Diving Tips From Experienced SB Divers to nOObies

[Henryville]

My favorites center on developing buoyancy control, so I'll add:

ALWAYS breathe from your primary reg WHILE looking at your SPG just before you hop in. You will see clearly whether your gas is on, and that's a good thing.

 

[herman]

Be honest with yourself and your buddy about your skills and training. Don't take on dives that are way over your experience or training and please don't BS a new buddy about your experience or skill level.

 

[kabluton]

Learn to appreciate the little things on the reefs. There is so much life down there that people often overlook. One of my favorite things to do is find a territorial damselfish and see if I can find the exact spot that will cause him to give me a little nip. I get a big kick outta this little tiny fish trying to ward off a huge alien invader. Slow down and appreciate the little things as it will help you relax and enjoy your diving much more.

 

[oceancrest67]

As your grow, learn and practice...the little things will start to come to the surface...the suitability of a good dive buddy...the thickness of a wetsuit in a certain climate...the amount of weight needed given type of tank, thickness of wetsuit and diving environment.

I know these are basics repeated in many manuals...but in the real world you will see how they come into play in so many ways...fine tuning your skills and experience will take time...be patient.

Oh...and one more thing...buy your own gear and don't be cheap...buy what is comfortable to you and what suits your kind of diving. Rental gear cannot be trusted in the long run.

 

[OE2X]

Always be aware of your buddy. Know where your buddy is at all times. Be able to get to them with in a few seconds. If you start a dive with buddy, make sure you finish the dive with your buddy.

 

[Mrs.Prages]

Learn good communication skills for the U/W world. My buddy and I use the basic commands and ASL spelling and simple words. Being able to get thoughts across when you are U/W has helped us to both feel a lot more comfortable and helps to ensure that we cboth get to see lots, as we can tell each other what we see.

GOOD COMMUNICATION.

 

[loosebits]

Learn the modified frog/modified flutter kicks. There are some videos out there somewhere of what they look like. I do a lot of lake diving and there is nothing that will ruin the viz faster than someone doing a standard flutter kick 1' off the bottom (which in most lakes, that's the only way you'll see anything anyway).

 

[Webbo]

As a nOObie, the one piece of advice I can offer so far is always do your buddy check, even if you have dived with your buddy before - that way even if you have forgotten something it will get picked up before you hit the water

 

[c-monkey]

Translated from my riding instructor (horses) into diving: Dive often, dive everywhere, dive in different environments-- cold, warm, clear, bad viz, shallow, deep (all safely and with proper training of course)... there is something to learn from all of it and you'll be more capable of handling difficult or new situations with varied experiences to supplement good judgement.

 

[diver_paula]

Safety is important but remember to have FUN! So don't try to learn everything at once. Get the basics down and then add a new skill one at a time so you aren't overwhelmed. Relax, have fun and with experience you will become a better diver. No need to be a 'perfect' diver from the get-go.

Paula