Fun things Newbies do

[cooperscuba]

I've done quite a few goofy things early in my diving career, so I thought I'd share one and get others to fess up too.

On my first boat time away from my instructor I forgot to put on my weight belt before striding off the back of the boat. After a few minutes of flapping around in the surface like a beached fish, I looked over at the boat and one of the crew was holding up my weight belt. Boy did I feel stupid.

OK, now what did you do?

Jumped off a boat's transom at Shark reef and, just as I passed the point of no-return, thought "NO FINS!"

And, although I can't remember a specific instant, I'm sure I've done the no weights one too

Jumped with no computer

Jumped with computer but been in gauge mode

Jumped with computer on EAN when I was using air

Jumped with computer in air mode when using EAN

Jumped with computer upside down and then wondered what the hell was up with the numbers

 

[cooperscuba]

Jumped off a boat's transom at Shark reef and, just as I passed the point of no-return, thought "NO FINS!"

And, although I can't remember a specific instant, I'm sure I've done the no weights one too

Jumped with no computer

Jumped with computer but been in gauge mode

Jumped with computer on EAN when I was using air

Jumped with computer in air mode when using EAN

Jumped with computer upside down and then wondered what the hell was up with the numbers

... but as for when I was a newbie, can't remember a damn thing

 

[Bhtmec2]

You know if you still have analog guages you could resolve most of those......

 

[terrylowe]

My teenage son and I were just starting out on a 5 hour drive to a dive trip when I started quizzing him. Do you have your fins? Have your mask? Have your regulator? He gets this goofy look and I immediately shake my head and turn the car around and drive a mile back home so he can scoot in and get his regulator. Being a good father, I tried to use it as a teaching moment and he was "taught" about responsibility and growing up for the next 30 miles until he begged for mercy. After we got to the hotel, I unpacked my stuff and suddenly realized.....I forgot my regulator. :blush:

 

[ff1diver]

Became a SKUBA Goober!

 

[cooperscuba]

You know if you still have analog guages you could resolve most of those......

but then I would have to use the tables

 

[--tom--]

This is from the perspective of watching newbies (although I have been guilty of this too): I really enjoy watching new divers flood their mask because they are smiling & laughing so much, they can't maintain a mask seal. Then they clear the mask until the next surprise...

 

[cloudflint]

Just remembered another newbie-ish mistake i once made, swimming through wreckage and there was a beam sticking out running horizontally. The vis was pretty much nill and i happened to swim along just under the beam so my 1st stage ended up hitting the beam but i didnt notice cos the vis was so bad. So im sitting there swimming like mad not going anywhere obviously since my 1st stage we caught against the beam with my buddy sitting next to me wondering why id stopped. It took a while before i realised that although i was swimming the sediment in the water didn't seem to be moving. So i went to go up a bit and felt the beam above me and felt rather silly

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

For me it always seems to be one of two things:
Forget my weight belt and/or
Forget to turn on my air after I set up and check it. I now leave it on because if something is going to go on it will in those 20 min hopefully.

 

[JimJam2]

On my first boat time away from my instructor I forgot to put on my weight belt before striding off the back of the boat.

On my first night dive in The Keys the Divemaster did that - those were the 80's and I think there was "shades of Miami Vice" stuff goin' on.:shocked2:

I submerged on snorkel but made the switch a couple of feet under (it was a great recovery ).