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So you've logged 30 to 40, maybe 50 to 100 dives...and your
starting to feel really comfortable with your diving abilities.
Well you should be! But this is when we start to get complacent
with the basics!
Many diving problems occur when we forget
to follow
the basic skills we learned in open water class!
Simple things like following a dive plan, performing a
thorough buddy check, diving within our limitations, and keeping
current on our dive skills, will make the difference when things
don't go as planned. A dive plan does not need to be
complex. Dive buddies should at minimum discuss the
objective of the dive, diver comfort levels, time and depth
limits, and when to turn the dive! Not to mention a brief review
of hand signals and appropriate emergency procedures.
The first dive skill that is often
neglected when we get more comfortable underwater, is the buddy
check...assuming you have a buddy! The simplest errors,
that could have been detected during a simple buddy check, often
turn into more serious problems when things don't go as planned.
Diving without a buddy should never be done without specific
training in solo diving. Diving within our limitations can often
be subjective, and can only be assessed based on additional
training courses taken beyond the open water level, and an
honest personal appraisal of our dive experience. Even though
you may dive frequently, when was the last time you practiced an
Alternate Air Source Ascent, a CESA or No Mask Breathing?
Keeping current on emergency procedures can make the difference
between a minor problem handled well, or a serious diver injury.
The
Scuba Review program and one of many
Con-Ed Courses offered at the Aquatic Center are great ways
to keep your dive skills current. As the 2008 dive season
gets started, think about what you need to do to get ready!
Glenn Pedeville, MSDT #177592 |
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