I've learned that if it's rotating and has lights on it, don't eat it!
Cozumel
Cozumel
What have you learned in the last year, regardless of how long you have been diving?
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I've learned to not dive in an overhead environment with a buddy who says, "That'll never happen again" after he realized (after the dive was over) that I wasn't getting any air from my regulator and couldn't get his attention for help. I would have drowned had it not been for another person who noticed I was in distress. He was right in that it wouldn't happen again, cuz I'll never dive alone with him again.....lol. Guess I'm addicted to breathing and dependent on buddies who practice safe diving.
Texasdivechick
Contributor
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I've been extremely fortunate that my local dive club members have a broad range of scuba backgrounds and want the newbies to improve. I've been diving for less than a year, but one of my favorite dive buddies is a tech/ cave instructor who doesn't mind making the "fun" dives with me. I've learned from watching all the more experienced divers:
1. I need far less weight than when I started.
2. Slow down. Slow down. Slow down. I'm now at the point where I barely kick ever, mostly I just sort of mosey (?) along in perfect trim.
3. Perfect trim is a relative term. As soon as I switch my gear or environments, it takes me about 10 minutes to find the sweet spot again.
4. Split fins SUCK!
5. I'll dive with anyone once. But if you leave me u/w while trying to compete in a scuba race even AFTER I warn you on 2 surface intervals that I'm a very slow swimmer and to slow down, that's the last time I will dive with you.
6. I can't imagine not having scuba in my life now that I've discovered it.
7. After 59 dives, I realize that I don't know what I don't know. I ask a LOT of questions from the dive vets.
8. Low viz/night dives/ no viz doesn't freak me in the least, but looking at my computer telling me I'm at 115 ffw scares the crap outta me.
9. Some of my dive buddies are fast becoming my best friends. And diving is a lifestyle, not just a sport.
10. I enjoy the challenge of different dive environments. Murky lakes, blue quarries, salt-water rigs, missile silos, rivers, reefs, walls. It really doesn't matter, as long as I'm getting wet and having fun.
1. I need far less weight than when I started.
2. Slow down. Slow down. Slow down. I'm now at the point where I barely kick ever, mostly I just sort of mosey (?) along in perfect trim.
3. Perfect trim is a relative term. As soon as I switch my gear or environments, it takes me about 10 minutes to find the sweet spot again.
4. Split fins SUCK!
5. I'll dive with anyone once. But if you leave me u/w while trying to compete in a scuba race even AFTER I warn you on 2 surface intervals that I'm a very slow swimmer and to slow down, that's the last time I will dive with you.
6. I can't imagine not having scuba in my life now that I've discovered it.
7. After 59 dives, I realize that I don't know what I don't know. I ask a LOT of questions from the dive vets.
8. Low viz/night dives/ no viz doesn't freak me in the least, but looking at my computer telling me I'm at 115 ffw scares the crap outta me.
9. Some of my dive buddies are fast becoming my best friends. And diving is a lifestyle, not just a sport.
10. I enjoy the challenge of different dive environments. Murky lakes, blue quarries, salt-water rigs, missile silos, rivers, reefs, walls. It really doesn't matter, as long as I'm getting wet and having fun.
That while wetsuits stretch, they don't always stretch as much as I'd like them to. :11:
aubie85
Contributor
Yes, I have learned this too. Eeeeeww! I am a 13/14 women's in a 3mm suit.......The 1st time with a 7mm? A 2XL IN MENS!!!! I was so upset. To make myself feel better, I told myself that it was because I was too weak to pull the smaller sizes over my sweet a*s!
lol Okay that was vain but there is a good side to having a good sized butt>>> :mooner: along with my hips, it keeps my weight belt from falling off! 
aubie85
Contributor
That reminds me of something else!.......it keeps my weight belt from falling off!
If your weight belt doesn't fit, you can also stick them in your pockets! :11: (If like me you have pockets each side to keep it balanced!) Taking a couple of weights off the belt makes the belt longer.......viola.......end of problem! Necessity is the Mother of Invention!
New Member
Status
Profile InfoJoin Date: Oct 2007
Location: FT POLK LA
Logged Dives: 25 - 49
I learned that my dive buddy (wife) doesnt like walls. On our first salt water dive in Curacao we took a nice shore dive out to the reef and at 35 feet it drops off on a nice wall down to about 90 feet. we got out over the edge and she didnt care for that. Never seen anyone "run" in the water with out touching the reef. I never laughed so hard almost lost my reg. Once I got her calmned down she was fine and we had a great vaction.
LOL! Same thing happened to us in Jamaica on the Braco Wall a couple of weeks ago!! We got to the edge (were holding hands) and she started trying to yank my arm out of the socket!
I recently completed PADI DM, so I can honestly say that even after diving for 28 years (certified in '79), I learned a lot this year. In particular, the most interesting part of the program for me is how Physics and Physiology relate to diving.
NorthWoodsDiver
Contributor
I am headed out to do dive number 75 (this year) and dive number 85 (in my life) today. Its been an interesting adventure but:
I learned that Murphy's laws are real and to prepare for them.
I learned that steel tanks make terrible pony/deco/stage bottles for a beginner.
I learned that I dont carry a pony for my self I carry it for YOU.
I learned that my LDS is worthless and that the internet can bring me anything my heart desires in half the time for half the price.
I learned that there are people to dive with and there are people you want to dive with. The difference is clear.
I learned that even people with less experience can have good ideas.
I learned that I should have got a dry suit for my first piece of gear.
I learned that even though I needed 5 new regs this year I still can only use 1 at a time.
I learned how to service my own regs...Kinda, but I still do a better job that the LDS.
I learned that leaving the car keys locked in the car can ruin a dive almost as bad as forgetting dive gear at home.
I learned that cell phones, dive computers, GPS, and automobiles are only helpful if you know how to opperate them.
I learned that there is more good information on a set of dive tables than there is in many divers heads.
I learned that if a person wants to stop being an alcoholic than all they have to do is become a diver cause they wont be able to afford booze any more and being hung over can ruin a dive. plus all the other bad things that come with diving and alcohol.
The list goes on..........................................
I learned that Murphy's laws are real and to prepare for them.
I learned that steel tanks make terrible pony/deco/stage bottles for a beginner.
I learned that I dont carry a pony for my self I carry it for YOU.
I learned that my LDS is worthless and that the internet can bring me anything my heart desires in half the time for half the price.
I learned that there are people to dive with and there are people you want to dive with. The difference is clear.
I learned that even people with less experience can have good ideas.
I learned that I should have got a dry suit for my first piece of gear.
I learned that even though I needed 5 new regs this year I still can only use 1 at a time.
I learned how to service my own regs...Kinda, but I still do a better job that the LDS.
I learned that leaving the car keys locked in the car can ruin a dive almost as bad as forgetting dive gear at home.
I learned that cell phones, dive computers, GPS, and automobiles are only helpful if you know how to opperate them.
I learned that there is more good information on a set of dive tables than there is in many divers heads.
I learned that if a person wants to stop being an alcoholic than all they have to do is become a diver cause they wont be able to afford booze any more and being hung over can ruin a dive. plus all the other bad things that come with diving and alcohol.
The list goes on..........................................
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