What identifies someone as a "good" diver?

[Littlerayray]

Being prepared being aware of their surroundings knowing their limits and not exceeding them not losing their dive buddy and being calm and relaxed and knowing when to call a dive before it gets to dangerous

 

[Akimbo]

Someone asked this question to a salty old Master diver when I was in Navy First Class Diving School. Looking back, his answer was much more insightful than I appreciated at the time:

"Not doing anything to kill your dumb a$$ or any of your shipmates is a good start.";

That pretty well defines the most important and basic skill set. Did I mention he was salty?

 

[FishLovingStudent]

As a new diver, from my POV, one who doesn't skimp on safety. If you go jump in the water without allowing me to do a proper buddy check, etc. I don't care how experienced you are, how many dives you have logged. It wouldn't matter how perfect your finning is or good your buoyancy control is. You're not a good diver! To me a "good diver" still takes ALL the proper safety precautions on every single dive, even after 500 dives with no incidents.

Eh, my main buddy and I don't do buddy checks. We gear up separately and with the same mindset as we would going in solo. BCD, regulator, weights, releases, and final OK are all things you can check yourself. We do do a stretch and bubble check stop at 15 feet at the beginning of every dive though.

Heres a few that I use when I am deciding whether or not I should let them dive without me (as a DM):
1) Can they setup their gear without help (you would be surprised)
2) Do they know how much weight they need or alternatively can they sink.
3) Their buoyancy,trim, and finning (in my area, whether or not they use frog kick )
4) Environmental awareness (saw a guy kick a small cloud sponge off the wall, you could not convince me hes a good diver regardless of any of his "skills")

For when I'm diving for fun...can I take photos without worrying about if you are going to disappear on me or stir **** up.

 

[KeithG]

Maybe I am over thinking this, but I have narrowed it down to a few very simple rules that are not founded upon "dive skills"? In my world dive skills depend upon some more important underlying skills. A good diver is:
a) someone I do NOT notice underwater
b) someone who I enjoy talking to AFTERWARDS above water

These rules are based upon many, many, many things including (but not limited to) :
- idiots will never have proper dive skills
- if you present yourself as an idiot before the dive (many options here...) I WILL watch you and avoid you underwater - see a) above
- if you present yourself as an idiot after the dive I will quietly walk away - see b) above

Maybe my view of life is too black & white?

But this outlook is very flexible. (my rules so I can bend them anyway I want?)

We once had a very fulfilling dive with a person who had terrible dive skills. He was a spare that joined our buddy team. But he knew he was technically a poor diver and he was striving to improve. Our predive planning session revealed he was a novice, knew it and was interested in learning. We covered the dive plan, including returning him back to the boat "very early" and he executed the dive plan flawlessly.

So he was (on the road to becoming) a great diver! And yes, he bicycled like crazy so we kept him away from, the sand...

 

[clownfishsydney]

I think it is someone who:

* knows how to judge if the conditions are suitable for the dive planned
* has the gear to suit the dive and in good condition
* has very good buoyancy
* is a good buddy (ie does not run off from you)
* dives the plan
* is able to assist when something goes wrong, especially simple things (not sure many are able to assist when things go very bad)
* knows when to abort the dive
* is not a d**khead

 

[Storker]

What? Where? The only harassing thing about it might be if your candidates were trained poorly to begin with.

Well, there IS a drawing of a nude butt there. A male one, even. I guess that was the offending issue.


--
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Typos are a feature, not a bug

 

[Centrals]

I think it is someone who:


* is not a d**khead

That is good enough as my buddy.
I can put up with any short coming except a dh!

 

[Nasser]

Good situational awareness that has become second nature, especially when one is task loaded is impressive.

Throughout my diving education whenever I was learning or practicing a new skill, I would be so utterly focused on that skill that usually my buoyancy would fall to pieces without me noticing and the whole "perceptual narrowing thing" would kick in.

When I watch a very skilled photographer for example or someone who is employing some sort of a skill set in an overhead environment, I am amazed at how they seem to have impeccable buoyancy, are instinctively aware of the conditions around them with eyes in the back of their head, and most importantly... seem to be enjoying the dive - all at once! Then I know this diver really has it together.

This is something I'm always striving for and trying to refine.

 

[seeker242]

Eh, my main buddy and I don't do buddy checks. We gear up separately and with the same mindset as we would going in solo. BCD, regulator, weights, releases, and final OK are all things you can check yourself. We do do a stretch and bubble check stop at 15 feet at the beginning of every dive though.

I understand where you are coming from but that is more "good buddy" then good diver and yes, if they are buddy diving, then good buddy skills would be part of a good diver. But remember, many of us do not always buddy dive.

My point was just that someone who skimps on safety, in my book, isn't a good diver. AKA: "It's no big deal, I've done this 200 times, nothing is going to happen so we don't need to do (insert whatever safety precaution here), etc, etc."

 

[Doc]

.... about what the key indicators of a "good" diver are.

They post in black font.