question about cave diving

[Sas]

not sure if that is a good or bad thing that you do not do much besides dive. so what is your secret to diving that much and affording it.

Well I'll do it until I stop enjoying it or if I find something better It's only bad if someone doesn't enjoy what they are doing imho.

I work as a software tester. A job that not many people like so therefore it pays well enough to let me dive a lot.

It really doesn't take up too much time though, one full day on the weekend and one night during the week and a weekend away once a month. The rest of the time I hang out with my non diving partner or friends/family.

If you dive a lake, river, or shore dive the ocean if nearby, pay avg. $5 for an air fill, throw in gas for car/truck; you can do 100 dives a year for less than the avg. amount spent in a year for movies and the fast-food restaraunt stops.

Yea pretty much. A typical day on the weekend shore diving

Petrol $10
Air fills $15
Food $15

Boat diving is more expensive so add:

Air fills go up to about $30 (nitrox)
Double dive $100

Or a weekend trip to the caves is around $200
Petrol $60 (I car pool)
Accommodation $60 (twin share with buddy)
Fills $30-50
Food $30

 

[palmm]

and how do you practice with a line when not in a cave?

 

[Sas]

and how do you practice with a line when not in a cave?

I practice on shore dives mostly. Under piers I find is good as you have to watch out for the pylons and there is also stuff to do tie-offs on. Once there was really bad weather so we went to the local pool and used dive weights to tie off onto (though it's not great simulation, better than nothing).

Some people practice in a local lake and set up things like milk crates or pegs to do tie offs on.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's pretty easy for those of us who live on Puget Sound to get 100 dives a year, especially if you include a couple of more dive-intensive trips.

... some of us already have 100 dives this year ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Sas]

... some of us already have 100 dives this year ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Jealous!

 

[palmm]

bob how can you dive that much?

 

[FireInMyBones]

I just finished Cavern after 63 dives. Quality of dives was always stressed over number.

My dive buddy is an instructor and I always ask for criticism. It was that constant critique that keeps me on my toes.
I love my dives. Each is fun. Cavern training was no different.

If in doubt, ask a local instructor if they could dive with once or twice to see if they feel that you are ready.

 

[TSandM]

I pay for a year's Nitrox up front -- my cost per tank, by the end of the year, is about $5. I live 30 minutes from six good dive sites, and within an hour and a half of about twenty more. It's EASY to get a lot of dives in in a year.

 

[FireInMyBones]

You all are blessed to get that many dives in a year. My wife is glad to have me available more often than that.

 

[SkimFisher]

I took Cavern at 40 dives. I plan on taking Intro at the end of summer. By then I should be around 100 dives. I take reels with me wherever I go and if I see an opportunity to use them I do. There are a few sites I go to specifically just to practice. Cavern is a bit of a tease, but it gets your foot in the door. I really had no intention of taking it, except it was offered as part of a BOGO cert promotion at a local shop. We did our checkouts at Peacock and I knew I was hooked.

One thing that will help is if you are able to find buddies that currently dive at the level you aspire to. Diving with people that are better than you is a great help. They'll share tips with you, point out mistakes or things that need improvement. Experienced buddies are an invaluable tool when it comes to progressing as a diver.

Also, like so many others have said, it's the quality of your dives thus far, not the number.