Skills Poll

[TMHeimer]

This is a poll for certified non pro divers. When I dive with others I rarely see skills being practiced, whether during the dive or at a safety stop. Just curious as to the %s. By skills I mean the specific ones you learned in OW class--reg retrieval, unit on & off, etc. Not general stuff like buoyancy, finning, etc.

 

[KeithG]

well, umm, err, ahh, never? none?

But I know I should. Maybe.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When I was diving with DIR buddies for a few years we practiced every dive. That really got old. Now I just dive for fun and never practice anything except improving my photography.

 

[Montana Diver]

Need an additional poll, I will do a skill on every 6 or 7 dives. Normally it is an SMB from 30-40 feet. I switch to my bungied secondary reg every other dive. I don't see these as once in a while!

I do mask and other confined dive OW skills in the pool every 4-5 months.

Dennis

 

[FoxHound]

i play with valves and reg switches every dive, not necessarily an official practising thing but just something to do.

lots of nav practising but thats because its all river bottom with little visual reference and I just go

 

[Tigerman]

"once in a while" is the most accurate I guess, but by once in a while I mean every few dives. It could be mask removal/change, SMB deployment, reg retrieval or whatever..
People thats in the water with me might not even notice that Im doing it.. I HAVE surfaced and been asked "didnt you wear a black mask" after changing into my blue backup...

 

[Bob DBF]

Once and a while for me is every other dive or more often. Usually I breathe off my backup reg every dive as quality assurance. Occasionally I'll be real bored and spend a whole tank just working on skills.


Bob
------------------
I may be old, but I'm not dead yet.

 

[drrich2]

I figure those skills I actually use will get 'practiced' on dives anyway, without specifically doing drills.

There are things I could do to practice, of course.

I do some solo diving at a quarry to help maintain general proficiency and work with gear. While that's not drilling specific skills, it draws on the same basic intent; adequate proficiency to safely execute the dives I do.

Richard.

 

[PfcAJ]

Almost never. I keep skills sharp by actually diving, not practicing for diving

 

[OtherHalf]

Unless it's training I'm not sure I'd spend a whole tank practicing skills, but practicing good trim, working different kicks, practicing deploying the long hose, little stuff like that I do almost every dive. Just because I'm not doing OOA drills doesn't mean I'm not practicing. my view at least.