Advice for a Newbie....

[VanGirl]

Hi all.... as a recent OW 'grad' I've really enjoyed the board and have found boat loads of useful info and discussions... Quick question. I'm heading out of town for the weekend and am planning on getting in a few dives. I'm in the PNW, so I'll be taking along gear that I used in my lessons (*including drysuit)... and while I'm totally excited at the opportunity to get in the deep once more AND meet a bunch of new divers... I'm a bit nervous too. After reading much of the board....suddenly all the 'what ifs' seem to be looming a bit in my head. So...I'm looking to all you all you pros out there (*old & new) to see if you have any tips on overcoming the newcomer gitters. After all...this IS supposed to be fun! ... Cheers & Happy Diving!

 

[Aquatic Eagle]

My suggestion:

It doesn't matter how new you are to diving, if you let yourself have fun and be safe at the same time then you will be comfortable with yourself and you'll be a good dive buddy as well. Diving is a great way to make new friends that can last a long time and this is the perfect opportunity for you to do just that. Just enjoy yourself and be safe...you'll be fine. Welcome to the ocean.

 

[theskull]

Pick buddies who talk about safety in their diving, take care of their gear, and do a buddy check on your gear. They should ask you some questions regarding your experience and comfort before diving with you as well.

Dive within your training limits. Take on small additional challenges WHEN you are ready to--additional depth of not more that 50 ft. more, OR colder water, OR a night dive, OR a little stronger current.

If the dive sounds like fun to you, enjoy it! If it doesn't sound like fun TO YOU, then you are probably not yet ready for it, so take a rain check.

An exercise we do in cave diving before a dive, at least mentally if not out loud is "what if". It is a good technique for any new dive experience. It goes like this: What if the current carries us out away from shore? What if I run low on air before my buddies do? What if we plan a dive to 80 ft. and I accidentally drop to 110 ft.? Got the idea? At least think through the possible problems and how you will deal with them. If you are not prepared to deal with them, skip the dive and wait for an easier one until you are better prepared to make this type of dive.

Have fun (safely),
theskull

 

[d33ps1x]

And listen to the voice in your head about diving or not diving any particular site. It's usually right.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Dont forget that no diver knows it all and we are all learning whenever we dive. Deff dont get into the trap of going with the flow if you're not happy with something, if a buddy wont do a buddy check then dont dive with them!

 

[Warren_L]

And don't be afraid to raise any concerns, and if you have to, call a dive or not dive at all if you have any concerns about a dive that you cannot address.

 

[yoda4x4]

Being a resonably new diver myself (just started May '03), the best advice I can give you is... TAKE YOUR TIME WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO. Don't feel pressured to get into the water before you are ready, descend slowly while equalizing early and often, and take a few moments to make sure you are neutrally bouyant. Then, just go relax and enjoy the view. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

David

 

[wreckchick]

Remember that you are in charge of your own diving. Don't wait for someone else to do the buddy check, initiate it. Make sure that the dive plan is discussed in detail and that you understand and agree with it. Be honest with your companions about your experience and your comfort level and make sure the dive plan is within both. If the other divers want to do a dive that you don't think you're ready for, skip it and catch them on the next dive.

As an example, I was recently out diving with a pretty big group and we were all gearing up to do a dive and my buddy wandered over and asked if I was planning to go deep on our first dive, I said no, why? He said that the main group (a bunch of experienced technical divers) was planning to do a weenie deco dive. Now that is way beyond my training so I said I didn't want to play with them and he said he didn't either so we went in at the same time but the groups split immediately and we did our own dive. No problem, but just knowing what the plan is, you can make a decision about whether or not to participate. If they'd all wanted to do the deep dive, except for me, I would've waited and done the next dive which would be shallower and within my comfort zone.

Communciate and remember where you're happy, do those dives.

Rachel

 

[Rick Inman]

Do a search online for local user groups or boards to hook up with experts in diving the area. There are lots of good, experienced buddies who would love to dive with you! That's how I found some!!
(Better, UP?)

 

[VanGirl]

Thanks for all the good advice! I've heard about 'listening to your gut' in diving and in the profession I'm in that is a frequent occurrence... For now I guess it's going to be especially important for me to just keep on reviewing the whole dive process in my downtime :leseratte when I'm not diving so that when it comes time for me to get on out there I'll be an even better judge of dive plans and conditions, etc.. and less likely to let my nerves hold me back.

I think the day I can get in 'the zone' and hover beautifully, drysuit and all, will be a fantastic day! ... Can't wait!

Cheers & Happy Diving!!!

p.s. .... Can you believe my goal is to be an instructor in this someday...If and when that happens I'll be sure to remember these early times.