MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark

scuba_phil · 12th March 2008, 06:44

Hello everyone,
Here is my MEG MOD3 course experience with Mel Clark. I chose Mel after reading her book, wanting an instructor who dove the MEG and an instructor who was going to go beyond the class minimums. After contacting Mel, she offered to pick me up at the airport and put me up at her house, she stated that the course is intense and it just works out better for the education experience. The class was a full 6 days.

Monday night, Curt McNamee picked me up at the airport and once at the house, he had me set up my MEG. Mel would be home at 7:00AM and we would be diving at 7:30AM sharp. Mel walked in at 7:00 and we were off to a good start. Another student, Greg, showed up at 7:15. He was taking the Trimix instructors course and was open circuit. Many of my current dive partners are still OC so in many way I thought this would add to the experience. It was now 7:30 and off for a beach dive at Mukiteo.
Mel evaluated my skill set and was more or less happy. We performed boom skills, OC bail out, taking off and putting on stage bottles, blind diver skills .... Then back to the house for 4 hours of class. Once the class part was over, it was time to service the MEG for the next day. Wednesday, we were off to lake Washington for dives on the B-24 bomber. Here we did two dives with skills mixed in with the dive. The B-24 is a dark and cold dive (43F) with limited visibility. Greg was diving his OC gear and the disadvantages showed up (heavy, longer deco and when on the deco line, lots of bubbles). Fresh water diving was nice - the gear came back clean!! After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and a little more classroom. Curt had dinner ready by 6:00PM. The day flew by very quickly. Thursday we were doing another beach dive at cove 2, Here we practiced more skill and I performed an OC bail out from 150', switching to O2 CCR at 20'. The next dive was more skills and a bag shoot. After the dives, back to the house for fills and repacking the scrubber. Dinner was ready at 6:00PM like clock work. After dinner, Bob joined the class lectures and would be diving with us for the next few days. Friday was going to be a busy day, three dives. First a beach dive at Mukiteo to evaluate Bill's skill set and how we dove together as a team. We performed boom skills, OC bail out, taking off and putting on stage bottles, blind diver skills... It was easier the second time but Bill was struggling. Mel helped him out but he still had to fend for him self. Next up, lake Washington's B-24. The first dive, we (Greg, Bill and myself) had a 10 min wait at 120' while Mel found the wreck. Bob went to the surface 8 min into the dive. Mel then hooked the wreck and we finnished the dive. We had a team discussion back at the surface about Bob pulling out of the dive and he explain that he was not ready to dive at this level. Vertigo set in when he was on the line and was having problems maintaining the 1.3PPO and controlling his buoyancy. He did not want to incur a deco obligation with his skill set. After thinking about the issue, Bill made a good call. Bill then quit the class, I think he will be back after some more time on the Meg. After a 90 SI Mel and I performed the second dive. I performed a OC bail out drill at the end and did all the OC deco. After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and a little more classroom. Saturday's scheduled dives on the Al-Ind-Esk-Sea wreck were canceled due to problems with truck that pulls the boat. Mel made some phone calls and we were then diving on the dive boat "Mark V". We planned to dive some of the deep barges off cove 2. First dive was a sand dive to 200'. We reset the hook for the second dive! Next dive was probably the highlight of the week. We nailed the barge and had 40' vis. You could look into all the compartments. This was a wooden barge with a lot of marine life on it. After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and final written exams. Dinner was on at 6:00PM just like clock work. Sundays dives were in lake Washington on the wreck of the Fresno. This boat was at 200' and the visibility was never better than 6'. We performed two dives on the wreck. Ofter the dives, we went back to Mel's to go over the exams. All in all, it was a very busy week. I'm glad Mel put me up at her home, I was able to concentrate on the class and the dives with out the lost time of staying at a motel.

Mel did a first rate class and has helped me move to the next level of diving. Thank you Mel

Phil

MrClive · 12th March 2008, 07:55

congratulations phil,

sounds like you had a busy but great week. well done

Lancer4545 · 12th March 2008, 08:55

Congrats Phil and thanks for the write up.

Regards,

Lance

**Bobmac** · 12th March 2008, 13:24

Congratulations. I did my mod 3 with Mel so know exactly what an acheivment this is. You've got a sound foundation to continue learning and diving.

Safe diving.

Marc · 12th March 2008, 15:16

Congrats Phil. Thanks for the report. I just received Mel's book in the post today. Want to get some more hours on my unit but looking forward to start similar course for CK. Cheers, Marc

Explorer · 12th March 2008, 18:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by Bobmac)

Congratulations. I did my mod 3 with Mel so know exactly what an acheivment this is. You've got a sound foundation to continue learning and diving.

Safe diving.

Way to go Phil. I did my MOD 3 with Bob also. I had a great time learning from Mel. A few

and some

with a few

, but at the end

. Life is good. Welcome to the 300 foot CCR club.

Jeff

scubagrunt · 13th March 2008, 13:54

Great work Phil and Greg, the class was hard work as expected but we still had some fun

right?? of course me driving

that big boat around with my poor little truck

was tough! but it was worth it to see that nice little B-24 hidden in our lake

. and of course the end of course party was tame

as usual

!! good work

mel

quickean · 13th March 2008, 14:34

Awesome! Great write-up. I'll be following your shoes with Mel at the end of May so it's nice to have a preview of what I'm in for!
Tom

ps
Having done my mod 1 with her last year I can attest that the system she and Curt have of teaching and putting up their students at there place makes for a great overall experience - for learning and social activities alike!

almity1 · 13th March 2008, 22:17

Good One, Phil....

Does this mean, you are going to rib me for diving on Air Dil?????

Congrats.

Lancer4545 · 14th March 2008, 01:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by almity1)

Good One, Phil....

Does this mean, you are going to rib me for diving on Air Dil?????

Congrats.

Oh.....You're not still diving with AIR are you!!!

Regards,

Lance

12th March 2008, 06:44	#1 (permalink)
scuba_phil New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 28	MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Hello everyone, Here is my MEG MOD3 course experience with Mel Clark. I chose Mel after reading her book, wanting an instructor who dove the MEG and an instructor who was going to go beyond the class minimums. After contacting Mel, she offered to pick me up at the airport and put me up at her house, she stated that the course is intense and it just works out better for the education experience. The class was a full 6 days. Monday night, Curt McNamee picked me up at the airport and once at the house, he had me set up my MEG. Mel would be home at 7:00AM and we would be diving at 7:30AM sharp. Mel walked in at 7:00 and we were off to a good start. Another student, Greg, showed up at 7:15. He was taking the Trimix instructors course and was open circuit. Many of my current dive partners are still OC so in many way I thought this would add to the experience. It was now 7:30 and off for a beach dive at Mukiteo. Mel evaluated my skill set and was more or less happy. We performed boom skills, OC bail out, taking off and putting on stage bottles, blind diver skills .... Then back to the house for 4 hours of class. Once the class part was over, it was time to service the MEG for the next day. Wednesday, we were off to lake Washington for dives on the B-24 bomber. Here we did two dives with skills mixed in with the dive. The B-24 is a dark and cold dive (43F) with limited visibility. Greg was diving his OC gear and the disadvantages showed up (heavy, longer deco and when on the deco line, lots of bubbles). Fresh water diving was nice - the gear came back clean!! After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and a little more classroom. Curt had dinner ready by 6:00PM. The day flew by very quickly. Thursday we were doing another beach dive at cove 2, Here we practiced more skill and I performed an OC bail out from 150', switching to O2 CCR at 20'. The next dive was more skills and a bag shoot. After the dives, back to the house for fills and repacking the scrubber. Dinner was ready at 6:00PM like clock work. After dinner, Bob joined the class lectures and would be diving with us for the next few days. Friday was going to be a busy day, three dives. First a beach dive at Mukiteo to evaluate Bill's skill set and how we dove together as a team. We performed boom skills, OC bail out, taking off and putting on stage bottles, blind diver skills... It was easier the second time but Bill was struggling. Mel helped him out but he still had to fend for him self. Next up, lake Washington's B-24. The first dive, we (Greg, Bill and myself) had a 10 min wait at 120' while Mel found the wreck. Bob went to the surface 8 min into the dive. Mel then hooked the wreck and we finnished the dive. We had a team discussion back at the surface about Bob pulling out of the dive and he explain that he was not ready to dive at this level. Vertigo set in when he was on the line and was having problems maintaining the 1.3PPO and controlling his buoyancy. He did not want to incur a deco obligation with his skill set. After thinking about the issue, Bill made a good call. Bill then quit the class, I think he will be back after some more time on the Meg. After a 90 SI Mel and I performed the second dive. I performed a OC bail out drill at the end and did all the OC deco. After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and a little more classroom. Saturday's scheduled dives on the Al-Ind-Esk-Sea wreck were canceled due to problems with truck that pulls the boat. Mel made some phone calls and we were then diving on the dive boat "Mark V". We planned to dive some of the deep barges off cove 2. First dive was a sand dive to 200'. We reset the hook for the second dive! Next dive was probably the highlight of the week. We nailed the barge and had 40' vis. You could look into all the compartments. This was a wooden barge with a lot of marine life on it. After the dives, back to the house for fills, repacking the scrubber and final written exams. Dinner was on at 6:00PM just like clock work. Sundays dives were in lake Washington on the wreck of the Fresno. This boat was at 200' and the visibility was never better than 6'. We performed two dives on the wreck. Ofter the dives, we went back to Mel's to go over the exams. All in all, it was a very busy week. I'm glad Mel put me up at her home, I was able to concentrate on the class and the dives with out the lost time of staying at a motel. Mel did a first rate class and has helped me move to the next level of diving. Thank you Mel Phil
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12th March 2008, 07:55	#2 (permalink)
MrClive RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: cork city ireland Posts: 176	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark congratulations phil, sounds like you had a busy but great week. well done __________________ clive
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12th March 2008, 08:55	#3 (permalink)
Lancer4545 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairns QLD Australia Posts: 745	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Congrats Phil and thanks for the write up. Regards, Lance __________________ You can run but you can't hide! ISC Appointed Megalodon Dealer for East Australia http://www.closedcircuitdivers.com.au info@closedcircuitdivers.com.au
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12th March 2008, 13:24	#4 (permalink)
Bobmac I'm working on it! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 102	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Congratulations. I did my mod 3 with Mel so know exactly what an acheivment this is. You've got a sound foundation to continue learning and diving. Safe diving.
(Online)

12th March 2008, 15:16	#5 (permalink)
Marc New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Perth Posts: 91	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Congrats Phil. Thanks for the report. I just received Mel's book in the post today. Want to get some more hours on my unit but looking forward to start similar course for CK. Cheers, Marc __________________ Classic KISS #271
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12th March 2008, 18:43	#6 (permalink)
Explorer I will teach you a..... Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 783	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Quote: (Originally Posted by Bobmac) Congratulations. I did my mod 3 with Mel so know exactly what an acheivment this is. You've got a sound foundation to continue learning and diving. Safe diving. Way to go Phil. I did my MOD 3 with Bob also. I had a great time learning from Mel. A few and some with a few , but at the end . Life is good. Welcome to the 300 foot CCR club. Jeff __________________ KONA COFFEE
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13th March 2008, 13:54	#7 (permalink)
scubagrunt CCR Diva Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Other SCR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 441	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Great work Phil and Greg, the class was hard work as expected but we still had some funright?? of course me driving that big boat around with my poor little truck was tough! but it was worth it to see that nice little B-24 hidden in our lake. and of course the end of course party was tame as usual!! good work mel __________________ "No good deed goes unpunished!" www.silentscuba.com
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13th March 2008, 14:34	#8 (permalink)
quickean RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 140	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Awesome! Great write-up. I'll be following your shoes with Mel at the end of May so it's nice to have a preview of what I'm in for! Tom ps Having done my mod 1 with her last year I can attest that the system she and Curt have of teaching and putting up their students at there place makes for a great overall experience - for learning and social activities alike!
(Offline)

13th March 2008, 22:17	#9 (permalink)
almity1 No Viz is BAD Viz Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Prism Topaz Sport Kiss Optima Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 175	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Good One, Phil.... Does this mean, you are going to rib me for diving on Air Dil????? Congrats. __________________ Cheers almity1 - http://www.almity1.com
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14th March 2008, 01:30	#10 (permalink)
Lancer4545 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairns QLD Australia Posts: 745	Re: MEG CCR MOD3 Course with Mel Clark Quote: (Originally Posted by almity1) Good One, Phil.... Does this mean, you are going to rib me for diving on Air Dil????? Congrats. Oh.....You're not still diving with AIR are you!!! Regards, Lance __________________ You can run but you can't hide! ISC Appointed Megalodon Dealer for East Australia http://www.closedcircuitdivers.com.au info@closedcircuitdivers.com.au
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