10 beginner diving errors

10 beginner diving errors

being a good diver includes so much more than the basics. We have asked experienced divers to name their biggest beginner diving errors. Here is what you said

at Atlas & Boots we dipped in some incredible places, from Vanuatu and Samoa to Tonga and the Galápagos. Unfortunately, a whole year has passed since our last dive and I fear that next time we set off when we set off to make new diving errors.

I was a nervous diving starter and I am aware that I lost the self -confidence that I built up in Colombia after completing my Padi Open Water Diver. Unfortunately there are not many options for diving in London (especially in March), so I would like to refresh my skills as soon as we travel to Africa in August.

Of course, I remember the basics (never stop the air, always make the security check in front of the dive, balance early, check the measuring devices), but to be a good diver includes so much more than the basics. We asked experienced divers and diving instructors about their top dancing beginners. Here is what they said.

1. Repeated inflation and emptying of the Tarier jacket

One of the things you will learn from theory is how you check for neutral buoyancy: On the surface you should be with the water at eye level, without air in your Tarier jacket.

It is important to check for neutral buoyancy at the beginning of your dive so that you do not have to inflate your BCD repeatedly under water and empty in order to stay at the right depth. With a little practice you will be able to get a few meters with the air in your lungs.

It is important to note that only because you used 4 kg at your last dive, this does not mean that it will be the same on the next. Weight gain or loss, the thickness of the neoprene suit and the salinity of the water all play a role, so make sure that they adapt accordingly.

2. No questions

experienced divers, as funny as they may be, can be overzealous to go into the water and to move with things. Don't let it stop you from asking questions or addressing a problem if you have one.

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It is absolutely no shame to ask for clarification or to request a change of device if something is wrong.

diving is potentially life -threatening, so make sure that you are aware of what happens and do not be ashamed of asking questions, even if it is fundamental questions!

3. Do too much under water

Before you load yourself with a GoPro, first try to complete a few dives. New divers already have so much to consider - buoyancy, air, the surrounding area, other divers - that adding another task can be disadvantageous and even dangerous.

opt for a diving package with video so that you can concentrate on refining your habits

If you dive in a unique place and desperately search for pictures, opt for a diving center that offers photos as part of the diving package. Spend your time to improve your habits instead of playing around with camera settings. Watch experienced divers, learn from them and enjoy the dive itself!

4. Lack of consciousness

One of the most common diving errors is not to be aware of the wider area. Difficults for diving are caught up by the underwater world or concentrate too much on their equipment. That is natural, but it can be dangerous.

A lack of situation awareness can get involved in a current or pull it away from the rest of the group. It may be that you swirling sludge on the floor or kicking a diver in the face. It could even pull them into depths that go beyond what is safe. Wall dives in particular are problematic because divers stare at the wall and do not notice that they dive below the borders. Always pay attention to your surroundings.

5. Relying too much on the guide

A good diving base will put together and check all of your equipment and give you a clear direction for your dives. Unfortunately, this professionalism often leads to complacency among customers. Divers assume that it is solely the responsibility of the guides to ensure the security of the group; In order to search for currents, protect marine life, monitor basic times and check deep limits. This is the task of the guides, but every diver is responsible for a safe dive.

6. Hurry to keep up with experienced divers

experienced divers can be intimidating. Her wetslews slide as if from silk, her masks remain fitted and her fins look like extended feet. They whiz through their equipment and eagerly prepare for the entry into the water.

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don't hurry to keep up with you - in or outside the water. Take your time to check your equipment, weigh yourself correctly and make sure you feel comfortable. Slowly get off, resolve frequently and stay within your borders. It can be dangerous to keep up with more experienced divers, so they stay relaxed and under control.

7. Diving beyond training boundaries

As an extension of the above, some divers are tried to cross their limits, especially in a group of experienced divers. It is easy to get caught in the excitement of a new website and to think that they will be fine because others have the necessary experience, but that's a mistake.

Every year divers who have never participated in a wreck or cave course die in cave systems or in the area of ​​wrecks. Know your training boundaries and never cross them.

8. Always dive with the same buddy

On the one hand, it is a good exercise to dive with the same Buddy: they are both rather relaxed and feel comfortable, they know the diving style of the other and will probably remain under water.

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On the other hand, diving with the same partner can always cover weaknesses or dependencies that you have as a diver. One of them may be stronger in navigation, the other more careful when checking the measuring devices. The structure of dependencies is not a good idea, so try to confuse it occasionally.

9. Do not log dives

It is easy to become complacent when it comes to keeping your logbook, especially if you consider diving more funny than as a serious hobby. This is a mistake.

The record of their dives has a number of advantages. It contains records of the weight that you need with different equipment combinations, it provides evidence that you have completed certain types of dives, and enables you to identify improvement areas. Take your logbook with you to dives and carefully write down the details.

10. Don't dive!

The most harmful of all diving errors is, of course, not to dive enough. If you wait too long between the dives, you will lose contact with your new skills.

experts advise to join a local diving club, but of course that is not always possible. At least try to dive abroad during your holidays, keep up to date with your Padi theory and consider the Padi Reactivity if you are not immersed for a while.

As every new diver knows, there is nothing more wonderful than being under water. Don't miss this feeling.

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How to exist the Open Water Diver course

Over 30,000 people used Atlas & Boots to prepare for their course. We have now summarized all of our tips, advice and learning aids in a practical issue. For only $ 2.99 you get:

- a list of all physical tests>
- Examples of all 5 repetitions of knowledge - diving signals - over 100 index cards for repetition - a link to interactive index cards online - beginner errors that need to be avoided and more

See complete table of contents

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