Rules for a New Diver?

[Lexy]

Hey there Adgie! Welcome aboard and congrats on finishing your certification.

Lots of great advice... I'd like to add just a little:
1. Dive, dive, have fun, dive and dive. The more you dive, the more you are going to become comfortable. Shore diving is fantastic exercise + so accessible.
2. Check out southcoastdivers.com & divebums.com - great group of folks, who will take you under their wings with zero attitude. They dive every sat/sun and meet at Laguna Hills Mall (in South OC) at 7:30 AM sharp.
3. Come join us for the monthly wrinkles dive. Another fantastic group of people with no attitude.
4. Ask questions here on scubaboard.com - I can't tell you how many "dumb" questions I asked and had like 15+ people provide feedback within a matter of hours.

Very good points made - especially the one on making the decision NOT to dive. I've called dives for many reasons - weather, gear, feeling sea sick, just feeling not so good about conditions, buddy having gear problems. No one will give you a hard time for calling a dive, since we've all been there too.

Run through your buddy check, especially the buddy separation procedure.

Looking forward to meeting you! Have fun!

 

[pasley]

You have gotten some great advice.

I will only add or in some cases restate:
1. Tell your dive partner you are new. I don't mind diving with new divers, some do. If we do 15 minutes or 1 hour it is all good as long as we have fun and dive safely I don't mind. I do like to know before the dive though. I choose my dive sites based upon the lowest level of experience in the group.
2. If you have any doubts in you mind, call the dive! If you ever say, "well, what do you think?" that is your common sense trying to say no. So call the dive.
3. Relax and enjoy the dive and remember your training.
4. Buy DAN or some other dive insurance. Best way to insure you will never need it is to buy it.

http://www.sandeaters.org dives every Sunday. Not a club, just a schedule on the internet and a good place to be. So are the wrinkles dives.

You can allways give me a call (562) 421-3094 for a dive. I will be at Crescent bay Laguna Beach Saturday about 10:00 or so with guys from Ft. Irwin(meeting at Laguna Sea Sports).

 

[Zaffy]

I'm in a similar situation as the OP, thank you all for your replies. You've given a lot of good insight.

I'm going to Casino Point this sunday (24th) with my girlfriend (she's more experienced than I am). Hopefully we can meet one or more of you while we're there.