I really enjoyed your post. It's full of compliments, but it's also full of humor.
Matt, your desire to absorb every bit of scuba knowledge that you can get your hands on is a sure sign that you are completely hooked on diving. Congratulations and welcome to the club of fellow addicts.
Thank-you! The weird thing is, I can't figure out why I like it. I'm not even sure it's the diving itself that I like. I guess it's all aspects of it--the concepts for sure, but also the comaraderie, the exotic locales, and many other factors.
There is also a place for experiential learning in developing your skills. Developing a comfort level with your equipment for example is best acquired through actual dives under varying conditions. Over time skills like bouyancy control will become automatic muscle memory responses to varying conditions. At each stage of your skill development different pieces will fall into position as appropriate. There is so much to learn and so many sources of instruction, confounded by changing standards and for profit mass education business models. As a new diver, the best improvements in your skills will come from doing more dives.
Point taken. Living in Maryland and not enjoying cold water (yet), I'll be doing all my diving via airplane trips. I plan on doing a dive trip every 6-8 weeks throughout the year. I have my third trip planned at Sunset House 3/29-4/2 (during which I'll also be doing the rescue diver course). I may be able to get a short trip in to Fort Lauderdale in May. Then the Cozumel Invasion in June-July.
You have more Knowledge than a new diver should.
I'll try not to let my knowledge get in the way of my experience. I don't usually, actually. I'm the kind of person to whom thinking is like breathing. I'm completely relaxed with concepts, they don't intimidate me in any way. Many years ago I taught one of my younger brothers to play chess. After ten minutes he exclaimed in disgust, "Hey! When you play this game you have to
think!" That was when I discovered that to many people thinking is tiring.
Anyone who has such a quest for diving knowledge and has posted such thoughtful questions as you have is someone I would be happy to dive with.
Thank-you! That's one thing about the Cozumel trip, there probably won't be an issue finding a dive buddy, even though I'm traveling there solo.
By the way, the "crew list", which is supposed to be updated weekly, was last updated about 6 weeks ago. I was kind of hoping to see my name on there by now.
I would like to invite you to join the March invasion if you can get away for a few days between the 12 and the 19.
Wish I could, but I have to make as much money as I can (which means seeing lots of patients) in between dive trips to support my scuba habit! That's per my boss (aka wife).
However, I won't stay within an arms length of you, as I have been kicked in the face or had reg or mask knocked off one too many times. I will however stay within a fin kick or two.
Guilty as charged.
You can also hire a private DM to practice skills development.
Yes, I have a dive with a DM scheduled the day I arrive in Grand Cayman.
I also recommend you get a copy of Jim Lapenta's book, very informative and supports a fellow SBr.
Sounds good. Now, what book is that again?