Ahhh...This brings back fond memories of becoming a DM with no worries in the world. I still conduct this drill with my DMs and AIs at least once a year if not more. I’ve even allowed non DM students to practice this under very close supervision if they show high proficiency and comfort in the water. I’m an old school instructor and always do ditch and dawn drills and buddy breathing in my OW classes even though they’re not required any more. Anyway...Thanks for sharing.
No mask equipment exchange. That's really tough. I did it and the hardest part was the no mask and no reg period. But it was just short. These guys are making it really tough. Respect
Not bad, although it looks like the sped up the video -- makes the DM candidates look like their "rushing" through the exercise; a practiced DM would be smoother (which I think is probably more likely had it not been for the fast forward effect -- which I'm guessing is to make the video not long and boring.) The only thing I do differently is to don the SCUBA unit after establishing the air supply rather than mess with the mask : I can see well enough (even though it's blurry) and I'd rather get the unit on to establish the center of weight on me which would allow for, IMO, better buoyancy control (see the second candidate). I really like the buddy breathing training because it is yet another tool in the toolbox (it was actually a requirement on my initial OW cert back in the early 90's. And I like that it was done w./o the mask. I think a couple of the most important things to teach (and I teach them) is developing student comfort of water in the mask (or no mask) since the feel of water on the eyes may trigger a panic reflex because inhaling underwater is counterintuitive to diving mammals and regulator switching in order to avoid creating a death bite dependency on the regulator (if the primary is kicked out it is important to have the calm presence of mind to slowly exhale and find the replacement (as opposed to shooting the service.). As for the gear switching, I've actually done this with students who have demonstrated great comfort and aptitude -- another skill that develops confidence to deal with the underwater environment. OVERALL -- GOOD JOB AND GREAT TRAINING.
In a pool, with no gloves on; okay for nice warm water sites, but not representative of UK diving or other cold water sites. I am always amazed how people strip down to the basic equipment to carry out such an important test and then expect them to preform in completely different circumstance! Put on a dry suit with all the dangly bits hanging from the bcd and you would see a very different video!
To everyone who is watching this video: fins first! (ok obviously after the regulator) --> gives you more control of your movements under water and they can't disappear anymore ;) Otherwise you get the situation the first diver had... Geared up without any control and nearly unable to move underwater. Besides not bad... Looks more difficult than it is. A little bit practice with a good dive instructor with whom you feel safe and you can do it as well.
I'm doing my DM course at the moment.thats one test I'm not looking forward to.i could do it but having to look forward to doing it well what can I say.i would say I'd put mask on the very first thing like to see what I'm doing instead of fumbling
Probably to induce stress for me, you would have to give me a mask with blacked out glass + pull away my regulator constantly.. Diving without mask / diving to my gear sitting on the pools bottom isn´t stressful at all for me. You should be prepared for such situations anyway, as it might always happen, that you loose your reg + mask, it´s just a single kick of another diver to your face, which can happen / happens. I try to prepare for such things, by diving without a mask fro some minutes regularly, so it doesn´t really bother me much. If you keep calm and you are not fully exhaled, you can easily continue for ~60 seconds without air / reg. If you inhale first and prepare for it by relaxing 2-3 minutes isn´t an issue!
Stress? Loooool my stress test was unbelievable compared to that. 3 of us on 1 tank sharing. we all had to swap gear and the size difference was ridiculous (one had size 40/41 another size 46-47. Xs Bcd and M). We also had 4 instructors and DM around us pulling masks off and blowing air out of spare tanks so we would float up. wrapping my bcd in a tangle of a smb reel that i had to undo. one of the DMTs had to surface 3 times and another DMT had to keep using the instructor regulator as she couldn't hold her breath and panicked. This is wayyyyyy too easy
I used to breath from an inverted plastic tub in the bottom of our swimming pool with a weight belt strapped on me. Not interested in DM certification, but this looks fun!
IMO video is at faster speed because these guys are quite slow. To put the mask on they took a century, whic should be a max 10 seconds operation. They also move a lot, like they did not train themselves to be relaxed as every diver should always be.
ha hah, I remember my instructor messing with me during the entire drill the high light was yanking off my mask, turned of gas then pulled out my regs..... that was interesting. our entire group was continuously messing with each other fover two weeks so we were kind of used to it by the time we got the "stress test". ... good times. and yep very stressed at the end of the final drill. (all in a pool of course)
1 min at high speed to replace a mask......ummm yeah not good. I love it, 1:36 after BCD, STILL adjusting that mask. The BCD swap and regulator share is tougher than it looks, breathing without a mask to plug your nose can actually freak some people out. The funny thing about this exercise is it begs some questions....1.) How do two competent guys lose their masks lol 2.) 1 working regulator and no octupus for 2 people. What are the odds? lol 3.) Hey Joe listen I really like your BCD can we swap.....lol because you have air and I don't apparently. They're extreme valuable exercises but funny if you think what would I have to do to actually be in this incompetent situation in the first place ahahaha.
Shits easy for me, for some reason. I just got my advanced open water certs less than a month into diving. I don't get scared underwater at all, and I never panic at anything... I'm about as stressed doing this as I am walking to my car or making a sandwich. With that said, its the timed 400meter swim required that might stop me from becoming a dive master, at least until I train for it. I'm not in good enough cardiovascular shape right now. Mad respect for them being in that good of shape. But this underwater stuff is easy. I could live underwater
