New diver, about to purchase GoPro

[divad]

What he said ^.

 

[The Chairman]

Agreed, too many dive shops ignore social media, but when I am researching an area often all I have to go on are vague recommendations and what they post to social media.

The problem is that Dive Shops ignore ScubaBoard. They think Facebook is the answer to social media, but Google and Facebook hate each other. Consequently, FB ain't Googlieyezed like SB. ScubaBoard has the Google market cornered for the dive industry, but DEMA has been pushing FB and downplaying ScubaBoard because they simply don't like us. Post your trip and gear reports here and allow the world to find them on Google. You can even share your post here on Facebook so you don't have to write it twice. Go even so far as encouraging your local dive shop and resort to post here so they can benefit from our Google power. We really don't bite and we won't sell your data to anyone else ever. Not even to the Russians.

As far as naming and then processing, you can easily set your GoPro or most any camera to put the date as the beginning of every file name. YearMonthDay is the best way and will keep your pics in daily chronological order. Then simply change the digits after that to describe the pic/clip. 20190725Octopus.xxx keeps all your trip pics together and allows you to locate the right clip from the right day of the right trip pretty quickly and easily. Be sure to put the year first, or this will not work.

 

[Manatee Diver]

The problem is that Dive Shops ignore ScubaBoard. They think Facebook is the answer to social media, but Google and Facebook hate each other. Consequently, FB ain't Googlieyezed like SB. ScubaBoard has the Google market cornered for the dive industry, but DEMA has been pushing FB and downplaying ScubaBoard because they simply don't like us. Post your trip and gear reports here and allow the world to find them on Google. You can even share your post here on Facebook so you don't have to write it twice. Go even so far as encouraging your local dive shop and resort to post here so they can benefit from our Google power. We really don't bite and we won't sell your data to anyone else ever. Not even to the Russians.

Yeah that is definitely one of the biggest issues with Facebook and Twitter, the lack of permanence. If the post or issue wasn't made in the last couple of weeks it is buried, and is almost impossible to find. Which is one of the best thing about purpose built message boards.

 

[jonhall]

Leave the camera at home. You’re a brand new diver, You’re going to have to dedicate enough mental acuity to actually diving, adding a GoPro to that is going to take away from your ability to safely dive.

I get it, you want footage of that once-in-a-lifetime encounter with an orca, a great white, a pod of dolphins, and a whale shark all at the same time, but it’s going to be really hard to prove it when you drop your GoPro into the depths because you sat on a sea urchin on the edge of a 5000ft wall because you can’t control your buoyancy.

I agree and disagree! Agree with the idea of focusing on diving but disagree with the suggestion of "Leave the camera at home. You're a brand new diver."

Yes, the OP is a new diver but has already decided to get the camera. After my check out dives, I didn't dive again for 7 years, when I did only 2 more dives. The next year I had a camera and would surely have still been termed a new diver in most other divers eyes going on only my 7th dive.. Not all new divers are created equal. I was very comfortable with the whole SCUBA process and had been around water quite a bit. Sure, there is a lot to learn about buoyancy (and much more) when taking a camera with you on a dive, but I'm a believer that you learn by doing. As long as the OP takes the advice offered already to concentrate on diving first, he can have a great experience and have some documented memories as well.

FWIW: Diving is much easier and more relaxing if you don't carry a camera, but if you take one, be aware of your surroundings. Practice, while diving with your camera, buoyancy control and different kicks to move you closer and/or farther from what you are recording.

*To the OP - if you try to chase (swim after) what you are recording OR find yourself swimming back and forth from one thing to another to record it OR find yourself staring at the viewfinder of your camera most of the dive, then, definitely take @JohnnyC's advice!

 

[The Chairman]

Yeah that is definitely one of the biggest issues with Facebook and Twitter, the lack of permanence. If the post or issue wasn't made in the last couple of weeks it is buried, and is almost impossible to find. Which is one of the best thing about purpose built message boards.

Preach the word, brotha! Facebook has exterminated so, so many forums and has eviscerated many more. It has definitely harmed ScubaBoard, the internet in general, and I won't be unhappy if the Feds reign them in a bit. FB has a purpose, but it's being used beyond that. In addition, they are largely un-moderated allowing off topic crap (oops) and meanness to wreck the thread. Our report button allows users to keep things nice and relevant. [/CommunityServiceAnnouncement] BTW, we've had a few POV warriors that we've banned from their favorite forums where they incessantly "sold" themselves. They just go over to FB, create a usergroup and sell themselves there. OK, so it has an upside, I guess.

 

[Aviyes]

You'll be fine taking the camera. I would recommend not taking it on your first day of diving. Just enjoy the dives and focus on your skills without the distraction of the GoPro. If all went well, then add the GoPro for the rest of the trip.