bad habits to avoid?

[offroaddiver]

-dropping your camera instead of placing it in the water. I told someone who dropped a 40 lb camera rig in the tank on top of my camera that they would be finding the rig on the reef if they had broken the housing.
Another bad habit is leaving gear loose. If it's not secure where it won't slide on the boat then either ask for help or don't take it.
Shore diving. don't leave your tank standing. I don't want the tank falling and breaking my sunglasses again.
Get your act together. Don't get into the habit of relaxing on the boat before getting your gear ready.

Worst habits i've seen.
stepping on other people's gear
not being able to identify your own gear.
being unorganized.
dragging your gear when diving and knocking over reefs.

If you aren't careful don't dive with me.

 

[Buoyant1]

-
--snip--
not being able to identify your own gear.
--snip--
QUOTE]


A little Sharpie goes a LONG way!

 

[jeckyll]

Why is going deep "just because" such a bad thing? (provided you've properly planned said dive and are trained to said depth)

Cheers,
Austin

Because having people focus on just a number as a goal of diving is not conducive to developing a healthy approach IMO. I'm always concerned when I see people that are focussed on purely reaching a _number_.

I see the same in other areas, for instance, if someone riding a sportbike comes over and asks me 'so how fast have you gone' I generally respond with 'in what corner'. In that sport it's not about straight line speed just like in diving it's not about 'how deep have you gone'.

People asking 'how deep have you gone' like it's some ultimate reason to go diving is not good IMO. Now, if you love cloud sponges, and they don't start till 80+ feet, then by all means go and work out a solid plan, with gas management and a good buddy and go check them out. I like them quite a bit myself.

But going to look at sand at 100 feet just so you can say you dove to 100 that day is indicative of someone who 'doesn't get it'. YMMV.

Does that make sense?

Bjorn

 

[driftin' by]

Mask on neck is a pain with a necklaced reg there as well, especially if its a big mask.

If around the neck is a pain, why not put it on backwards with the mask on the back of your head and the slap strap on your forehead? Sure it might still get knocked off but at least it's an attempt to look like a conscious decision instead of a subconscious decision to place it on the forehead indicating distress.

Bad habits to avoid:

Asking anyone besides your buddy how much air they have remaining after a dive.

Peeing in wetsuit and not allowing adequate irrigation to rinse it out before the dive is over.

Not listening or talking during a dive briefing.

 

[Jocasseegirl]

I think another bad habit is being too critical of new divers. We all had to start at the same place. I've been very fortunate in that I've had some very experienced divers to help me tweak some things, but not everyone has the opportunity to dive frequently. For example, I did a boat dive the other day. I've got close to 50 dives so far, but this was the first time since October I've been able to get wet. I stood there staring at my rig, trying to figure out why in the world I couldn't attach it to the tank - then - duh, I realized I still had the rubber cap in place. That would have been a prime time for someone to criticize me, and I appreciate the fact that they didn't. I was hard enough on myself without someone else adding to it. Sometimes even the most elementary things that you KNOW you know how to do just go out your head when you don't get to do them regularly. That's another great reason for practicing your skills on the dives that you are able to squeeze into your schedule. I guess like we've all heard "practice makes perfect."

 

[EvaL]

Bad habits of mine I should eliminate:
1. Not planning the dive in sufficient detail (e.g. how long can I stay at one depth before ascending). I rely too much on my computer and DM.
2. Not doing buddy check (I should at least know where their octo is in case I need to share air during dive).
3. Not checking my buddy's air enough.
4. Not having peak buoyancy skills - I occasionally use my hands to move underwater.
5. Not taking a compass bearing when I start the dive and having to ascend later to locate the dive boat.
6. Shining my light into buddy's face too much on night dives.
7. Not listening intently to pre-dive briefing.
8. Not knowing as much as I should hand signals and going over them with my buddy.
9. Not attentive enough about where my buddy is during the dive. I tend to wander >20ft away (bad) chasing a good photo op.
10. Too stingy with tipping a good DM.
There you go, I hope my name doesn't end up on someone's blacklist of who not to dive with.

 

[3-Ring Octopus]

It makes sense if it's a competition, yes. But diving isn't a competition with others...for me it's a competition with MYSELF. I like to extend my own personal boundaries and "push myself" in a safe manner. And sometimes that means it IS about the 'number'. (Other times it's about the vis, or the current, or the wildlife...) Going deep for deep's sake isn't always a bad thing, IMO...if one has the training and the ability to plan the dive..then go for it. Regardless of whether you want to see cloud sponges (can't wait to make a dive up there for those, btw...) or some meaningless platform or a patch of sand at the bottom. By your logic, mountain-climbing is a ridiculous pursuit. After all, what's to see at the top of Everest besides some rock and snow? Why go, right?

I agree that if you're diving just so that you have something to brag about to others, then you're probably a statistic waiting to happen. But if you're diving to push your limits a little and challenge yourself..to expand your own limitations (safely and a little at a time...I'm not saying a newly certed OW student should plan dive #5 to 200')...then that's what life is about.

Cheers,
Austin

 

[Blackwood]

Not rinsing gear ASAP due to laziness. (The next-day-stank usually breaks me of this habit... for a couple of months).

Allowing lines (spool/reel) to go slack.

Turning tank valves a quarter turn back.

 

[deepblueme]

Overestimating your ability/skill/comfort level.
Relying on the DM/Guide instead of listing to the briefing and planning YOUR dive.
Thinking that every dive boat is on Mexican time.
Not leaving your mask on your face where it belongs so you can see.

Being a holyer than thou diver.

Not bringing snacks for the boat crew!!!!!

 

[Gombessa]

Turning tank valves a quarter turn back.

Why is this bad? I understand it's a legacy carryover, but are there any specific disadvantages?