TSandM,
I think, for the most part, everyone here is telling you that you are doing exactly the right think. You are using the resources you have available to further your diving education and enhance your diving skills.
The best way to improve your diving is to DIVE. Pick the brains of those you dive with, ask questions until the answers make sense to you, see what they do or don't do when they dive, think about it and then alter your dives accordingly to make yourself safer and your dives more fun.
My rule of thumb is that a diver needs between 20 and 50 dives before all the information that was poured into their heads makes sense to them. At that point a diver usually has enough experience to say, "Nope, this dive is not for me. I'll see you after the dive. I'm taking a nap!" rather than follow blindly along.
Strech yourself, just don't over stretch yourself.
Keep your brain engaged at all times while diving.
Enjoy your dive vacation in Maui.
Nuff said.
Aquawookie
I think, for the most part, everyone here is telling you that you are doing exactly the right think. You are using the resources you have available to further your diving education and enhance your diving skills.
The best way to improve your diving is to DIVE. Pick the brains of those you dive with, ask questions until the answers make sense to you, see what they do or don't do when they dive, think about it and then alter your dives accordingly to make yourself safer and your dives more fun.
My rule of thumb is that a diver needs between 20 and 50 dives before all the information that was poured into their heads makes sense to them. At that point a diver usually has enough experience to say, "Nope, this dive is not for me. I'll see you after the dive. I'm taking a nap!" rather than follow blindly along.
Strech yourself, just don't over stretch yourself.
Keep your brain engaged at all times while diving.
Enjoy your dive vacation in Maui.
Nuff said.
Aquawookie
TSandM:Well, Thursday I am off to Maui to do some of that clear, warm water diving . . . and it will be "trust me" dives in exotic locales, since I don't know the area at all!