Tips to Lead a Dive
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Brief yourself before trying to lead a dive for others. You may wish to take a compass heading. Enter the water-do a 180-and take your heading. That will be your home base. Then, while underwater-look around-as this will help you with your mapping. Use stationary objects such as table top coral or an anchor line; something that won't move when you come back.IceIce:
As for the navigation-always trust your compass. Even if you can't see, your hood is filled with water, and your mask is leaking. TRUST IT. A keen eye on your buddies and your surrounding area should get you back to home safely. Good luck. No worries.
Charlie99
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Slow down. On the first several dives I led, I found myself unconsciously speeding up. Going fast makes it difficult for divers to stay in optimum position relative to each other.
In addition to what has been said about navigation I would suggest:
Go SLOW. Go much slower than you think you usually do, and then slow down some more . (your anxiety will cause you to speed up, and if you are leading less experienced divers you are likely to swim a bit quicker than they do anyway.... and slowing down is likely to improve air consumption.)
Look at your divers. Watch or check out your divers constantly, and then do it twice as frequently as that.... it's amazing how little time it takes for someone to slip away from the group or get distracted by something.
Try to relax and smile.... if you're having a good time it will be contagious to your divers.
Of course, be on the look out for hazards and correct them -- but, you're leading a dive, not instructing... don't try to make the divers do it 'perfectly' -- they are there to have a good time... keep them safe.... and save fine tuning discussions for after the dive.
Remember to check air frequently... don't assume that a divers initial rate of air consumption will be consistent. Be sure to brief on this... how and when do you want divers to tell you their air consumption?
At the end of the dive, try to say something positive to each diver -- not necessarily praising them (although that's good too) .... but a positive comment.... That was a really cool _____ you saw.... etc... You want to have the divers end the dive with a positive thought.
Most importantly -- Just be safe and have fun.... it will all fall together.
Liz
Go SLOW. Go much slower than you think you usually do, and then slow down some more . (your anxiety will cause you to speed up, and if you are leading less experienced divers you are likely to swim a bit quicker than they do anyway.... and slowing down is likely to improve air consumption.)
Look at your divers. Watch or check out your divers constantly, and then do it twice as frequently as that.... it's amazing how little time it takes for someone to slip away from the group or get distracted by something.
Try to relax and smile.... if you're having a good time it will be contagious to your divers.
Of course, be on the look out for hazards and correct them -- but, you're leading a dive, not instructing... don't try to make the divers do it 'perfectly' -- they are there to have a good time... keep them safe.... and save fine tuning discussions for after the dive.
Remember to check air frequently... don't assume that a divers initial rate of air consumption will be consistent. Be sure to brief on this... how and when do you want divers to tell you their air consumption?
At the end of the dive, try to say something positive to each diver -- not necessarily praising them (although that's good too) .... but a positive comment.... That was a really cool _____ you saw.... etc... You want to have the divers end the dive with a positive thought.
Most importantly -- Just be safe and have fun.... it will all fall together.
Liz
Hi, thanks so far for the good advices.
I'll keep them in my mind.
Great idea to slow down and be positive.
I'll make a mental note to rely on compas.
Currently, I have invested in a reliable compass, so I eliminate my biggest problem with previous navigation practices.
Maybe What make me worry most is that my navigation skill is weak for some reason, one of that being I had bad experience with spoilt-spoit-working-spoilt compass during practising navigation skill, that confuses me about whether I was doing it right and that also affects my whole confidence to get lost/wrong way etc etc because that's one of the main purpose that DM is around, to get the right way..
I'm more than willing to be sure to get it right, so that I can lead a correct and pleasant dive. Maybe I'm worried too much? But many things I can learn from here could help, especially from those who has been there and done that.
Thanks again in advance.
I'll keep them in my mind.
Great idea to slow down and be positive.
I'll make a mental note to rely on compas.
Currently, I have invested in a reliable compass, so I eliminate my biggest problem with previous navigation practices.
Maybe What make me worry most is that my navigation skill is weak for some reason, one of that being I had bad experience with spoilt-spoit-working-spoilt compass during practising navigation skill, that confuses me about whether I was doing it right and that also affects my whole confidence to get lost/wrong way etc etc because that's one of the main purpose that DM is around, to get the right way..
I'm more than willing to be sure to get it right, so that I can lead a correct and pleasant dive. Maybe I'm worried too much? But many things I can learn from here could help, especially from those who has been there and done that.
Thanks again in advance.
Diveral
Contributor
Also pay attention to currents and directions. If you are diving on wrecks or artificial reefs with a lot of iron or steel you will get much interference with your compass and it may not be accurate.
AL
AL
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