So how can I inch closer?

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Blackvans...well done. While I do agree wholeheartedly with the 'get more diving under your belt' philosophy, my caveat would be to do so...somewhere else than your local area. If somebody always dive the same body of water in the very same diving conditions, there is no doubt in my mind that the person should become very good diving that very specific comfort zone. If possible (time and money being limiting factor) I would recommend exploring sites (and conditions) that differ from what you are used to.
 
What can be done to make myself a more proficient diver? How about a safer diver?

Take Specialty Classes that appeal to you.

Don't rush into Divemaster. Just take Specialties and Enjoy.

Oh, and, go diving. Have fun.
 
Find a mentor, do some diving. Don't worry about classes for awhile and enjoy yourself.
 
i recently took GUE primer. at about 70 logged dives or so. It was well worth the money. No worries about passing or failing like in fundies, just learning some of the basics. an introdcution to all the basic propulsion techniques and a lot of time in the water practicing those and buoyancy and trim. I walked away with a better understanding of what i needed to practice.

Yea it helps to dive more and more but what was bothering me all the time was i had no direction. How do you know what you are doing wrong or what you need to learn without a little direction. You could log 300 dives, and if you never spent time with an expert youd never know you were doing something wrong, or not doing something you should be doing. Youd never know what it was you didnt know.
 
Time to add something other than shore diving in 20' of water to the skill set. There is a lot of diving you can experience. Unfortunately diving is not an inexpensive hobby. Shore diving is cheap but limited.

You should be doing the Keys/FL Coast off a boat as often as you can afford, at least 4 times a year. You could also take a trip to cave country and do some freshwater diving. Drift diving anywhere on the FL coast is something you should experience. You are young. Enjoy what you can afford, but make some plans on diving something beyond the shore as that is the tip.

Boat dives are $65 without tanks. So cheaper than rec drug use! :cool2:
 
...//.... Well anyways, just wondering if there is any way to begin preparing myself for more advanced types of diving. What can be done to make myself a more proficient diver? How about a safer diver?....//.....

Starting with your head on straight is most beneficial. Excellent.

....//.....I've asked people for constructive criticism (instructors) and have not gotten anything to really help me out, so i'm left here, thirsty for more, but given nothing to drink.
Suggestions?

First, be aware that lots of instructors are just "demonstrators". Learn to quickly identify them and move on.

The ideal instructor demonstrates, observes your attempt to mimic, assesses, and communicates back to you how you need to change your behavior so that you can meet the objective. They have an easy ability to assess, comprehend, and communicate back to you the results of your own attempt to change. Seek them out.

I do dive regularly which is great. ...//.....

Not just great, this is everything.

...//....I am at a high level of comfort in the water.....//....

So am I, however, this does not mean that you are proficient.

....//....My buoyancy is excellent .....//.....I look forward to hearing more suggestions / tips and advice

I can fake excellent buoyancy. However, when put to the test by a top-level instructor, I did not measure up. Working on this now. Stay true to yourself if you wish to improve. No matter how long it takes, truly improving is so much more satisfying than "faking it".

Best,
lowviz
 
Time to add something other than shore diving in 20' of water to the skill set. There is a lot of diving you can experience. Unfortunately diving is not an inexpensive hobby. Shore diving is cheap but limited.

You should be doing the Keys/FL Coast off a boat as often as you can afford, at least 4 times a year. You could also take a trip to cave country and do some freshwater diving. Drift diving anywhere on the FL coast is something you should experience. You are young. Enjoy what you can afford, but make some plans on diving something beyond the shore as that is the tip.

Boat dives are $65 without tanks. So cheaper than rec drug use! :cool2:

I know a few people with boats, hopefully we will go out as time passes.

Time will tell.

Maybe ill seek a tech instructor of some sort to give me an assessment, afterall, at a recreational level, why such need for perfection? (<- is the thought of most rec divers **Not proportionately displayed on this board** [which is made up mostly of die hards IMO] )

To date I've done 3 boat dives, on two separate occasions. Like I said, I have some friends with boats, so it is totally at their discretion if we dive or not. One boat dive was canceled today, and one was canceled thursday.

I did do a shore dive in some mildly moderate surf today (The same surf that canceled the my boat dive today- and another boat dive earlier in the day)

But the surge was fun, especially when trying to catch lobsters.

I was thinking, "Damn, why's the coral keep moving?....Oh wait...."
It was also fun swimming out there :D
Is this the sign ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ of a madman?


PS- 45 Dives now

PPS- Going to try to have a buddy film me in el aqua. THE TRUE TEST o_O
 
Great that you are going to get videoed. The one big problem with the advice to "dive, dive, dive" is that, if you keep doing whatever it is you are doing, all you are accomplishing is ingraining whatever habits you have. I have seen people with hundreds of dives who swim with their hands, or struggle through the water at a 45 degree angle. If nobody makes you aware of your errors, you will perpetuate them.

Why precision in recreational diving? Because it makes things more fun, and to some degree, it makes them safer, too. If you and your buddy can both control your descent and stay together, then when one of you realizes his inflator hose has popped off, the other is handy to help. If you can hover quietly right in front of a frogfish, and back kick gently, then you can get a good photograph, even in current. If you can control an ascent even when you are distracted, then you will not be the person who corks because some other diver kicked his mask off on the ascent line.

I just got done with three days of pure recreational diving at the north end of Vancouver Island. We had some strong currents and a bit of rougher surface conditions. Everybody on the boat had GUE or similar type training, and we all made use of those skills to execute comfortable and productive dives. Whether it was underwater photography, or modeling and scouting for photographers (my role!) or just enjoying the topography and life, the good skills we have reduced the stress level and added to the fun.
 
Last edited:
the best experience is to dive with more experienced divers. As an "advanced" diver with several hundred dives and a former public safety diver, I STILL learn when i dive with people who have lots of experience. That's something i love about scuba. You ALWAYS can learn.

And i disagree about shore dives being "less". Great practice...easy to do without a lot of pre-trip logistics and a great venue for basic skills practice.
 

Back
Top Bottom