Please help me stop!

[MXGratefulDiver]

My dive style is the best FOR ME. And it will continue to be only until such time that I learn something new, or discover something that works better. It seems a lot of divers here are such that they are always learning, so the BEST dive style is more like the holy grail than something you can learn in a weekend.

Here's a diver who "gets it" ...

My diving style today is based on the circumstances in which I dive today.

Tomorrow my circumstances may change ... which means that my choice of dive style may also change.

Everybody's optimal choice of diving style is going to be based on their experience, equipment, environment and goals. Three out of four of those are constantly evolving ... and the fourth depends on where they dive ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Actually, that quote that many of us use really pertains to catfish and not cats. (At least in the south)

There are many ways to skin a catfish ... pliers usually work pretty well ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Because it takes the fun out of diving.
Which do you prefer at a safety stop?
a) concentrating on looking cool, staying perfectly horizontal and holding depth to a tolerance of 6"
b) floating around enjoying the freedom while accepting a tolerance of 3'

The first may be technically superior but while I can do it if I really want to I invariably prefer the second.

Depends on the dive ... some examples ...

- if I'm diving a shallow reef or shore dive, I'm going to be swimming around looking at stuff and not really caring much whether I go up or down a couple of feet

- if I'm coming up an upline, there's nothing to look at but the darn rope ... and I can enjoy my "freedom" while staying perfectly horizontal and looking "cool" ... and if it was a staged deco or aggressive recreational dive, I'm going to want to vary my depth as little as possible

- if I'm coming out of the Devil's Ear, I'm gonna have my legs wrapped around a bit honkin' log ... holding on for all I'm worth so the dang thing doesn't toss me off and spit me out

Your "style" should be appropriate to the dive you're doing ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tomboyy]

First of all, those who are offended by this post will cite my limited number of dives - not that many. I live three and a half hours (yes, one way) from the nearest diveable body of water and was certified two years ago this coming Saturday, so I do the best I can. If the best retort you can offer is derision, well, I feel sorry for you.

Can anyone tell me how to stop pointing out that there is more than one way to dive? For example, I dive a (rear inflate) BC and am seriously thinking about BP/w, but BP/w-philes (for the most part) think that the only way to dive is BP/w - sure, your system may have advantages for you, but is it the only way to dive, especially if I am an OW diver? I dive with a slung pony bottle - that too is wrong, according to many vocal elements on SB, despite the fact that many certifying agencies recommend a Y-valve or pony for deep dives. Finally, while learning to hover horizontally has been a great benefit to my diving, I can't bite my tongue when someone posts "you should only dive horizontally."

Here is your chance - what do you think?

Do you maybe mean an H-valve ?

 

[boulderjohn]

Thanks for all the feedback, people. It seems to me that one vocal element on SB is now conspicuously absent, but I am glad to hear that I am not alone!

Let's see, you post late at night, when many people are already in bed, and then after less than an hour note that some people are conspicuously absent from the thread. Interesting.

 

[TSandM]

if I'm coming out of the Devil's Ear, I'm gonna have my legs wrapped around a bit honkin' log ... holding on for all I'm worth so the dang thing doesn't toss me off and spit me out

I prefer to wedge my head under the log. No matter what I do to it, my head won't leak . . .

 

[Walter]

Do you maybe mean an H-valve ?

Y valves and H valves serve the same purpose and Y valves have been around longer.

 

[SolarStorm]

I answered your pole that I thought my way was superior (what ever that is). Thats because if I dont think that way, I should change so that I am the best I can be. (My way changes LOTS) but it is always the best, in fact it probably changes with each dive because there is some other "jerk" that is "better" than me so I watch and learn, buy them a beer, and then become superior again (at least until the beer wears off)

 

[tomboyy]

you mean air comes out when you turn them lefty-loosey.

 

[Divedoggie]

I've enjoyed drift dives where my buddies and I let the current take us while we maintained an upside down position for the entire dive. I've enjoyed ascents wearing my drysuit in a horizontal position but facing upward for the entire ascent. Sometimes when doing a safety stop in blue water its most effective to stay in an upright/verticle position to avoid vertigo and to best observe dolphins, turtles and rays. Moving across a wreck hand over hand in a current can be infinitely preferable to staying streamlined and never touching anything!
I dove with a guy named Jesus (no joke!) who in 2004 had over 12,000 dives. He loved his jacket style BCD. Ascending with him was divine.