Any MTSU students (or faculty) on here besides me? :)

[NeveSSL]

Hi all!

Just curious as to how many of us are associated with MTSU...

Any students?

Faculty?

Brandon

I'm presently a student... a senior in the recording industry program, production tech concentration.

[fishdoc11]

Does alumni count?
I graduated from MTSU last spring. There was one other person that I knew of and I haven't seen him on here in a while.

Chris

[gsusfreak]

me!!!......senior in computer info system...might be out this summer , but more likely in the fall

[KeepOnReefin]

I am also a MTSU student. Senior.. Plant and Soil science with a minor in Biology.

[luckyfish]

Got my masters from MTSU in 92. My daughter is a senior there now.

[fishdoc11]

Well it figures...I leave and the Burro reefers come out of the woodwork:p

If you guys haven't allready had it look at taking the scuba diving class. I know you probably don't need any more electives(or even classes since you are seniors) but it is a temendous oppourtunity to learn the right way from a scuba diving legend(who will not tell you this of course). I was amazed by all the scuba people I have run into that were amazed by the fact I had been certified by Mike Nunnley. Great oppourtunity if you get the chance.

Chris

[KeepOnReefin]

I have been thinking of the class. I think I am going to take advantage of the opportunity. Tell me about the class. Where do you learn at? Take field trips?

[fishdoc11]

The classes are at the old pool over by the stadium which is good because they can control the temp etc to be more conducive to diving. The only fields trips are when you are certified. Martha's quarry is near Gallatin and is the best place to dive in the area. They do certifications there or you can go on one of their trips to FL. I highly recommend the central FL trip. You dive several clear springs and it is a great trip to learn on...or just go diving on:)

Chris

[fishdoc11]

.....a couple of other good things about the class. It is very thourough, which if you are going to do something that can kill you is a good thing:)
If you get certified through MTSU you can allways go back for a refresher course for free. Plus they take trips all the time and going with them is typically much cheaper than going by yourself. Also on the trips you won't have a problem finding a buddy etc...
Mike typically dives at Marthas a few times a summer and will bring free air and equipment for you to use if you get certified through them.
It's just good to take advantage of while you can. Your certification will last the rest of your life and it will cost a lot less and be much more convienant to take the classes now while you are in school than once you get out in the "real world".
Ok I'll get off my soapbox now:)
good night, Chris

[NeveSSL]

Wow lots of replies!

Great, Chris... thanks a lot. Now I've got yet ANOTHER class I want to take before I graduate! :D

Like gsusfreak, I could graduate in the summer, but I'm probably going to wait until fall because I really want to take Mastering, Cricitcal Listening, Advanced Analog Recording, a couple others... and now Diving! :D

I'll DEFINITELY look into it... sounds like a great opportunity I need to take advantage of.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm also glad to see some MTSU relations on here.

How awesome would it be to get a "reef science" or "aquarium science" class started at the school? I'm not sure what it would take, or if its even remotely possible, but I've thought it would be great as it could also teach basic freshwater principles, which I think at least 10-15 people out of 23,000 would be interested in besides those of us that are currently there. Maybe even be an "alternative biology gen ed"? That would spike some interest I'm sure.

What do you guys think?

Brandon

[KeepOnReefin]

Wow Chris! Thanks for the reply. Exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciation. I am very excited about it as it has been something I have always wanted to do. Do you think it is difficult? I have talked to others and they said the breathing aspect was kinda weird. Some almost "freaked out"..... Did you find it different breathing from a tank? Is it a long shallow breath routine?

[fishdoc11]

IMO a scuba class shouldn't exactly be easy...and it's not. It isn't ridiculously hard either. I feel very relaxed underwater to the point of thinking of scuba diving to reduce test anxiety so for me I guess it wasn't weird at all......just something I allways wanted to do. The hardest part is remaining calm underwater and not surfacing (in the pool of course)when you don't have anything to breath with handy.
Chris

[mamagoose45]

The hardest part for me is having to clear out the regulator and trusting that your first breath isn't going to be a mouth full of water.

Of course, I thought the physics of all of it was "interesting" so the book work didn't kill me.

[DMBillies]

Hmmm... wrong screen name signed on... I'm the scuba diver, not Moriah

[eyebedam]

Ive thrown some & been to some serious keggers at mtsu if that counts any.

[gflat65]

You start to feel like a fish after a few dives;). I sometimes have problems at 10 feet or so going down, but once I equalize (sometimes it's not a nice feeling) all is good fot he rest of the trip (and day, usually). Remember, the Bahama's ar 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Not a long trip by plan;). You can't get certified cheaper than in college... If you have time left, get advanced openwater ceritification, too. Take it as far as you can. You'll be hooked the first time.

[fishdoc11]

MTSU added an advanced cert class after I got mine:rolleyes:

[NeveSSL]

I need to check the catalog and see what all they are offering over the summer...

Brandon

[NeveSSL]

Also, heres a link to the scuba stuff: http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11767/Certification%20Policies.htm

Brandon

[DMBillies]

I got my advanced certification for dry suit diving. I haven't really used it more than a couple of times (I don't know why I ever thought diving in 40 degree water would be fun), but it's a wild thing to come out of the water to find that a snow storm has started up since you went in.

[NeveSSL]

Wow... that would be weird! And 40 is INSANELY cold... I can barely take 56 degrees of the mountain streams on my feet and legs!

Brandon

[waynesworld]

If they ever give cave and cavern cert that is a blast I was actually working on my divemaster when had to go to the IO

[fishdoc11]

I have my YMCA silver star advanced(had to do it over the summer out of school but did it with Mike) and we got some limited cavern training. Also most of the springs in central FL are basically caves that you can get out of easily so anyone can dive in them. I don't know about true cave or wreck diving.

What's the IO Wayne?

Chris

[gflat65]

Gotta do a cenote in Mexico...

[waynesworld]

Indian Ocean I was in the navy and got transferred to a ship that was deploying. It is strange in a true cave that is total black one thing I got from that diving is the extra long aux reg hose so you can share a tank and swim one in front of the other. I use it more now for my kids to do dives with me they can swim under me and just ahead so I have complete control of them. they have been swimming with scuba since they were 6. Now the oldest and Joy are suppose to get Cert before our trip to Mexico

[fishdoc11]

Ok so you weren't sent to the Instant Ocean:p

Very cool about the kids:)

The instructors at MTSU basically use cave rigs. Backplates with bladders and instead of the long Octo hose they use a really long primary wrapped around the body in case you need to give that to someone and their Otco hangs around their neck so they can just grab it themselves with their mouth.
Mike also really stresses the frog kick which I am glad he did.
Hard to get at first but once you do a much more efficient kick for just tooling around and of course it won't stir up the bottom.

Chris

[waynesworld]

Ya I agree I think they should teach it for everyone, it helps when diving lakes that have murky bottoms. We should get a dive trip for the club to go some place in FL. A few Expeditions a few cases of beer and dive gear on a road trip what a blast. I know there is some place you can dive/snorkel with manities I think that would be fun too. Of course I relate with them on there size.

[gflat65]

Why settle for Florida (not that there isn't plenty to see, I'm sure-never been diving out of Fl...), when the Bahama's are closer;).

[fishdoc11]

You are thinking of the Crystal River with the Manatees Wayne. The best time to do that trip is in mid winter when the Manatees are sure to be up in the warmer water.

Chris