New Pelagian Diver

jpage · 17th March 2010, 06:46

I've just completed my Pelagian MOD1 course with Andy Fritz in Thailand and would like to share my experiences with the course and the unit here.

Firstly, thanks to Andy and his family for being so hospitable during my stay there, the whole experience was a pleasure. Although it would be remiss of me to not warn any prospective Pelagian divers about the Fritz household guard parrot. You have been warned :)

As a new CCR diver, I had nothing to compare against in terms of other units, other than my own rudimentary understanding of the philosophical differences between the various rebreathers available. However, as a student of many different open circuit classes over the last few years, I am familiar with what constitutes quality when it comes to instruction, and I was pleased with the level of engagement and the information that was conveyed, with clear and logical justifications for why things should be done a certain way.

Diving with the unit was difficult at first, and a number of the concepts that were introduced were completely alien to me coming from open circuit world. However, after many hours discussing theory and spending time in the pool, I was finding myself able to execute the basic skills a little more naturally.

To our dismay, Andy seemed to do his very best to get us to flood our loops and flail around in the water like the novices we are during failure simulations, generally quite successfully. That said, I don't begrudge him inflicting that level of stress on us - even if he does seem to enjoy it more than he should.

After finishing the course I feel that I've really just been given training wheels, and there is so much still to learn. I found the whole experience very demanding, but ultimately very rewarding, and I'm really looking forward to getting some more time under by belt on the unit, starting Saturday :)

Rod Abbotson · 17th March 2010, 09:50

Welcome to the world of the Pelagian...its a great unit. After around 20 more hours you will get more comfortable with the unit. Dive it as much as you can and have fun

Rod

Scuttle · 17th March 2010, 10:58

Well said James,

Take it easy at first & it all becomes easier with time.
Let the fun begin from now without the torture tests.

orion · 17th March 2010, 12:56

Cool! will have to come & visit Melbourne sometime !
Glad to hear you had fun in Thailand. Enjoy :)

Fun Under Pressure · 17th March 2010, 13:05

Congrats to the course and the new unit. Great and safe dives.

Jasper180 · 17th March 2010, 13:55

Congrats on the course and your choice in rebreather. Welcome to the Pelagian family!!!

Erik

Fredrik Majberger · 17th March 2010, 19:00

Congratulations!
Welcom to the Pelagian family!
Wish I had been in Thailand diving. Here in Sweden is 40 cm of ice and 50 cm of snow al over the place

Best regards!
Fredrik

Doppler · 17th March 2010, 19:39

Great unit and pleased to hear you had fun during training... thanks for the warning about the guard parrot.

Now start logging the hours... that's the fun part.

Anders Thulin · 18th March 2010, 08:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Fredrik Majberger)

Congratulations!
Welcom to the Pelagian family!
Wish I had been in Thailand diving. Here in Sweden is 40 cm of ice and 50 cm of snow al over the place

Best regards!
Fredrik

Kolsva, 28 mars, I´ll be there! (If the weather is good, no rain)

And "Jpage", you made the right choise! Welcome!

17th March 2010, 06:46	#1 (permalink)
jpage RBW Member Pelagian DCCCR Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 9	New Pelagian Diver I've just completed my Pelagian MOD1 course with Andy Fritz in Thailand and would like to share my experiences with the course and the unit here. Firstly, thanks to Andy and his family for being so hospitable during my stay there, the whole experience was a pleasure. Although it would be remiss of me to not warn any prospective Pelagian divers about the Fritz household guard parrot. You have been warned :) As a new CCR diver, I had nothing to compare against in terms of other units, other than my own rudimentary understanding of the philosophical differences between the various rebreathers available. However, as a student of many different open circuit classes over the last few years, I am familiar with what constitutes quality when it comes to instruction, and I was pleased with the level of engagement and the information that was conveyed, with clear and logical justifications for why things should be done a certain way. Diving with the unit was difficult at first, and a number of the concepts that were introduced were completely alien to me coming from open circuit world. However, after many hours discussing theory and spending time in the pool, I was finding myself able to execute the basic skills a little more naturally. To our dismay, Andy seemed to do his very best to get us to flood our loops and flail around in the water like the novices we are during failure simulations, generally quite successfully. That said, I don't begrudge him inflicting that level of stress on us - even if he does seem to enjoy it more than he should. After finishing the course I feel that I've really just been given training wheels, and there is so much still to learn. I found the whole experience very demanding, but ultimately very rewarding, and I'm really looking forward to getting some more time under by belt on the unit, starting Saturday :)
(Online)

17th March 2010, 09:50	#2 (permalink)
Rod Abbotson Dive Aqaba Owner Pelagian Dolphin, GAF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aqaba, Jordan Posts: 574	Re: New Pelagian Diver Welcome to the world of the Pelagian...its a great unit. After around 20 more hours you will get more comfortable with the unit. Dive it as much as you can and have fun Rod __________________ http://www.diveaqaba.com
(Offline)

17th March 2010, 10:58	#3 (permalink)
Scuttle 1 Grumpy ole skipper Classic KISS, Sentinel SCR - CCR Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jan Juc, Vic, Australia Posts: 361	Re: New Pelagian Diver Well said James, Take it easy at first & it all becomes easier with time. Let the fun begin from now without the torture tests.
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17th March 2010, 12:56	#4 (permalink)
orion RBW Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: perth Posts: 15	Re: New Pelagian Diver Cool! will have to come & visit Melbourne sometime ! Glad to hear you had fun in Thailand. Enjoy :)
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17th March 2010, 13:05	#5 (permalink)
Fun Under Pressure Markku Diedrich Megalodon Apeks 2.5 Classic Inspiration Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Switzerland Posts: 3,025	Re: New Pelagian Diver Congrats to the course and the new unit. Great and safe dives. __________________ Cheers Markku Meg # 773 Dive my dreams is my life-task Avatar photo by R.Schmiegelt
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17th March 2010, 13:55	#6 (permalink)
Jasper180 RBW Member Pelagian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Between 10,000 and -300 msl Posts: 73	Re: New Pelagian Diver Congrats on the course and your choice in rebreather. Welcome to the Pelagian family!!! Erik
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17th March 2010, 19:00	#7 (permalink)
Fredrik Majberger RBW Member Pelagian DCCCR Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Örebro Posts: 9	Re: New Pelagian Diver Congratulations! Welcom to the Pelagian family! Wish I had been in Thailand diving. Here in Sweden is 40 cm of ice and 50 cm of snow al over the place Best regards! Fredrik
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17th March 2010, 19:39	#8 (permalink)
Doppler Cut along dotted line... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Not Basingstoke... thank god Posts: 311	Re: New Pelagian Diver Great unit and pleased to hear you had fun during training... thanks for the warning about the guard parrot. Now start logging the hours... that's the fun part.
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18th March 2010, 08:12	#9 (permalink)
Anders Thulin RBW Member Pelagian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 32	Re: New Pelagian Diver Quote: (Originally Posted by Fredrik Majberger) Congratulations! Welcom to the Pelagian family! Wish I had been in Thailand diving. Here in Sweden is 40 cm of ice and 50 cm of snow al over the place Best regards! Fredrik Kolsva, 28 mars, I´ll be there! (If the weather is good, no rain) And "Jpage", you made the right choise! Welcome!
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