How did you get experience?

[ontdiver]

Joining a club trip for a land based rather than LOB dive trip is another good way of gaining experience. A bit less pressure for a land based trip and you also have a bit more down time to chill after your dives. And once you get a few dives under your belt take an Advanced and then a Rescue course. But it all boils down to diving regularly and working on your skill set.

 

[rmorgan]

Maybe you'd be surprised how many newly minted divers immediately take that first dive trip. I was one of them. I got certified because I was already planning a trip to Australia. The next dive after certification--my first dive ever outside of the OW course--was the Great Barrier Reef.

This was precisely my wife’s experience. I had business in Canberra and we went to Heron Island afterward, where she did her first salt-water dive. She’ll hit 900 this fall, if all goes to plan. Wheeler, you can do a logistically-simple trip—St. Croix comes to mind, you don’t need a passport and currents are generally nonexistent to mild—and the guides should take very good care of you. Everyone will be rooting for you!

 

[Cthippo]

I think my answer is banned in this forum...

 

[Wheeler925]

I think my answer is banned in this forum...

then pm me

 

[fred32176]

I am a newer diver. My way of gaining experience is dive two weekends a month. Usually I will do one dive in springs and one 2 tank boat dive a month. Our trips tend to be to the keys which provide lots of diving options.

I dove the keys shortly after being certified and if you let the dive operator know your experience level they can put you on appropriate trips. Next month I plan on diving Looe Key as it supposed to be in better shape than most other reefs. Looe Key is pretty shallow diving, I believe 25' and less. There are lots of shallow reefs in Florida that new divers can comfortably do. Pick your location/dives to match your experience and you should enjoy yourself and get more experience.

 

[Wheeler925]

I am a newer diver. My way of gaining experience is dive two weekends a month. Usually I will do one dive in springs and one 2 tank boat dive a month. Our trips tend to be to the keys which provide lots of diving options.

I dove the keys shortly after being certified and if you let the dive operator know your experience level they can put you on appropriate trips. Next month I plan on diving Looe Key as it supposed to be in better shape than most other reefs. Looe Key is pretty shallow diving, I believe 25' and less. There are lots of shallow reefs in Florida that new divers can comfortably do. Pick your location/dives to match your experience and you should enjoy yourself and get more experience.

You're lucky to be located somewhere where extensive exposure gear and hours of driving to get to a deep hole aren't required!

 

[Chavodel8en]

then pm me

Dont solo dive yet. Its just too risky, you may encounter problems that you cant deal with adequately. Gain experience with buddies first. Once you're fairly competent as a diver, then you can think about solo diving.

They've probably been mentioned, but I recommend joining a local dive club, hopefully there is one. There may be one associated with your local dive shop.

You can also do a search in Facebook to find facebook pages for local dive clubs, or just a general local scuba diving page where you can post seeking buddies.

 

[fred32176]

You're lucky to be located somewhere where extensive exposure gear and hours of driving to get to a deep hole aren't required!

Very true, Florida a great place to live if you dive. The keys are a good place for vacation divers, I have seen all sorts skill levels on dive boats in the keys. There is a dive you will love in the keys.

Facebook groups, meetup and your LDS may schedule dives that you can join. When I dive springs, I am often with a Facebook group (It's dive o'clock somewhere in central Florida). A benefit of diving with a group is making friends that like to dive.

 

[Raque]

Hello Wheeler,

Well, assuming you have access to a pool near by, at least 12 foot deep, the pool is a perfect place to work on buoyancy, I still goof around in the pool with my buoyancy, I’m always changing something with my gear, so, that ,ales it necessary to continue to square away my lead and buoyancy skills.

Find a country club or a high school that will allow you to use their pool, they usually don’t mind if you do it early morning, like around 6 am. But ask first!

Hello! how can I practice my buoyancy in a pool? Do I gear up completely it sounds very interesting and will help me a lot since I am a newbie

 

[NothingClever]

@Wheeler925

Sounds like the immediate solution is to work on buoyancy control in the pool until the local water temps warm up and you can increase the complexity of the conditions.

Pool sessions are an excellent opportunity to practice buoyancy control with your lungs as well as finning techniques.