, in the water and passionate about the sport. However, your instruction is only as good as
(1)the effort you put into the education,
(2) the instructor who is passionate about digging deep into the curriculum for that specialty.
Lastly, the shop in which you train is almost as important as the instructor. I said almost. I find the atmosphere of the shop emulates its instructor base and people who dive with them. Personally, I like a shop with character, K2 Scuba Dive Center is that type of operation. When you walk in, you feel more like family than a customer. A shop that smells like a dive shop (figuratively).
A shop where you can walk in and know any question is going to get answered by any of the staff. A shop where it’s more of experience than a shopping trip. Scuba is a recreation, a break from reality, a place where you go to escape. A shop doesn’t look like Wal Mart. It’s got flavor.
Of course, you want a shop that suits your personality. If you are someone who is extraverted, you want a shop with some flair. Although, be careful you don’t sacrifice substance for socializing. If you are someone who is more reserved or introverted, you probably want a quieter shop with less flash but plenty of substance.
The good news there are lots of shops in town and each is very good in its own way. This many shops also provide a lot of diversity and a true menu from which to select.
My two cents: Hope this helps.
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We are grateful to John for his sage words. For more information, or to help you in finding a qualified instructor in your community, please give us a call at 866 K2 Diving Toll Free, or 818 982 2652 locally.
Also, I urge you, if you are in the Peoria area, please give John a call at 480.203.6040
John can be emailed by clicking the link.
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