So what makes a good diver anyway?

[george1098]

I am pretty new to this sport, but I am very keen, and in my somewhat limited experience as a diver, here is what I think makes a diver a good diver. Feel free to add / critique this list as you see fit.

So in no particular order:

• A good diver should always know what’s going on with his/her-self: Knowing the depth, rate of descent, rate of ascent, amount of air left, air consumption, what direction the currents are pulling them, ect.
• A good diver should also know what’s going on with his/her buddy: Knowing how much air they have, their air consumption and their general state.. do they look stressed? Could they be narced?, ect.
• A good diver should have good communication skills with their buddy, both pre-dive and during the dive. Pre dive: knowing hand signals, weight ditching techniques, emergency ascent procedures, gas sharing (octo-using) procedures, and anything ells that may be relevant to the particular dive. During the dive: checking with the buddy frequently, giving the ok sign, exchanging air usage info, ect.
• A good diver should never blow their safety stop. Even when it’s not necessary, it’s a good habit to practice every dive.
• A good diver should have good buoyancy control, or at least practice achieving neutral buoyancy.. practice makes perfect.
• A good diver should be willing and able to abort a dive if they or their buddy are experiencing un-due stress.
• A good diver should know their buddy’s dive kit as well as their own (they’re pretty much all the same anyway, but there are plenty of minor differences).
• A good diver should have the comfort of their buddy in mine when planning a dive. You don’t stay under water for an hour and 10 minutes in the dead of winter when you’re diving a dry suit and your buddy dives a wet suit.
• A good diver should be able to use a friggen dive table.
• A good diver should try to anticipate trouble before they’re in it.

That’s all I can think of at the moment. Please one or two (or more) of your own contributions.

 

[TheWetRookie]

A good diver is one that thinks while diving and always strives to improve his/her diving skills.

 

[Trixxie]

A good diver plans their dive and dives their plan

A good diver checks out scubaboard to see what is going on in the world of diving

 

[Walter]

[*]A good diver should never blow their safety stop. Even when it’s not necessary, it’s a good habit to practice every dive

Pretty good list, but I can think of times where I would blow a safety stop and even a short deco stop. They are rare, but they do happen. When the words "never" or "always" are used, it's usually not a true statement.

 

[george1098]

Pretty good list, but I can think of times where I would blow a safety stop and even a short deco stop. They are rare, but they do happen. When the words "never" or "always" are used, it's usually not a true statement.

I've blown a safety stop or to as well in my diving career, but I still try to keep up with them, unless I REALLY need to pee!:mooner:

 

[Trixxie]

I've blown a safety stop or to as well in my diving career, but I still try to keep up with them, unless I REALLY need to pee!:mooner:

a good diver can pee while doing their safety stop...


sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Walter]

If you can't hold it another 3 minutes, you started your ascent too late. I wouldn't blow a stop for that.

 

[Charlie59]

Diving, diving, and more diving make a diver good. Nothing beats experience.

 

[almitywife]

ive always found divers that are so willing to show/teach/help/mentor me have been good divers



oh,

So what makes a good diver anyway?

and colour co-ordinated gear!!!!!

 

[Jrock1062]

This should be good