How long before it's all really dialed in?

[bshmerlie]

I think time in between is more important than the actual number once you get so many dives under your belt. Yes some things are like riding a bike but if you waited and didn't dive for five years there would probably be a lot of rust to shake off.

 

[Kharon]

Depends entirely on you. The absolute best diver I ever met gave me this advice: "Your card is a learners permit. You need to practice all those skills you were introduced to till you have them down to a conditioned reflex. Do only one at a time till you perfect it before you move on the next. First buoyancy, then trim, then ...And always, ALWAYS minimize your new task load. Never more than one new task till it's reflex.”

 

[TMHeimer]

Depends entirely on you. The absolute best diver I ever met gave me this advice: "Your card is a learners permit. You need to practice all those skills you were introduced to till you have them down to a conditioned reflex. Do only one at a time till you perfect it before you move on the next. First buoyancy, then trim, then ...And always, ALWAYS minimize your new task load. Never more than one new task till it's reflex.”

When I say skills, I'm usually talking about the (24 still?) things you are taught in the pool (PADI). Buoyancy and trim are what most people mean when they talk of skills-- perhaps efficient kicking. These skills should naturally improve as you continue to dive. I do wonder how many non-pro divers actually practice regulator retrieval, weight belt and unit removal and replacement, no mask swim, etc. after they are certified. My guess would be very very few.

 

[lowwall]

I do wonder how many non-pro divers actually practice regulator retrieval, weight belt and unit removal and replacement, no mask swim, etc. after they are certified. My guess would be very very few.

I briefly swap to my octo to make sure it's working well on every dive. I also do a mask remove and replace on nearly every dive. Not the other stuff though.

 

[MacDuyver]

Maybe

More experienced divers have different advice about how long it takes before everything is internalized to the point it's just natural and you don't have to think about it. I'm curious to know what people here say about it and what it means.

I assume it will take me longer to get buoyancy and trim completely sorted because my diving is both tropical in either a shorty or rash guard and cold water in a drysuit. I just bought a drysuit that has very different buoyancy characteristics than the rental I used before. At this point, I have a bit over 30 dives in the last 14 months since I got certified. About half are tropical in different neoprene suits and half are cold water. Only the last two (31 and 32) are in the new drysuit. My guess is that about a dozen dives in the new drysuit will get that pretty well sorted. Tropical dives are close to sorted, although ditching neoprene and just going with a rash guard will put a bit of a complication in that. That's probably TMI. I'm curious to know what others' experiences with dialing it all in have been.

40 or 50 dives everything clicked to the point of being reliable. By 75 or so it was well engrained.

Everyone learns at different paces though

 

[TMHeimer]

I briefly swap to my octo to make sure it's working well on every dive. I also do a mask remove and replace on nearly every dive. Not the other stuff though.

Yeah that's a good one to do. I didn't have trouble with it in the class so guess I never thought about practicing it other than to demonstrate it.

 

[MacDuyver]

Sounds like there's lots of practice needed. Aw, what a shame. I have to dive more.

Oh no!!!!!

 

[lowwall]

Yeah that's a good one to do. I didn't have trouble with it in the class so guess I never thought about practicing it other than to demonstrate it.

The mask remove is normally to allow me to blow my nose . I also like the feeling of swimming a bit with the water in my face. The only times I'll skip it in warm water is if I have a miracle completely fog free dive and I don't want to mess anything up.

If it's cold, I might just do it on the first dive of a trip (unless I really need to blow my nose).

 

[lexvil]

About 56 years but still working on it, getting close. A few more years and I should be good and dialed in.

I was hoping at 55 years but now I guess I’ll have wait another year.

 

[Nemrod]

I was hoping at 55 years but now I guess I’ll have wait another year.

Stay with it grasshopper, you will get there in the fullness of time .