trolling. Or, applying new knowledge

[JustJoe]

So the question part of this trolling expedition. When does it become appropriate to dive beyond your previous training?

I have read quite a few posts here where a diver exceeds his previous training and gets run down for speaking about his/her experience. And while we all know that safety is of utmost importance, where is the line drawn.

For example, I am now doing my AOW course. Part of this course is Deep diving to the recreational limit of 130'. Anything over 60 fsw counts as deep for this course. But I have been doing dives to 75' (an average, some deeper, most shallower but almost never shallower than 60') for many years.

Granted I did not just jump in the water one day and say, "I'm going to the bottom!" (well maybe I have!). It was a gradual process, and I have felt very confident in the building of experience in doing this. These depths are generally the norm where I was trained and did my checkout dives, and where I have done pretty much all my diving.

Does reading the book make it ok? Is it the card? Experience? When does it become acceptable?

Joe

ps. this is not truly designed to piss anyone off, but I thought it would make for some interesting reading.

 

[Quarrior]

IMO staying within your training and experience means simply staying within your comfort zone. You're experience will never get any further than you have already done if you do not attempt new things. Just take it one step at a time. In other words, don't jump from 60ft to 120ft. Take it a little at a time and ensure you plan each dive. Stay within the NDLs. If you don't have a computer, get one. Don't depend on it, but use it as a tool to help you stay within the planned limits.

Oh, I'm one of the people that posted one of the threads you mentioned. You need to take most of the bashing with a grain of salt. You'll be able to tell the truly valuable information on here from the slamming pretty easily.

Good luck and dive safe.

 

[JustJoe]

Oh, I'm one of the people that posted one of the threads you mentioned. You need to take most of the bashing with a grain of salt. You'll be able to tell the truly valuable information on here from the slamming pretty easily.

Good luck and dive safe.

There are too many people to list individually . Actually, I am pretty confident with this course. The only dives I haven't done are the night and nav, but I have done quite a bit of navigation excercises on land (in the military for a few years). I am stoked about the night dive though.

Joe

 

[captain]

You won't get lecture from me. From reading your post and bio IMO you are more than ready AOW or not. I have only an OW cert from 1970. Experience over the years has led me to 160 foot depths. It sounds like you have been cautious in extending your experience to greater depths as it should be.
Captain

 

[Quarrior]

....I am stoked about the night dive though.

Joe

Night dives are awesome. Hopefully they'll have you a do lights out while you're doing it, it's really cool to just hang there and let your eyes adjust to the ambient light.

 

[OneBrightGator]

When does it become appropriate to dive beyond your previous training?

Never.

During whatever course you're taking your instructor should prepare you (and you should be prepared) to make any dives for the course in advance. For example, all the principles that apply in deep diving apply in shallow dives too, so you should never need to dive beyond your training.

 

[Wendy]

good question here.....

the majority of my "don't dive beyond your training or comfort level" comments to other divers involve "tech" diving such as overhead, where I do not think that learning by expereince without any formal training is a good idea.

 

[msandler]

A C-card does not (necessarily) a qualified diver make. Take for example the average OW Northern diver has (in a lot of cases) seen more stress diving than many Fla. Instructors. Being qualified is one thing, training is another. Its a great thing when they go hand-in-hand but thats not always the case. Self teaching is something everyone should do to some extent. You may also advance your diving with a competant buddy of greater experience; but, I DO agree with Wendy's comment.

 

[JustJoe]

good question here.....

the majority of my "don't dive beyond your training or comfort level" comments to other divers involve "tech" diving such as overhead, where I do not think that learning by expereince without any formal training is a good idea.

To play devil's advocate, you say formal training. What if a truly seasoned and experienced caver (non-instructor certified) teaches another extremely experienced diver the ropes to cavern or cave. Being informal yet effective, is this not acceptable. (I wasn't going to do "what if's" but I am trolling after all).

Where is the line drawn?

Joe

ps> I agree completely that overheads are much different for me. I am not comfortable with that environment at all. I have only been in a cave once, on land, and I hated every minute of it. Although confined spaces, like at naval museums are fine, I have no desire to penetrate a wreck, ever.

 

[Wendy]

To play devil's advocate, you say formal training. What if a truly seasoned and experienced caver (non-instructor certified) teaches another extremely experienced diver the ropes to cavern or cave. Being informal yet effective, is this not acceptable. (I wasn't going to do "what if's" but I am trolling after all).

Where is the line drawn?

Joe

ps> I agree completely that overheads are much different for me. I am not comfortable with that environment at all. I have only been in a cave once, on land, and I hated every minute of it. Although confined spaces, like at naval museums are fine, I have no desire to penetrate a wreck, ever.

that would be considered a "trust me" dive and I would never do that and I recommend that any diver not do a "trust me" dive.