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First attempt at PADI Advanced Diver certification |
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Tuesday, 27 January 2009 |
 Well, that didn't go quite as planned. I was signed up to get my advanced certification this past weekend, two dives: deep and navigation on Saturday morning, then three dives off of Anacapa on Sunday: underwater naturalist, search and recovery, and peak performance buoyancy.
I was really looking forward to the boat dives off Anacapa Island where the water promised to be crisp and clean if still cold and not too clear. The weather reports had been getting worse and worse all week though, so I knew there were no guarantees. But really? Did it have to go this way?
 Spectre Dive Boat
I woke up Saturday and headed to the pool. The class gathered in the parking lot and talked about the dives we were going to do, practiced tying some of the knots needed for search and recovery and did some basic compass navigation. Then we suited up and headed into the pool.
To facilitate my attempt to get Advanced Diver Certified, I made sure I
purchased my new (well, new to me) truck from my Dad the week before so
I wouldn't have to waste money on a rental car... again. I was so proud of myself, loading it up with my dive gear before driving over to the pool. Finally, I had something other than just my VFR or my Sprint ST!
Then, during the two hour period we were in the pool, some sonofabitch stole the catalytic converter off my truck.
While our entire class was 20 yards away, and 3 feet underwater, some less than reputable individual rolled under my truck, and the Tacoma next to me, unbolted our catalytic converters and made off with them. When I cleaned up my gear after the practice session, loaded the truck up and got ready to head to the dive boat in Ventura, I turned the ignition key and was greeted a sound more akin to that of a Harley. I turned the truck off, got out, looked underneath and saw the big empty space where the cat should be and four pairs of nuts and bolts laying on the ground.
 My Gear |
 Class Getting Ready |
Mind you, the thieves can only get about $50 salvage for those things. Retail cost at the Toyota dealer for a new one: $1300. Ouch.
So, I drove the truck gingerly to Eco Dive Center, left it there and they were kind enough to arrange transportation for myself and Drew, the guy who also had his cat stolen, to Ventura.
I blew off steam that evening with members of the Eco team, and then the next morning, was harried out of bed to sign the liability form... in 10 foot seas. Just as I signed my name, the captain announced that the boat was turning around...no diving to be had.
There it is... no certification, no dives, no catalytic converter.
Helluva weekend. Like I said, some of these challenges I have control over; some of them are going to need a bit of good fortune. To complicate matters, January expires on Saturday and I haven't gone diving this month... item 6 on the list.
This might be a close one...
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 January 2010 )
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