Pre-dive: West point military academy.
Mon
Today is our first day. Up at 0400 and we jumped into the back of a transport to go take our APFT. We started with 20, 1 was sent home today for failing the run due to heat cramps and the other failed the 500 m ACU swim. We are all nervous I haven't slept in 2 days.
Tue
Introduction to "undirected" stress events we did flutter kicks on the side of the pool with masks and fins on while the Dive Supervisors (Dive Sup) put water in our masks and dumped it over our faces. When the going got tough we were told to man up, to "stop feeling sorry for your selves!" "Get rid of that bu-bu lip!" Sgt. Braseno kept me from quiting and got me to change my attitude.
Wed
This is all a mind game. Stress the body so the mind becomes week then make the mind work till it breaks or shows it's true depth. Humor makes it so I can do this. Keep your heart rate down, when you get to the wall put your head back to open you airway and slow down your heart rate as fast as you can. RELAX.
Thur
Another one's gone, passed out in the truck from exhaustion. We all tend to try and take a quick nap on the way back but when we pulled in he wouldn't wake up all the way and his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, the medic took care of him. Now the Dive Sups check our calorie intake.
Sat
We all needed supplies and away from camp so the Dive Sup gave us the keys the the transport. We got what we needed and went to eat out.
Sun
No church nearby and I can't get off post so I just studied the scriptures and prayed.
Mon
One week down. 5 quit today not wanting to train anymore. Often an individual plans on quiting but doesn't have the guts to till someone else does. Now I have a new dive buddy for surface swims and we came in dead last because he is broken mentally.
Tue
Because Farris made me so slow and the Dive Sups could tell how angry I was we will no longer swim as buddy teams. I came in third on the 2000m surface swim out in the lake. Because of the lake water we all have crazy ear problems but we get drops from the medic so the problems are going away. 2 more have quit.
Wed
Test day. I passed everything on the first try. They can't get us to panic or quit anymore. Sgt Kiwaha told me I had the most improved attitude. Three didn't pass the 3k swim and have another try tomorrow.
Thu
Hoose passed the 3k but the other two failed but we hold them in high regard for never quiting. Seven of us will continue on to Key West.
Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC): Key West, FL
2 August
Mon
The first week was hell. We are up till often midnight and get up before 0400 most days. We have been training for hours, 7 hours to get Jock-up (getting on you gear) down then 6 hours on the bottom of the pool so we can learn how to pass one man confidence test. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZO9AMy-vQ0
In the end I was so hypoxic and bent on untying every knot that I took 1 min 15 sec to untie the final knot that you are supposed to ditch your gear because it's "unrecoverable." They tied it again and this time I dropped the tanks.
Tue
We did a two man confidence test with my dive buddy Lance Switzer. It was fun, the Dive Sup would take our equipment make us switch tanks and try to separate us. Once I got separated from Lance and the air tanks, I climbed over the top of the Dive Sup to get back. Lance said that is looked epic, he had a dive mask and could see. For the last few minutes on the Diver Recall System (DRS, underwater speaker) they played "Sweet Home Alabama." It was the end of events that everyone fails.
Wed
Pool PT, it was very difficult but a nice change to getting worked on land. We also did our first Navigation dive and I got a 97.6 % for being 20 feet off the dive sign. Also we did a ship bottom search on a Coast Guard Cruiser. We were on our backs checking the hull for damage and possible bombs, it was disorienting but fun.
Thur
Today was relaxed. We did a few search dives for weapons and wreaks. I got a jelly fish sting on my wrist (as of dec still there) it didn't really hurt too bad till I went and got a fresh water rinse and it felt like my arm was getting cut of by a red hot knife.
Fri
We finished our Advanced Dive today diving off a sunken ship to 130 ft and then we finished off the day diving on a coral reef.
Mon
We were introduced to the Draeger closed circuit dive system. Trying to get used to the change in breathing pattern in the pool was difficult but once in the ocean I got a rhythm and became accustomed to it.
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