Top 10 "Don'ts" for Newbies
- Thread starter Curiousite
- Start date
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
1) Don't run out and spend a fortune on gear before you know what you actually need.
2) Don't ever stop learning.
3) Don't believe what you card tells you, Just because it says Master Diver, You may not be!
4) Don't become complacent.
2) Don't ever stop learning.
3) Don't believe what you card tells you, Just because it says Master Diver, You may not be!
4) Don't become complacent.
That's not funny, o.k., maybe it's a little funny.
BettyRubble
Contributor
Do NOT under any circumstances let ego, pride or testostorone dictate your skill level or comfort zone.
Dive what you are trained for, call a dive when you need to, and dump buddies who suggest otherwise.
Dive what you are trained for, call a dive when you need to, and dump buddies who suggest otherwise.
Avoid "maverick" divers.
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
diver 85
Contributor
don't hold your breath, don't run out of air, & don't come up too fast---------after these, you're on easy street.....
And Dangerous Maverick divers
....speaking of which, never put blind trust in anybody (there are some dangerous people out there giving bad advice)
Are you refering to me?
BettyRubble
Contributor
At the risk of upsetting newbies (I'm still a newbie so I say this with lots of newbie love):
Please don't 'swim' dive . . .do your best to keep flailing to a minimum. Force yourself to put your hands together at your tummy or in front of you and don't move them. It takes a little practice but you'll be shocked at how fast you learn that your hands won't help you dive better.
But don't watch me . . I'm still learning this.
Please don't 'swim' dive . . .do your best to keep flailing to a minimum. Force yourself to put your hands together at your tummy or in front of you and don't move them. It takes a little practice but you'll be shocked at how fast you learn that your hands won't help you dive better.
But don't watch me . . I'm still learning this.
DO:
- Take personal responsibility for yourself. It's nobody's fault but yours when something doesn't work right, including the ocean or your gear.
- Learn how to use dive tables and dive computers so you do not ruin someone else's good time (or your own) when you lose, forget, or break one or the other.
- Know how to swim and survive in the water. If every piece of dive gear evaporates off of your body, can you survive in the ocean for hours until rescue comes?
- Find a mentor. They can be male or female, older or younger. Find someone who will show you stuff without paying them, as they probably have your best interests at heart.
- Learn how your gear works. Take a course in regulator repair, BC repair, etc. even if you do not plan on doing it. It pays to understand how that stuff works, so maybe you can save the dive when it fails (because it will).
DO NOT:
- Think that your gear makes you a better diver. Look at most divemasters, their BCs look like they have been through war. Shiny gear doesn't make you, and nine times out of ten your regulator does not breathe "better" or "worse" than any other one. Most people do not care what kind of fins you have, and whether they are paddle or split. Many more people could care less what length your hoses are.
- Be afraid to admit when you might be in over your head.
- Forget to drink at least one beer, glass of whine, or good mixed drink at dinner after diving. You are there to have a good time, so have a good time.
- Be a loner. Divers are social animals. Join a club, expand your social circle. You'll dive more and you'll have more fun when you do.
- Go on a boat without some kind of sea sickness medicine in your system. Even if you never get seasick, take it anyway. Take ginger, meclizine, scop, or something else. You will only get really sea sick when you are an hour and a half out to sea one time before you realize this.
- Take personal responsibility for yourself. It's nobody's fault but yours when something doesn't work right, including the ocean or your gear.
- Learn how to use dive tables and dive computers so you do not ruin someone else's good time (or your own) when you lose, forget, or break one or the other.
- Know how to swim and survive in the water. If every piece of dive gear evaporates off of your body, can you survive in the ocean for hours until rescue comes?
- Find a mentor. They can be male or female, older or younger. Find someone who will show you stuff without paying them, as they probably have your best interests at heart.
- Learn how your gear works. Take a course in regulator repair, BC repair, etc. even if you do not plan on doing it. It pays to understand how that stuff works, so maybe you can save the dive when it fails (because it will).
DO NOT:
- Think that your gear makes you a better diver. Look at most divemasters, their BCs look like they have been through war. Shiny gear doesn't make you, and nine times out of ten your regulator does not breathe "better" or "worse" than any other one. Most people do not care what kind of fins you have, and whether they are paddle or split. Many more people could care less what length your hoses are.
- Be afraid to admit when you might be in over your head.
- Forget to drink at least one beer, glass of whine, or good mixed drink at dinner after diving. You are there to have a good time, so have a good time.
- Be a loner. Divers are social animals. Join a club, expand your social circle. You'll dive more and you'll have more fun when you do.
- Go on a boat without some kind of sea sickness medicine in your system. Even if you never get seasick, take it anyway. Take ginger, meclizine, scop, or something else. You will only get really sea sick when you are an hour and a half out to sea one time before you realize this.
Similar threads
