vladimir
The Voice of Reason
- Messages
- 44,765
- Reaction score
- 65,514
- # of dives
- I just don't log dives
Rob (and some others) is correct; in this context it is an opportunity for you to identify any equipment issues and dial in buoyancy, and for the dive operator to assess your comfort in the water and with your equipment, and your control of your buoyancy. In my experience, there has been no overt demonstration of skills required (although that is not always the case). Checkout dives are often conducted in a shallow sandy area to minimize risk to the divers and to the environment.2) the (usually) first dive on an organized trip or series of dives with an operator. In this case, the dive is to make sure all of the equipment is working, properly adjusted, that your weight gets dialed in etc. For the dive leaders it's also a good opportunity to see the level of the group and to get early eyes on potential problems.
R..
For divers like me, who often go months between dives, they are a welcome opportunity to shake the rust off--don't view it as a test, or anything to stress over. But there's really no downside to practicing clearing your mask and recovering your regulator, is there?