I certainly believe that time under water is a more telling statistic than number of dives. I also think the variety of environments and locations a diver has experience is important information when evaluating the skills of that diver. Both facts are as important as training level and certifications. I have less than 1000 dives, more than 500. That makes me a novice according to some, but I have dove low vis cold water lakes here in Colorado, and have also dove throughout Mexico ( ocean and cenotes), Southern California, Florida Atlantic coast, gulf, and Keys, all the Hawaiian Islands except Oahu, and have dove Fiji, Bonaire, the Caymans, Saba, Statia, Nevis and St. Kitts, St Martin, and some of the Bahamas, and a few more Caribbean destinations. I consider myself a competent and experienced recreational diver in a variety of conditions. But in Puget Sound I would be a newbie.
DivemasterDennis