ericg753
Registered
I almost never dive without a camera for snap shot. I use a Snappy Coil, so I can let it go when I wish, and take it back when I wish. As for task loading, given that you don't have a lot of dives yet, be mindful all this is going on...
1.) You need to maintain buoyancy & depth, staying off the reef.
2.) You need to keep up with where the guide is going (if you're doing guided dives), and where your buddy is (if assigned one).
3.) You need to frequently monitor your tank pressure. Probably the guide will have you signal your amount of air at times, and you'll need to let him know when you're around a half-tank. Especially if your air consumption is amongst the faster of the group.
4.) You'll be looking for things to film.
5.) Due to the zoom effect of being underwater and wearing a mask, you lose considerable peripheral vision.
6.) You can't talk & lack directional hearing.
7.) It's a 3-D world; unlike on land, what's over & under you also matters. You're trying not to blunder into, drop down on or rise up into, or kick, other divers. They can affect you the same way.
8.) While looking for things to film, you'll be trying to keep up with what the guide is pointing out.
9.) If you're doing shallow reef dives rather than deep wrecks, NDL will probably not be an issue. But be aware it matters in diving.
10.) And now, camera drama. Is this thing on? Do I think I'm framing what I want the way I want? Etc...
You don't daydream, do you? Tune out into your own introvert world? 'Cause I do intermittently...
I'm not saying don't take your GoPro. I'm just saying task-loading is a very different animal underwater than on land, because even when you're diving comfortably and aren't thinking about it all that much, you're using more mental bandwidth than you realize, and have less left over for added tasks than you think.
Richard.
WOW, very interesting points I never even considered! Thanks Rich, I will definitely take everything into consideration as well as be considerate to those around me. I'd like to say I'm going to practice, but the temps and water here in NY are FFFFRRRIGID (which is why I prefer tropical dives over cold water dives any day of the week).
Hmm...maybe I can practice in the dive shop pool for an hour....not the same, might help with just getting comfortable, pretend I am in a open sea environment.
My dives are booked, deepest I'm going appears to be 30 feet. Ehhh.....I would've liked deeper (60 to 80), but considering I haven't done this since last April, and that I want to get to see a lot of species, shallow reefs may be the way to go.
I'm already tasting the fish tacos (although I never had any).....can't wait!