DIVEBUM'S PRETTY GOOD PIECES OF ADVICE ABOUT DIVING (and Life)
1) It ain't a competitive sport.
2) It ain't a macho sport - save the macho bull**** for the bedroom.
3) Be as concerned about your buddy's life as you want him/her to be about yours.
4) Select your buddy based upon number 3, and make sure when you are selected that you remember number 3.
5) You can never have too many good dive buddies.
6) Don't open your mouth just to change feet. When you speak, have something of value to add to the conversation.
7) No matter how long you have been diving, there will always be someone who has been diving longer.
8) No matter how many dives you've done, there will always be someone who has done more.
9) Always consult your built in bull**** detector before accepting free advice. Chances are if the advice sounds flaky, it is. If it's free, remember, you often get what you pay for.
10) Consult number 9 before dispensing advice.
11) Don't try to cover several square miles on each dive. The reef has more patience than you do, and will be around a lot longer.
12) Be humble.
13) Keep in mind that you are an alien in an alien environment; you need to adapt rather than expecting the environment to adapt.
14) Take pictures, leave bubbles.
15) There is no place for arrogance in this sport.
16) You will learn something on each dive regardless of how many dives have gone before.
17) Be as willing to learn as you are to teach - and vice versa.
18) Never argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
19) Share our sport with as many people as you can.
20) If you are a newbie, have patience. Everyone was where you are now at some time in their career.
21) If you are experienced, have patience with those who are not. You were there once, too.
22) Have fun.
23) Slow down and enjoy the interaction with a different world.
24) There is no substitute for experience.
25) It ain't about ego.
26) Even if you're pissed at another diver, when you wave, use all your fingers. He/she may be the one who has to come to your assistance one day.
27) It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.
28) Get mad. And then get over it.
29) A step into the water is a step down the food chain.
30) You can sometimes hide your stupidity, but don't count on it.
31) The reason you dive is to get away from meaningless conversation.
32) Always drink upstream of the herd.
33) "Good enough" depends on whether your position resembles William Tell - or his son.
34) Always hang your dripping wet suit over someone else's locker.
35) If someone else will do a dirty job, let them.
36) A good dive is good, a bad dive ain't bad.
37) It's easier to change a plan than to have no plan at all.
38) Never loan what you can't do without.
39) Never borrow what you can't pay for.
40) Make sure that your dive doesn't exceed the least experienced diver's comfort zone.
41) You dive to relieve stress, not cause it - to yourself or others.
42) Don't trust a dive shop without a coffee pot.
43) Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and the pig likes it.
44) Never support a philosophy which does not support integrity.
45) Never underestimate the power of stupid people in a large group.
1) It ain't a competitive sport.
2) It ain't a macho sport - save the macho bull**** for the bedroom.
3) Be as concerned about your buddy's life as you want him/her to be about yours.
4) Select your buddy based upon number 3, and make sure when you are selected that you remember number 3.
5) You can never have too many good dive buddies.
6) Don't open your mouth just to change feet. When you speak, have something of value to add to the conversation.
7) No matter how long you have been diving, there will always be someone who has been diving longer.
8) No matter how many dives you've done, there will always be someone who has done more.
9) Always consult your built in bull**** detector before accepting free advice. Chances are if the advice sounds flaky, it is. If it's free, remember, you often get what you pay for.
10) Consult number 9 before dispensing advice.
11) Don't try to cover several square miles on each dive. The reef has more patience than you do, and will be around a lot longer.
12) Be humble.
13) Keep in mind that you are an alien in an alien environment; you need to adapt rather than expecting the environment to adapt.
14) Take pictures, leave bubbles.
15) There is no place for arrogance in this sport.
16) You will learn something on each dive regardless of how many dives have gone before.
17) Be as willing to learn as you are to teach - and vice versa.
18) Never argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
19) Share our sport with as many people as you can.
20) If you are a newbie, have patience. Everyone was where you are now at some time in their career.
21) If you are experienced, have patience with those who are not. You were there once, too.
22) Have fun.
23) Slow down and enjoy the interaction with a different world.
24) There is no substitute for experience.
25) It ain't about ego.
26) Even if you're pissed at another diver, when you wave, use all your fingers. He/she may be the one who has to come to your assistance one day.
27) It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.
28) Get mad. And then get over it.
29) A step into the water is a step down the food chain.
30) You can sometimes hide your stupidity, but don't count on it.
31) The reason you dive is to get away from meaningless conversation.
32) Always drink upstream of the herd.
33) "Good enough" depends on whether your position resembles William Tell - or his son.
34) Always hang your dripping wet suit over someone else's locker.
35) If someone else will do a dirty job, let them.
36) A good dive is good, a bad dive ain't bad.
37) It's easier to change a plan than to have no plan at all.
38) Never loan what you can't do without.
39) Never borrow what you can't pay for.
40) Make sure that your dive doesn't exceed the least experienced diver's comfort zone.
41) You dive to relieve stress, not cause it - to yourself or others.
42) Don't trust a dive shop without a coffee pot.
43) Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and the pig likes it.
44) Never support a philosophy which does not support integrity.
45) Never underestimate the power of stupid people in a large group.
