How much does dive count tell you?

[mood]

No chance in the world! A diver with 100 or more dives is fairly serious about diving. I would venture to guess that there is a huge dropout between 20 and 100 dives. Perhaps there is an even higher dropout between 4 and 20. But anybody can make 20 dives. It takes a little dedication to make 100 or more. The 100+ diver is bound to have learned more than the 20 diver. If nothing else, he's had 5 times the opportunity to make mistakes.

Yeah but if we're talking about a newly certified diver, he wouldnt have had the chance to dive that much. Not sure its dedication that would cut it. Heck, the new diver might have already purchased his own gear (that seems beeing serious about diving to me).

I like the point you made about mistakes. Thats a +1. If it doesnt kill you, it makes you stronger.

Now, somewhere over 1000 dives it probably becomes moot. But a DM with 60 dives doesn't impress me at all. An instructor with 100 dives doesn't cut it either.

This is exactly why i started this tread. Why wouldnt they impress you. Youre using the dive count to judge their skill level/experience.What if, hypothetically, those 100 dives were each in different locations and different conditions. I just really cant see how you could not be impressed without even giving them a chance underwater.

My view: minimum 500 dives for DM and 1000 for instructor. There should also be some diversity of conditions required but that would be complicated to administer. If you want to teach, you should have 'been there and done that' everywhere.
Richard

But if an instructor who settles down locally at a tropical climate wouldnt need as much teaching experience to teach diving in cold weather and dry suits. I dont think you should have 'been there and done that' everywhere, only places thats relative to your environment..




getting interesting..

 

[NudeDiver]

I just cant use the number to rate your experience. Rating and judgment would come after i dive with you.

...and I think that's the right answer

 

[NudeDiver]

Look at their dive bag and how much it looks like it has been used. It can tell you alot

Not really. It could just mean they got a brand new bag, because their last bag, having made it through 500 dives and 10 trips around the world was just worn out.

 

[mood]

Double post..

 

[NudeDiver]

If you want to teach, you should have 'been there and done that' everywhere.

.....so, we should get ride of teacher education programs and only hire senior citizens to teach in the public schools?

Would be a good way to prop up the social security program.

 

[wreckchick]

No chance in the world! A diver with 100 or more dives is fairly serious about diving. I would venture to guess that there is a huge dropout between 20 and 100 dives. Perhaps there is an even higher dropout between 4 and 20. But anybody can make 20 dives. It takes a little dedication to make 100 or more. The 100+ diver is bound to have learned more than the 20 diver. If nothing else, he's had 5 times the opportunity to make mistakes.

Now, somewhere over 1000 dives it probably becomes moot. But a DM with 60 dives doesn't impress me at all. An instructor with 100 dives doesn't cut it either. My view: minimum 500 dives for DM and 1000 for instructor. There should also be some diversity of conditions required but that would be complicated to administer. If you want to teach, you should have 'been there and done that' everywhere.

Richard

"Hi there <sir or ma'am>! How long have you been diving?"

"20 years"

"Fantastic, how many dives do you have?"

"100"

"Hi there <sir or ma'am on the other side of the boat>! How long have you been diving?"

"Well, I just go certified a couple months ago."

"Congratulations! How many dives do you have?"

"20"

Who are you going to dive with?

Rachel

 

[nereas]

Hey SBers!

I was reading a few posts here and there and people seem to take dive count serious around here. I mean how much can it really tell you. For all i can see, you cant judge a book by its cover.

A diver with 20 dives can be as good as one with 100 or more. The only reason is you would need more dives is for experience and seeing things go wrong and know how to avoid/fix them.

Some divers are just good and easily adapt and learn. Some OW divers have dove in varying vis from arms length to +30m, different currents and temperatures. However, why would be it safe to assume that a diver with 500 dives (where 400 of them are in the exact same site with similar conditions) has more experience.

Thought this would be an interesting discussion..

Lets see your thoughts

My thoughts ...

0 to 50 dives is definitely a novice, and who needs to be watched every minute.

100+ is a weaned reliable diver. Mostly because he or she has survived 100+ dives and is still around to talk about it.

200+ and this person is probably really good at it.

300+ is the same as 10,000+ because it does not change that much after awhile.

Other factors to consider ...

D/M means someone has taken the initiative to become an expert recreational diver.

OWSI is someone who can make learning fun, although your own results may vary.

DECO means someone who has entered the realm of extended diving (deeper and longer).

ADV TRIMIX means someone who has completed technical training and is free to choose to go anywhere.

CAVERN means a beginner cave diver.

CAVE means someone who has procedures for really dangerous stuff (which I would never try).

CCR is an airhog for which no amount of O/C tanks and bottles will suffice (just kidding!)

TECH INSTRUCTOR is someone with extremely low tolerance. It's their way or the highway.

 

[NudeDiver]

"Hi there <sir or ma'am>! How long have you been diving?"

"20 years"

"Fantastic, how many dives do you have?"

"100"

"Hi there <sir or ma'am on the other side of the boat>! How long have you been diving?"

"Well, I just go certified a couple months ago."

"Congratulations! How many dives do you have?"

"20"

Who are you going to dive with?

I'd probably dive with the 20 dive guy. Why? Because he's done 20 dives recently (in the past few months). The 100 dive guy has taken 20 years to get 100 dives, the last one of which could have been 10 years ago.

 

[mood]

"Hi there <sir or ma'am>! How long have you been diving?"

"20 years"

"Fantastic, how many dives do you have?"

"100"

"Hi there <sir or ma'am on the other side of the boat>! How long have you been diving?"

"Well, I just go certified a couple months ago."

"Congratulations! How many dives do you have?"

"20"

Who are you going to dive with?

Rachel

Id *probably* lean towards the newly certified. 20 years with 100 dives only seems to me that this guy isnt really into diving. But a newly certified whose already taking dive trips seems to be more into it. Im not basing my choice on logged dives, instead, enthusiasm i guess.

 

[gcbryan]

Dive count will tell you more in most cases if it doesn't include "helping with classes" dives and if you know over what period of time that dive count was obtained. 100 dives over a ten year period is not so hot but over a one year period it may tell you more.

However, some people are calm in the water and have excellent buddy and buoyancy skills right from the start and are excellent people to dive with. Dive count does usually tell general experience level though.

Actually, as other's have stated, I don't ask for a dive count but rather just enter into a casual conversation about diving. You'll learn more that way and yet there can still be surprises awaiting you once you're underwater!