What would you consider your level to be?

[MNScuba]

Just to get an idea where everyone is at...

I'm sure there are more options that could've/should've been listed, but lets try and keep it basic without having to try and define everything.

Whatever you think you are based on your own definitions is fine!

 

[devilfish]

Alive and well!

To get a more accurate statistic maybe the question would be more appropriate:
What level Cert
How many years diving
What activities/specialties
How many dives total to date
How many dives per year average
When was the last dive

 

[MnLakeDiver]

I'm going with newbie as I only have 6 loged dives:crawl:

 

[MSilvia]

I've been diving for 15 years, and am certified as a PADI rescue diver, but I still consider myself a beginner. I've seen quite a bit, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to the things I have no experience with. Besides, until this year I've never had all my own equipment, and therefore haven't made more than 10 dives in a given season.

This season though, I hope to be on a first name basis with most of the local fish.

 

[ScubyDoo]

Definately a newbie here!

 

[jbd]

I put beginner. There is much I haven't done or experienced. Even if I can do as much diving as I want to do I think it will be 3 or 4 years before I would consider myself anything other than a beginner.

 

[Tavi]

To get a more accurate statistic maybe the question would be more appropriate:

Good thought, but even this doesn't paint an acurate picture.

What level Cert

SSI Master Diver: this includes OW, AOW, 4 Specialties, 50 dives, Stress and Rescue with first-aid/cpr. Also SSI Nitrox and Naui Nitrox.
I feel like a beginer, eager to learn more, I don't have much experience. The word "Master" doesn't fit! all I have mastered is a beginning.

How many years diving

One Year, Six months. Not long enough to be a "Master" Diver

What activities/specialties

Speciaties: Computer, Deep, Navigation, Reef fish ID (now I can label my photos). Mostly stuff to be a better diver and to enjoy it more.
Activities: 1 Cavern Dive, Several Wreck Dives (1 with Penetration), Some coral cavelike swimthrus (yes there was overhead. Don't bother flaming. I was with instuctors ( 1 in front of me and 1 behind me), I love this stuff and plan on training in this direction, It is not something I would do with just my buddy until we are both trained for it.. If I hadn't done it I would never have known how beautiful it is, and how much I like it. 1 Night Dive. All but 4 of my dives have been warm water. Most less than 80fsw. My deepest is 103fsw.

How many dives total to date

50

How many dives per year average

50

When was the last dive

November,........ Aaarrrrgh........To long ago!!!!!!!!

I guess my point is this sounds like a lot, it really isn't. I'm a newbie, eager to learn and wanting more.

You could add plans to the list.

This year, Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures, I guess if you do 'em together they call it Technical Nitrox. Maybe a Wreck penetration course (no caves that I know of in NY).

I plan on at least 30 coldwater dives, We're planning some wreck dives, and maybe 20-30 more in the warm stuff.

When I first got here. there was a couple of very arrogant "I'm right Your wrong" DIR people on the boards. what they said made sense but the attitude made me want nothing to do with them or their kind.
Over the past year reading posts from Lost Yooper and now Uncle Pug and some others my attitude has changed a lot towards DIR. As my training goes to Tech I plan on my equipment gradually changing too. Well my wife would like it to be graduall, but I got plans!

when I started I had no intentions of writing a book, Sorry!

PS. A lot of what's helped me to become a better diver is you people! Thanks!!

 

[Rooster1]

I am a beginner to every new dive and i will never dive the planet in a life time making me always a beginner.

 

[Arduous]

I have to cast myself as an intermediate. To me someone who is advanced is at the upper limits of whatever they are doing. I began diving in the med 70’s. I did not take a class back then but was instead trained by a Navy diver who was a friend of mine. By the end of the 70’s it was all but impossible to rent equipment or even get a tank filled with out having a C card, so my diving stopped.

In 1997 my agency wanted to put together a diver search and recovery team and I was to be apart of this. I received my 1st official dive training in 1997. What a great time to get into this I thought. The equipment was so much better than it was in the 70’s.

It took 2 years of intense training before we considered ourselves ready to go online as a dive team. In May of 1997 we became a team.

Sense this time I have logged many dives. I have dove on wrecks, I have done penetrations,I have dove beyond 130 fsw, I have dove in zero visibility, in heavy seas with strong currents and high winds. I have dove in the pouring rain and in a snow storm. I have routinely dove in conditions that recreational divers are told to avoid.

I know that there are very good divers out there that have not had the training and experience that I have had. I know that there are many divers out there that have training and experience that go’s far beyond what I will ever achieve. I also know that there are divers out there that have logged hundreds of dives and they have no business being in the water. They are a danger to themselves , their dive buddies and ocean life in general.

For myself I’m an Intermediate. There’s a lot that I don’t know and a lot I have to learn. However I think that as a dive buddy I have a little something to offer anyone I may dive with.


Dive Safe ………………….Arduous

 

[MNScuba]

and if you're ever in Minnesota...