What have you learned in the last year, regardless of how long you have been diving?

[Jcsgt]

I learned, while diving in Fiji during typhoon season, how to blow up my safety sausage in fairly heavy chop. Also got a good deal more experience dealing swimming on the bottom against heavy currents.

 

[SparticleBrane]

As you go through life, you'll realise why!

Again, as you get more life experience you'll realise many people don't like unsolicted advice, especially from kids. This doesn't mean everyone but there are definitely people around who won't like it.

Most people would prefer a 45 year old doctor to a 25 year old one and you'll find the same applies to many things. If you had more open water dives people might take you more seriously too.

Again, this is exactly the kind of thing my post was talking about.
If someone is too proud to take a suggestion or advice from someone younger than them, there are issues, especially if it's sound and well thought-out. I am always open to suggestions, no matter who prompts them.

I will say I find it ironic that I'm getting life lessons from someone who is apparently 8 years my senior.

</hijack>

 

[Geoff_H]

If someone is too proud to take a suggestion or advice from someone younger than them, there are issues, especially if it's sound and well thought-out.

Welcome to the real world... people have issues How you deal with them is up to you.

I am always open to suggestions, no matter who prompts them.

You are, many aren't. C'est la vie.

 

[ShoreDiver1]

If a new buddy is wearing $6000 of shiny new gear, don't assume the diver wont sink to the bottom upon entry so enter shallow with new divers you don't know.

 

[CaptSaaz]

Every time I dive I learn that there is always something I've never seen before AND that there is always something new to learn.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

A minute later I suddenly realized I was going to be sick. We never went over that procedure in OW class. The computer said I was at 35 feet and I wasn't sure what to do. Bolting to the surface seemed dumb and I knew removing the reg to throw up was a bad idea but I didn't know what would happen to a regulator if one got sick into it. So I grabbed my Air2 in one hand (just in case) and held my primary firmly to my face with the other hand. A split second later I fed the fish and felt wonderful right away. The rest of the dive went on without incident.

Hey, you asked...

Nathan

I cover that in my OW class for the very reason you mention, new divers don't know what the reg will do if you vomit in it. I learned the hard way I need to cover what to do after a dive where you have vomited into the regulator.
One of my advanced students comes up after a fun dive in the quarry and says:
"I threw up on the dive. My stomach started feeling weird, I knew I was going to puke and remembered you told us to hold the reg in our mouth and purge while you puke. It works! I didn't throw up much but the fish sure swarmed around. I swished the reg in the water to clear it afterward and we finished our dive."

Fast forward from May to August when we take the university gear in for it's annual service. The reg hadn't been used since then, the tech opens it and there is vomit residue in the second stage. :l: When you vomit through a regulator RINSE IT WELL after the dive and then rinse it AGAIN
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Randy43068]

CaverDave asks why every dive has to be a learning experience.

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

The best thing I can do for new divers is to be a good example. Then when they ask me "how can you stay so still" of "how can you have so much air left" thats when its time to offer advise.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

 

[porsc]

every dive should be a learning experience because you never know when you are going to need that experience, either for yourself, or for someone who is diving with you. the worst feeling in the world, is to be at depth, and come across a situation where you don't know what to do! that's why every dive can and should teach you something. the trick is to pay attention to the little things and take the important ones with you.

 

[Randy43068]

every dive should be a learning experience because you never know when you are going to need that experience, either for yourself, or for someone who is diving with you. the worst feeling in the world, is to be at depth, and come across a situation where you don't know what to do! that's why every dive can and should teach you something. the trick is to pay attention to the little things and take the important ones with you.

Not really. Maybe another dive increases one's experience in the water, but I don't want every dive to be a "learning experience."

I agree that one should stay ahead of the dive at all times, however.