How do you define what makes a good diver

[GulfDiver77]

As others have said I agree with.
1. Knowing when to thumb a dive.
2. Being comfortable with your level and know what you need to work on.
3. Not thinking you know it all, be willing to hear advice then research it for your self to make sure it is good advice.
4. Always strive for improvement.

That's my 2psi anyway. also I think it is a great thread Leah

 

[Walter]

1. You're less likely to panic if you have encountered the situation before, whether for real or in training. If you recognize the problem and have a known strategy for dealing with it, it allows you a constructive response.

Relates directly to your confidence. If you have confidence in your ability to handle the situatiuon, you will not panic. That's why SCUBA skills (including the "useless" confidence building skills) skin diving skills and swimming ability are so important.

2. You're less likely to panic if you can recognize your rising anxiety level before it gets that far. If you don't recognize anxiety, it spirals.

That's the first step, the second step is how to deal with it, which you answered in point # 3.

3. Panic is part mental and part physical. You can control the physical part of it. In the ER, for example, keeping one's voice low helps keep EVERYBODY under control, including yourself. In the water, controlling my breathing has been very helpful in situations of stress.

Breathing is the key to everything. Calm breathing indicates a calm person. Often when I'm telling certain dive stories, people will make comments, like, "I'll be you burned your tank pretty quickly." No, I didn't. As long as I keep my head, I can control my breathing even when I'm scared. Controlling my breathing also helps me focus my mind on the solution rather than on the fear. If you think about your fear, you are on your way to panic. If you concentrate on breathing, slow deep breathing, your mind stays clear and you can think about the solution to the problem. When you are thinking about solutions, fear disappears. You don't have time for fear. After the emergency is over you get rubber legs.

4. Panic-inspiring things are often the result of snowballs. Having an effective coping strategy for simple problems prevents them spiralling into complicated and more difficult problems.

Excellent point. Deal with the small things right away. Plan to avoid causing yourself problems. You do not want to be hanging in a gray sphere, with little or no idea where the boat might be at dusk in rapidly fading daylight with a bloody flopping fish, no dive light, an unfamiliar computer, 20 minutes of deco at 30 feet with an unfamiliar computer that has no back lighting, 500 PSI and as the light continues to fade, you can no longer make out when to move from 30 feet to 20 or from 20 feet to 10. Did I mention there's a current and you are diving solo? If you ever get yourself in such a stupid situation, I promise you'll find it's more frightening than being chased by two aggressive Bull Sharks. Concentrating on your breathing ad keeping your mind clear is your only hope.

 

[DennisW]

I would dive with any one of you. Warm water please.

 

[Thalassamania]

You know Walter, we come to it by different routes but we reach the same place, breathing is the key. We devote the second pool session and the first fifteen minutes of every pool and open water session to a set of breathing exercises. I think this really helps the students to learn that there's more to it than the instinctive breathe in, breathe out.

 

[nereas]

This is a good question, worthy of thought. My definition of what makes a good/great diver:

1) Perfect buoyancy, no silting;
2) Reliable buddy skills;
3) High degree of training;
4) Great awareness;
5) Equipment that works.

 

[SelkieDVM]

leah, you come up with some great threads!

 

[dmmike]

For me, its a diver who is humble.

I've been on many-a-charters, and it seems like the quiet ones let their skills speak for them. It almost always seems that the ones who speak the most dive the worst:shakehead :shakehead

 

[Thalassamania]

For me, its a diver who is humble.

I've been on many-a-charters, and it seems like the quiet ones let their skills speak for them. It almost always seems that the ones who speak the most dive the worst:shakehead :shakehead

So now George Irvine III and Bret Gilliam are no good divers?

 

[verybaddiver]

Maybe the quiet ones are nervous? :>. Anyways it's a bollox point. neither experience nor skill decides the personality of the diver.
I'm sure Irvine wasn't that bad for people willing to listen to him :/

 

[in_cavediver]

So now George Irvine III and Bret Gilliam are no good divers?

You know, this was such a nice positive thread, (one which I can't really add more too!)

Then I see these and think such not nice thoughts.....

To me, the essense of a good diver is much more than skills. It's entirely the attitude of the person combined with the passion they have for the sport and generousity they offer other divers. Many hear have done justice to describing this. That said, some of the 'Great Divers' may not meet the criterea of good divers IMHO.