kitting up routine

[sylpha]

Does anyone else have a routine for kitting up?

I have a specific order in which i get ready to dive, if that routine gets disturbed then my pre dive checks always take so much longer because i have to be sure i've done everything. if i stick to the routine then my checks are quicker.

i ask because one group i dive with has a guy who nags and wants to 'help' which slows me down and i get really irritated. some of the other guys in the group (including the nagger) forget things like weight belts, but i never have and i put it down to my routine.

 

[waterpirate]

It may just be me, but....
I don't like people touching my gear. I have a pre-dive routine that I follow everydive. Aside from the bucket of water on the head to help with cooling, or the odd help with a trapped hose I prefer to be left alone. I extend the same courtesy to others unless they ask, and then I help.
Eric

 

[BoneCrusher]

I agree with waterpirate. I like to be left along when I kit up. If I need help, I'll ask for it. I've had some captains/Dms/ect get upset when I tell them that if I need help, I'll ask for it. But it has been the times that someone tried to help, that I left the boat with something not right (bad routing of hoses, missed accessory gear, ect).

 

[wrybosome]

i ask because one group i dive with has a guy who nags and wants to 'help' which slows me down and i get really irritated. some of the other guys in the group (including the nagger) forget things like weight belts, but i never have and i put it down to my routine.

Yes, definitely. Some of the boat mates can be too helpful and have you doing things out of your preferred order. I forgot my pony on one dive because of this sort of confusion. Now I just don't let them force me to hurry or do anything out of order.

 

[sylpha]

The worst one i had was the b****** who decided to 'check my kit' for me in order to press the inflate valve on my dry suit (it's situated on my chest), being in full kit makes one not fast enough to slap his face!

i don't mind someone going through my check routine with me once i have kitted up so that they (on the boat) know that i have gone in as safely as they think i can be, but rushing me to get me in the water more quickly is counter productive.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

The rule here is, Keep your mitts off other people's stuff. Leave mine alone. Always. If I need assistance, I will surely ask. If I don't, you may conclude that I do not want it.

And I repeat that to those who are detemined to climb in.

 

[shoredivr]

Usually when I'm solo diving there's nobody else around on the surface, either, so this is a moot point.

I do have a routine, and the routine is the same no matter if I'm solo or not.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Usually when I'm solo diving there's nobody else around on the surface, either, so this is a moot point.

I do have a routine, and the routine is the same no matter if I'm solo or not.

1+.

I have a set routine. If someone walks by and wants to chat, I'll be cheerful and polite, but I completely stop gearing up.

When they've left, I continue where I left off.

Gearing up is sort of a "zen" experience, I use it to "focus" on the dive, and prefer not to chat for the few minutes it takes to get my gear ready.... when I'm "dressed" and ready to move towards the water's edge, then I'm 100% "social" again.

Best wishes.

 

[ScubaErgoSum]

+1

Just like LeadTurn says, good to use it to focus on the dive. Once im kitted ( have you noticed how the hood of a car puts the scuba unit at just the right height for you ) I relax for a while and visualise my dive. Then grab fins and go!

I have been playing with a little surface meditation before I descend to drop my heart rate and relax my muscles, it lets my body go from surface pace to my dive pace (very slow) easier. Seems to work well so far.

 

[helimvee]

I think that it is human nature to want to help others.

People that know me, understand not to touch or try to help - especially my solo dive buddy.

For others, I explain that if I can't do something on the surface by myself I sure won't be able to do it at depth. That really seems to get the message across in a polite but clear way.