when is a diver "experienced"?

[mudchick]

This is sort of open ended and I imaging there will be different responses, but what is it that makes a diver experienced? Is it purely the number of dives? Can you say you're experienced if you haven't anything go wrong (free flow or other mechanical problem)? Is it based on how many different places you've been? A combination of the above; none?

 

[Diver Dennis]

The first thing that indicates to me that a diver has experience is to see them in the water and how they handle themselves where it counts.

 

[Knight]

When things go wrong underwater and you know how to resolve them quickly and be cool, calm and collective and not go panic. When you know your limits and other diver limits to make sure everything is safe, Not to exceed yourself or showoff, Just be ALERT! etc, there is alot but I wouldn't say just because you have like 500+ dives under your belt or your a instructor doesn't mean your "experienced" because i've known and read alot of divers to get in situations were they panic and end up dying or close to it (alot being instructors or experience divers cause alot of times they haven't been in a real life or death situation under-water and when all sudden they find out there in one they FREAK out) . I would say experience also shows on alot of older divers who been in the business for many years.

Always descending,
c.h.

 

[diveman7683]

The first thing that indicates to me that a diver has experience is to see them in the water and how they handle themselves where it counts.

I agree with this.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Your question is kind of up to interpretation. Like driving for instance. My son is going to be 17 in a few months so he is experienced in that he has been driving for 9 months, somehow the insurance companies just don't see it that way.

Some of the classes (Solo for instance I think) list as a requirement that you need 100 dives before taking the class. Which I would presume they would consider 100 dives experienced. Some one that was on their first liveaboard with Noah may think differently. I guess it is pretty subjective. Good disscussion point though.

 

[Knight]

Your question is kind of up to interpretation. Like driving for instance. My son is going to be 17 in a few months so he is experienced in that he has been driving for 9 months, somehow the insurance companies just don't see it that way..

lol thats funny ahhhh! those insurance companies sure can be a pain in the rear-endy!

 

[Diver Dennis]

Knight, I don't think that you ever know how someone will react to a serious UW situation until it happens. A diver that has a lot of dives might not be as prone to panic as a new diver but until it happens you just don't know. Panic can kill the most experienced diver.
A lot of places I dive have a "check out" dive so they can see you perform in the water. Log books don't mean much to me, it is seeing people in the water that gives you a good indication. I have quite a few dives, especially in the last year and I am in no way offended by a check out dive. Some may think they are to good for that but a check out dive can give the DMs or instructors the confidence in your ability to give you a long leash or no leash at all. It helps a lot when you want to solo.

 

[Zeeman]

Experienced at what? That is another thing - you may be a great reef diver, fantastic underwater photographer, but you may have never penetrated a wreck, or been in a washing machine type current...

Z...

 

[Zeeman]

Great point Dennis

Z...

 

[Hank49]

lol thats funny ahhhh! those insurance companies sure can be a pain in the rear-endy!

But there you have it...no one under the age of 25 can be an experienced diver...only us old farts qualify...