Am I the only one?

[wildbill9]

I do not consider myself to be an advanced diver since I only get to dive 3 weeks of the year. Every dive I strive to do better (buoyancy or air consumption or just being a better buddy). I always ask the dive masters after my 1st dive "what could I do better?" On my last trip (1 week ago) when I ask this I got a very strange look from the dive master who said "you are really good divers" almost like he was shocked at my question. Doesn't every one ask this? I figure when I stop learning it is time for me to stop. The ocean is my love but I respect her totally, it is a hostile environment that we must never take for granted, we are just visiting. Am I the odd man out? Bill

 

[Landau]

At vacation destinations they probably see a wide assortment of really bad once a year or less divers. Plus they get better tips complimenting your skillls.

I'm lucky enough to have the instructors at my LDS point out my flaws when they lead fun dives. One of them makes a point of having us practice a skill on each fun dive "make sure to take a compass bearing back to the stairs before descending. It's way easier to swim back underwater" and then gives pointers to those who are iffy on how to do that.

But in the Caribbean I dive flawlessly

 

[Kineese]

S/He may have stopped fully paying attention to your form when they realized you weren't going to do silly things like roll around in the coral. If there were other less awesome divers in the group they may have been focusing on that more. I also ask and just about die if I'm not provided some feedback.

I'm lucky enough to have the instructors at my LDS point out my flaws when they lead fun dives. One of them makes a point of having us practice a skill on each fun dive "make sure to take a compass bearing back to the stairs before descending. It's way easier to swim back underwater" and then gives pointers to those who are iffy on how to do that.

Those are my favourite! I love myself some safety stop drills too. Also, stairs = Porteau Cove? I like that place

 

[Saniflush]

I to am really fortunate that not only do I dive a good bit with my LDS and instructors but according to them prefer to "not have things sugar coated for consumption", meaning that they will tell me outright if they see me do something out of whack so I never really have to ask them.

 

[The Chairman]

Doesn't every one ask this?

I did a long, long time ago but I don't anymore. I am usually the one offering advice on a dive, but frankly, my focus has changed considerably. I focus on the fun and the sights rather than on my performance. Could I improve? I'm certain I could and I do. But my focus is more on what I can see and not the mechanics of diving anymore.

 

[uncfnp]

Hmmm. Interesting question. I don't recall ever asking for a critique of my diving. I know I have asked about particular skills or solutions to issues I may have had recently. Or ways they deal with certain situations. Or choices for particular pieces of gear.

 

[snowdog61]

The point is really that you actually want to get better. I know divers with 100+ that still look like poo underwater. I also know others who have barely over 25 that can maintain trim, helicopter turn without sculling, etc. who, unlike the 1st group I mentioned, will actually take advice/criticism and improve. New doesn't necessarily mean bad, just inexperienced and possibly just ignorant (especially if they got lousy instruction). Bad habits are hard to break unless the person is actually open and willing. Being an infrequent diver means your skills could be rusty but if you 'get it', you know what it should look and feel like. A little practice and you are back up to speed.

 

[Hoag]

The point is really that you actually want to get better. I know divers with 100+ that still look like poo underwater. I also know others who have barely over 25 that can maintain trim, helicopter turn without sculling, etc. who, unlike the 1st group I mentioned, will actually take advice/criticism and improve. New doesn't necessarily mean bad, just inexperienced and possibly just ignorant (especially if they got lousy instruction). Bad habits are hard to break unless the person is actually open and willing. Being an infrequent diver means your skills could be rusty but if you 'get it', you know what it should look and feel like. A little practice and you are back up to speed.

There are a couple people within the group that I typically dive with that fall in to a 3rd group. They are constantly asking for help, but then they get annoyed when you try to help them.

 

[Plongeur2000]

There is no bad divers, with time you learn to get confident enought and once you won't think about anything else than the beauty underwater you'll be ready

 

[mi000ke]

I now dive mostly with the same dive shop (about 25 dives this past year), and while I usually do not ask an open ended question about how I am doing - which would have required the DMs to be observing me while also guiding a group - I do ask a lot of pointed questions, and the DMs are always volunteering suggestions when then notice something. For example, one of them took the initiative to help me to reduce my weight and improve my trim. Another volunteered some suggestions as to how to better sling my pony. I find a lot of benefits to diving with the same operator as you get to know all the DMs and they you.