An interesting thread, and also lots of interesting offshoots - as far as badge collecting goes to some extent I was guilty ! - OK confession over, I feel better for it
- but I did approach each course as a learning experience and tried to get as much from it as possible. Partly I was motivated by my own insecurity, I didn't know what I didn't know, and thought that by doing courses I would manage to learn enough to be safe.
I also read everything and anything that I could get my hands on, even 30-40 year old diving manuals from the USA and UK which I added to my library.
I made a lot of dives, but it is only recently I have started to realise that also I made lots of the SAME dives and probably wasn't learning much from them or improving my diving. Apart from completing my Coxswains certificate I haven't done a formal course for some time now, but I have started to dive with lots of different divers, in as many different conditions as I can, and I have finally started to SEE some of what I don't know.
So for now I am diving twice a week, drysuit, side mount, and just practising to get completely comfortable, trying to perfect my buoyancy, trim, navigation and get very familiar with my gear - I haven't carried a camera in about 20 dives now - and probably won't for a while yet either.
As Lowviz also said I have come to the conclusion my buoyancy sucks ! I still have to concentrate on it too much and it is not natural and instinctive yet - I had wanted to do accelerated deco, trimix and possibly look to a cave course over the next 12-18 months, but actually I am now starting to think I am not ready. Many years ago I was awarded a karate black belt by a very famous Japanese master - I still clearly remember him saying after the award that "now you are ready to start learning karate".
I came to find out what he meant, and am starting to think I that my diving is the same. I have the cards I need to do most of the dives I want, but there is always more to learn, but more importantly I now have to start to really understand and embed what I have already been taught.
I have learn't an awful lot the last few months diving with lots of divers from national instructors down to newly qualified divers, none of it has involved a card of any sort, but I am sure I am a better diver for it. So if you can dive critically and see what other people do that you are impressed by and want to learn, then don't be afraid to ask and pick up tips.
I am far more comfortable now that I have a fair idea of what I don't know, and can't do right yet and what I need to work on, but I don't really see any courses out there that address what I want a another card won't give me what I want - so what I want to do is go down the mentor type route, I will try to dive with people who have impressed me, and emulate what they do, I will shamelessly ask them their secrets, and pump them dry for information - but I will buy the beers and try to be good company and a good safe dive buddy.
I'd be happy to pay for a one on one with an instructor whether there is a badge or not, it doesn't matter, and then perhaps in a year or so I'll think about cave and rebreathers again.
Phil.