Can you believe this warm weather?  Who would have thought that we would be warming up so quickly.  I was surprised to see divers and snorkelers on the Lake recently.  This type of weather always reminds me to ask about Scuba review or refresher classes.

I know we are all safe when we are around the water, but it never hurts to be reminded about the past few years and the expectation that 6 or more people will not be with us, due to water related accidents.  I am a snorkeler and scuba diver, as are most of us who love to see in the water.  I can't get enough of the rivers and lakes we have access to around here.  Even the Delta feels good on a hot day.  

Why a Refresher program you may ask?

That is a darn good question! Why would you want to spend your time and money rehashing something you know? I was very surprised when a fellow diver told me about a vacation the family had planned to take.  It was going to be a local "staycation".

I was even more surprised when she said she needed a review for her and the family. It is no biggie, was my thought – but I go diving all of the time. I quickly learned they did not.

Upon arrival at the Swimstitute in Rancho Cordova I was even more surprised to learn about her past – she was a Marine Biologist! At this point, I had to stop her to find out why I was giving a “Refresher Program” to her and the family.

Here is someone who has about the same dive skills and experience as me. She informed me about a recent surgery and 18 month recovery period. “Ah” I said. Also, she said she did not want to waste a day of vacation on a review.  We were completing it before they were officially on vacation.

The final bit of news as we ended the course was her willingness to admit they had each learned something “long forgotten”. In her case she needed to learn about varying entries; her son was reminded about taking a photography class, and her husband needed to be reminded about buoyancy.

Let’s face it; even with the best intentions to dive regularly, I know about family considerations, money issues, time conflicts, etc. we don’t all have follow thru to go diving all of the time. Remember, even 6 months of not going diving is long enough to lose proficiency.

Before you know it, several months or more have passed and the wetsuit has shrunk. Most divers I speak with say, “I thought it would all come back to me, but I always felt like I was forgetting something.”

My thought or feeling is, “why take the chance or worse ‘ruin your vacation?’ ” In a couple of hours, the course presented by your local dive instructor will have you ready to be back in the water.

Another refresh I did was a buddy of mine. He was certified and last dove in 1977. Needless to say, we spent a bit of time on gear review, dive tables and dive computers.

Again, a refresher program or Scuba Review course is much quicker and safer than the trial-and-error method. Some dive centers and resorts require a review before you can get on the boat, unless you can prove you have completed a Scuba Review.

My thought is why waste your time during a vacation doing homework? Complete a local program at home thru your dive shop and enjoy your vacation!  I hope everyone is safe this summer.