How many dives before you cease to be a beginner ? [Poll]

[Roger Hobden]

I am curious to know if there is a well accepted minimum number of dives that an individual must do before he should, in theory at least, cease to be considered a "beginner" ?

Let's imagine a best-case scenario where the certifying agency is considered to have high standards, the instructor also, and the student diver a prudent individual who is well motivated to learn and apply sound advice from all matter of reputable sources.

Naturally, let us also make the important distinction between beginner and learner, because a good diver will learn on each and every dive, so learning will be a lifelong process.

Don't hesitate to comment freely on your vote.

 

[CuzzA]

100 Dives over the course of 12 months would, in my opinion, should give most people enough experience to be considered beyond a "beginner".

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When I had 100 dives I felt I was doing great and had my skills down. When I got to 500 dives I realized I didn't know what I was thinking at 100 dives. At 1,000 dives I realized I finally knew all there was to know. At 2,000 dives I realized that the old saying is correct. A good diver is always learning.

 

[TMHeimer]

I would think it varies greatly from diver to diver. I voted 51-100 because I got PADI MSD when I finished dive #50 and did my first real solo dive after #75. Long before either I found that I was hovering without thinking about it, so who knows what you'd have to be able to do to not be classified as beginner.

 

[MichaelMc]

n + min(30, n x 10%)

An adage in martial arts, best applied in the context of black belts, 'always a white belt'.

(and quality over quantity)

 

[seeker242]

I am curious to know if there is a well accepted minimum number of dives that an individual must do before he should, in theory at least, cease to be considered a "beginner" ?

Minimum of 100 dives seems to be a common prerequisite for various different agencies technical training classes. Therefore, I think you could say 100 is a "well accepted minimum number"

 

[Altamira]

It is not the number of dives you have, but rather the amount you learn and improve with each dive, and the individual's motivation that are important. I have seen divers with 100+ dives that were less competent than others with 40 total dives. As in most hobbies, some divers improve at a fantastic rate while others never do.

 

[Roger Hobden]

When I had 100 dives I felt I was doing great and had my skills down. When I got to 500 dives I realized I didn't know what I was thinking at 100 dives.

I believe this statement should be affixed on the website of every diving agency.

It confirms the suspicion I had from the very beginning about all this diving stuff.

 

[Roger Hobden]

 

[CuzzA]

When I had 100 dives I felt I was doing great and had my skills down. When I got to 500 dives I realized I didn't know what I was thinking at 100 dives. At 1,000 dives I realized I finally knew all there was to know. At 2,000 dives I realized that the old saying is correct. A good diver is always learning.

To quote my buddy who's been diving for decades...

"If you stay in this sport, and really apply yourself , in 10 years you might be the diver you think you are today."​