What makes a Diver a good Diver?

[enderjs]

Hey guys I was just curious what do you think makes a Scuba diver a good scuba diver?

I think a good diver is some one that always looks out for there buddy, doesnt take Unnecessary risks, o and my top one doesnt hold up a dive. I freaking hate when you pull up to a dive site are seated in a place where you have to wait for others to go first and they take forever to get ready and jump in the water. Jesus its not rocket science throw your gear on and go. You should be getting everything ready as we are getting out to the site.

Anyway what do you guys think makes a good diver? Or if you want you can rant about what you hate about bad divers

[TheRedHead]

Jesus its not rocket science throw your gear on and go. You should be getting everything ready as we are getting out to the site.

Throwing your gear on is not the sign of a good diver, but I agree with being prepared.

Being able to call a dive and not diving beyond your experience level are signs of a good diver.

[dlndavid]

I think good divers know what makes a good diver, the rest are talked about on ScubaBoard, welcome aboard.

[xiSkiGuy]

To me a good diver is properly weighted, in horizontal trim, can fin near the bottom without stirring up silt, leaves proper amounts of gas in reserve, makes slow ascents (very slow from 10' to the surface), doesn't have octos or consoles dangleling, has their tank positioned on their back so the valve is reachable, and dives within their limits.

[Jasonmh]

For me it is good bouyancy control and good buddy awareness.

[erparamedic]

Here's what I like in a buddy...

- A planned dive... I mean, not going overboard, but at least have an idea of what we are gonna do underwater (ie... go see the sunken cruiser, then to car, then cruise along the wall and find some fishes, max out at 30 ft, max time 60 minutes... etc).
- I don't mind waiting a few extra minutes for a buddy to get geared up as long as they know their equipment, it's well maintained, and they do their safety checks on it.
- Stay with your buddy!! If viz is bad, stay closer... you should always be able to see your buddy or at least not be more than a few (say 5 or 6 ft, for me, at most) away from them. Viz was so bad (2 ft at most) where we were diving this weekend, that my hubby and I actually held hands.
- Don't intentionally touch anything! Fishies and other living things, IMHO, are only to look at. We are a visitor in their world.
- Don't push the limits.
- Stay within your experience level (kinda goes with "don't push the limits")
- Be kind, plain and simple.
- I'm sure there's other things... but I can't think of them right now.

[Walter]

I think a good diver is some one that always looks out for there buddy,

Agreed.

doesnt take Unnecessary risks,

Diving is an unnecessary risk.

and my top one doesnt hold up a dive.

Doesn't unnecessarily hold up a dive. Sometimes, things go wrong at the last minute. If an O-ring goes, hold up the dive, get it fixed.

Being able to call a dive and not diving beyond your experience level are signs of a good diver.

Good one!

To me a good diver is properly weighted,

True.

in horizontal trim,

Horizontal is usually preferred, but not always, depends on the situation.

can fin near the bottom without stirring up silt,

I'm totally against the practice of finning, but if I were to do it, I wouldn't want to even think about being in the water with the shark. I can't imagine anyone doing it near the bottom without getting lost in a cloud of silt.

leaves proper amounts of gas in reserve, makes slow ascents (very slow from 10' to the surface), doesn't have octos or consoles dangleling, has their tank positioned on their back so the valve is reachable, and dives within their limits.

Good ones.

For me it is good bouyancy control and good buddy awareness.

Yes, but this is very basic, anyone out of their OW class should have a pretty good handle on these.

A planned dive... I mean, not going overboard, but at least have an idea of what we are gonna do underwater (ie... go see the sunken cruiser, then to car, then cruise along the wall and find some fishes, max out at 30 ft, max time 60 minutes... etc).
- I don't mind waiting a few extra minutes for a buddy to get geared up as long as they know their equipment, it's well maintained, and they do their safety checks on it.
- Stay with your buddy!! If viz is bad, stay closer... you should always be able to see your buddy or at least not be more than a few (say 5 or 6 ft, for me, at most) away from them. Viz was so bad (2 ft at most) where we were diving this weekend, that my hubby and I actually held hands.

Excellent!

- Don't intentionally touch anything! Fishies and other living things, IMHO, are only to look at. We are a visitor in their world.

I never dive on another world, not that I wouldn't, but I've never had the opportunity. I touch lots of things, but I only touch things that won't be harmed or won't harm meif I touch them correctly (I love petting long spined urchins).

- Don't push the limits.
- Stay within your experience level (kinda goes with "don't push the limits")
- Be kind, plain and simple.

Good ones

I'd add in experience and skills. The ability to think through a problem and be creative. Understanding the mechanics of panic. Confident, but not cocky.

[abitton]

A good diver only wears black and uses exclusively black gear.





Just kidding!!!

[tankboygreg]

The good diver is the one that's always learning.

[Diver Dennis]

Divers who think, are aware of their surroundings and current gas/depth situation.