...the experienced diver, not the beginner diver falling in the bracket 0 - 24 dives. How many of the latter category carry tools, spares (SPG, hoses, DC, watch, compass), and are comfy assembling/disassembling hoses from 1st/2nd stages, etc? ...and we have not addressed any skills of the individual yet. That is my word of caution.
RTee...fantastic point.
Right after my daughter and I finished our OWs, we decided that we liked the sport of diving and wanted to get more invovled. With my credit card in hand when went to a couple of different LDSs and finally came upon a kit she liked. At the advise of the sales person she bought an AI computer. A few weeks later I came home and followed suit and bought a complete kit and the same AI computer. We were told by the sales person that a SPG and alternate air supply were not necessary since the AI computer had all of the necessary funtions and the BCD's inflator could serve as an alternate air. I remember my thought exactly...cool less stuff to carry around.
The first time my batteries died on a day trip...I was a lost puppy. Lesson learned...I now utilize an alt. air and have redundancy with my guages, two electonic and one SPG backup, along with spare batteries with my kit.
Two points here:
1) All too often people who learn a new skill too often forget those skills in favor of technology. I have seen it with new pilots...they learn the basic skills to fly a small aircarft only to forget them in favor of using a GPS. I have fallen into both of these...and once recogonized, I have made it a point to "re-learn" the proper skills (both in flyiong and in diving). Technology should be an aid not a crutch. Actually, by forcing myself to really pay attention to the dive planning aspect, I have found more pleasure in diving...the same hold true for me in flying as I put more effort in flight planning.
2) I have learned so much by watching others...I also now make it a point if I see something out of place or amiss, I mention it to the person. Either I can offer "my opinion" or learn a new technique. This can be done in a tactful way as not to insult anyone. I know I have appreciated it over the years when someone has spoke up to me when I was about to do something foolish or showed me a better/safer way of doing something. And I keep on learning too...I will never stop learning.
I joined SB to read and learn...and what an education I have gotten. As I gain experience, I see how wrong (for me and my daughter) that first salesperson was in their recommendations and I now see how naive I was to blindly take their advice. In retropect, I think the AI computer was nice, but the SPG and Alternate Air should have been a standard for a diver with 6 dives. But thank goodness our mistakes only cost us to miss a few dives and a few $$.
I like my gizmos and gadgets in life...but I appreciate and respect the lineage.
~ME~
. I always store it on a chest D-ring on my BC so if I enter without it I can easily switch it over to my wrist.
