Some things that I haven't learned yet

[Soakedlontra]

Among the besillions of things that I haven't learned yet I have picked up the few that are a cause of constant frustration and struggle:

1) During a night dive the main light is always a bummer! I hold it with a lanyard around my wrist and when I let it go it begins to rotate, the light beam swirls like a disco light and ends up blinding the unfortunate buddy. My last new buddy suggested me to use a device (I don't remember its name) with a clip and attach it to my harness. I am going to try it and hopefully it will make easier to carry the light.

2) My trim and buoyancy is a mix of good and bad. I still haven't grasped the final magic trick that will allow me to settle it down consistently.

3) My air consumption is still as high as Mt. Everest. I liked to think that it had began to improve a little bit but lately after comparing my air consumption with guys that use 1/3(or less) of their air supply in the same amount of time that I use a whole tank...all my hopes were crushed to a pulp.

4) Keep forgetting bits and pieces of gear. First of all the hood, then the light marker and lanyard for the camera, then the weight belt and last some hot water...I will keep writing a list every time a pack my gear until eventually it sinks inside my brain.

That's it for now.

Cheers

 

[aascubagirl]

Aloha. Don't be bummed, the more you dive the more smoothly things can begin to go. Here is what I recommend:

1) Always make a list! Even as an instructor, I still have my mental list of the 7 crucial items for a dive. I start from the feet and work my way up: weights (and weight belt if you need one), fins, boots, wetsuit, bcd, reg, mask. The other critical items (small light, dive knife, safety sausage, and whistle are already attached to my bcd). Having a list is not a bad thing or an indication of your lack of experience. Rather, it shows that you are trying to be cautious and prepared!

2) I highly recommend a Peak Performance Buoyancy class or its equivalent to address your weighting/trim issues and also your breathing rate. It will work wonders for you! I have put divers through the course and after the first dive, they have found they can drop some weight and also increase their bottom time because they are already learning how to use their lungs more efficiently. I had one diver drop 6lbs after the first dive! She felt so much more comfortable and relaxed and that in turn helped with her breathing. I guarantee my students that they'll be able to add a minimum of 5-10 minutes to their bottom time at the end of the course and I have not had one fail to achieve this!

So...don't be too hard on yourself. I remember when I first started diving and would compare myself to those around me, and always ending up feeling inadequate. I would start off by breathing fast, anxious at the beginning of the dive and when I was in the water, I kind of flailed around a bit and definitely dragged around on the bottom a good bit. I wondered why other divers looked so smooth and graceful and why they didn't seem to be struggling like I was. That's because I had an instructor who got me certified, but unfortunately, he didn't teach me how to be a good diver. I took some buoyancy lessons from a friend of mine who was an instructor and I learned more from her in one dive than I had in my previous six months of diving! So hang in there and go take that PPB class :O)

 

[mood]

2) My trim and buoyancy is a mix of good and bad. I still haven't grasped the final magic trick that will allow me to settle it down consistently.

There is no magic trick. It all comes down to your weight, and the placement of those weight. Your body is just like a seasaw, youll have to balance the weights out throughout your body to keep your horizontal trim intact.

3) My air consumption is still as high as Mt. Everest. I liked to think that it had began to improve a little bit but lately after comparing my air consumption with guys that use 1/3(or less) of their air supply in the same amount of time that I use a whole tank...all my hopes were crushed to a pulp.

Try not to compare yourselves to other divers. Compare yourself with yourself 10 or 20 dives ago. Unless your comparing someone who has the exact same physique, equipment, number of dives, comparing doesnt give you much. The more dives you get under your belt, the better you are with your air consumption.

4) Keep forgetting bits and pieces of gear. First of all the hood, then the light marker and lanyard for the camera, then the weight belt and last some hot water...I will keep writing a list every time a pack my gear until eventually it sinks inside my brain.

There is nothing wrong with a check-list if you have lots of gear to take with you. As long as your forgetting your regs or bcd, then the rest isnt that essential. Forgetting them wont do you any harm (except the hood).

Happy diving,
Moh'd

 

[Lee Taylor]

Eventually with practice you will find out what works best for you. I will offer a couple of tips that have helped me.

1. I attached a metal ring and metal hook on the rear of my dive light. When I pull my shoulder straps tight on my BC, the excess strap material hangs freely down. It tends to be about 12 inches long. It has a "D" ring on the end. I attach my light to this "D" ring. This provides just enough slack so I can hold the light in front of me or when on the bottom I can hold it in my fist next to my head. I can easily let it go free and then easily find it again.

2) Bouyancy will come naturally as time passes. The thing to remember is the reaction is slow. A burst of air into the BC will require a few moments before you feel the lift. Another key is that when you have your BC inflation where you want it, you will notice you are bouyant when you inhale and negatively bouyant when you exhale. Another way of saying this is that the amount of air you "carry" in your lungs has an effect on your bouyancy.

3) Frankly I would not concern myself with air consumption rate. But then that is just me. To some consumption rate is very important, and I respect this. What I think is important is that you take with you more than enough air in your tank or tanks. The rate will naturally reduce as time passes. If you have more than enough air to accomplish your task then consumption rate becomes a non issue.

4) Definitely use a check list prior to leaving home. Just prior to the dive think of it like this: If I have on my wetsuit then all I need is mask, fins, and snorkle (now replace snorkle with scuba unit). In other words a simple way of looking at it is, all I need is mask, fins, and scuba unit. Kinda basic but it helps me put it in perspective.

ps: Many dives back I discovered that laying still on ones stomach on the bottom has a very comforting effect. Laying still on the bottom for just one minute will quiet practically any anxiety.

 

[J.R.]

Among the besillions of things that I haven't learned yet I have picked up the few that are a cause of constant frustration and struggle:

Somewhere in the back of my mind is a little voice whispering something about a "journey of a thousand miles"... and a "first step".

Great post... it reminds me that we all find little things to work on and improve as we go along... as you get one thing 'under control' you'll probably notice other things...

As to the bouyancy thing... my guess is that learning to relax your breathing and improved bouyancy control will kind of come hand in hand... not sure which will lead and which will follow... but I've noticed a connection between them over the years.

 

[ligersandtions]

I don't know how often you get over to Seattle from Whidbey Island, but one thing that would really help you improve is to meet up with some of the local active divers. I've made my way up there to dive with them and they are nothing but helpful. Many of the divers in your area are extremely dedicated, talented, and always happy to bring new divers out....see if you can hook up with them and they can give you pointers on how to improve, as well as get you out diving more.

Also, if you're looking to improve your skills by way of taking a class, look up NWGratefulDiver (Bob) and take his AOW....I hear it is amazing and even very experienced dives come out learning a lot.

 

[jwalko]

Regarding the air consumption issue...

I find that in cold water, I breath more and go through my air faster. In warmer water (or at least when the air is warmer...knowing I'll be warm when I get out), I tend to use less air.

But...all this just reminds me that i just need to buy a bigger tank

John

 

[ligersandtions]

I just had another thought....regarding your air consumption: do you dive wet or dry? If you dive wet, your air consumption will be significantly higher if you ever get to a point where you are shivering....I know when I'm diving wet, I get cold fairly easily, and I start sucking down my air like there's no tomorrow. After going dry, I haven't had any issues.

 

[Teamcasa]

First off, don't worry. All of these issues will fade one-by-one as you gain experience.

Take a class or dive more often with an experienced mentor. After you have mastered buoyancy, everything else comes much easier.

Do a google search for a Goodman handle for your light issue.

Make a check list and (unlike me) use it when packing for a dive.

Most of all, have fun learning!

 

[bamamedic]

This might sound silly, but before a dive, I'd lay out all my gear on the floor and kind of "build a diver". I'd put the wetsuit down first, put the booties by the legs, my gloves by the arms, fins at the bottom, mask and hood by the collar of the wetsuit...sounds silly as hell, but I never forgot anything in those first few months