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What is the biggest step you can take to improve as a diver? Basically,\u00a0 the biggest change occurs the day you stop depending on your instructor or you buddy and you dare to walk by yourself. That moment when you decide to become a Self Sufficient diver. It is not so much an improvement of your\u00a0skills but a change of attitude.<\/p>\n
Since the beginning\u00a0\u00a0we are teach to perform what we call a \u201ctrust me dive\u201d . What is a trust me dive?\u00a0It is simply a dive in which you depend on another to reach the\u00a0objective and to perform it safely. But at some point, one has to take control of oneself. We can not wait forever for the change to happen on its own. In turn, we can not continue asking our guide or instructor whenever we need to make decisions. At some point you have to take the step. We have to start making decisions on our own, assuming the consequences and learning from our mistakes. Only then, we will\u00a0 achieve that self-sufficiency that will slowly drive us to mastery.<\/p>\n
If right now your feeling like: \u201cNo way, I can\u2019t dive safely without a divemaster, it seems too difficult\u00a0to me\u201d. Do not worry.\u00a0If you commit yourself, to start making your own decisions. When you\u00a0 compromise to don\u2019t\u00a0do it lightly and\u00a0that with\u00a0each experience, with every good or bad decision you will\u00a0learn and improve. If you do so,\u00a0 you have already taken the most important step. Today we bring you some tips so you can start taking responsibility for yourself as a diver. They are very simple steps to start with,\u00a0 but they will boost your commitment and will help you a lot on your way to becoming a Self-sufficient diver.<\/p>\n
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Decisions of your\u00a0gear, configuration, suit, weights\u2026They are\u00a0very important decisions, and can affect your safety. It\u2019s not smart to leave\u00a0these decisions in the hands of someone who does not know you. It is even less smart to leave these kind of decisions to someone you don\u2019t know.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.0.9″]<\/p>\n Do it for each configuration, for each situation.\u00a0\u00a0Deciding the amount of weight\u00a0\u00a0you are going to dive with is\u00a0an important decision that you can not leave always on others\u2019 hands. It does not mean that you do not listen to the advice that others give you. But, at the end of the day, the decision of how much\u00a0weight to\u00a0dive with must be yours, because it is also your responsibility.It can affect your safety . And it can affect the enjoyment of dive. (Read\u00a0The bad Habit of Over-weighting<\/a>)<\/p>\n So, you must use your logbook or notebook, whatever it is, to record the amount of\u00a0weight you use for each dive. Make sure to also record which suit you were using, since you know that is not required the same weight to dive in shorty than to dive with a 7mm suit. Also note if you were diving with aluminium or steel tank.\u00a0If you absolutely do not know how much lead you need, we recommend that you read\u00a0how to perform a Buoyancy Check<\/a>.<\/p>\n What you are trying to do is to know\u00a0yourself as diver. So, register your feelings in your logbook. Accurate your experience by adding little words beside the amount of weight. Did you feel very heavy in the bottom? Was it hard for\u00a0you to stay at the\u00a0safety stop?\u00a0 Leave it written down!<\/p>\n Knowing your SAC (Surface Air Consume) mandatory if you want to be a self-sufficient diver. In turn, seeing how the different decisions you make affect your SAC is very instructive too.\u00a0For example, if you see that by\u00a0over-weighting yourself,\u00a0your SAC increased drastically. You will learn things like\u00a0\u00a0your SAC change when diving with current, etc.\u00a0 You will understand what affects your air consumption, and therefore, you can plan much more exactly your future dives.<\/p>\n Knowing your SAC will also help you to achieve tranquility underwater. Well, imagine that you plan an immersion in which you know that you only need half the air you carry. Isn\u2019t it\u00a0\u00a0more relaxing to know this fact than to throw yourself into the water without knowing how long your air will last?<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong> SAC = 15l x 50bar \/ 20min \/ 3bar = 12.5 liters per minute<\/strong><\/p>\n As we saw in our\u00a0Buoyancy Sessions<\/a>, one has to distribute the weight in order to compensate his\/her natural trim. In this way we get that horizontal position that brings us so many benefits.\u00a0In our\u00a0Buoyancy Sessions\u00a0<\/a>we already explained the\u00a0importance of the trim<\/a>\u00a0and how to\u00a0make\u00a0the adjustments<\/a>\u00a0according\u00a0to your natural trim. As a quick review:\u00a0Your options are 2:\u00a0 Either your legs tend to float or they tend to sink. So, do the test for yourself. Go to a pool, or\u00a0jump into the water between dives, relax on the surface and investigate the behaviour that your body has in the water. (to get a perfect trim check our article:\u00a0Improve your trim<\/a>\u00a0)<\/p>\n Have you ever heard a diver say that he or she, when water temperature is less than 20\u00baC needs a dry suit?\u00a0Other divers don\u2019t mind diving with shorty with 24\u00baC water.\u00a0Each person is different, and although we\u00a0generally follow a basic guideline to know which\u00a0suit we have to wear for each temperature, it is your job to\u00a0learn how the cold affects you and make your decisions accordingly.<\/p>\n Here the logbook comes into play again. Record well what suit you wear and at what temperature was the water. Also write down your impressions,\u00a0like for example:\u00a0\u00a0\u201c1st\u00a0dive was OK l but 2nd I was too cold\u201d.\u00a0So, with\u00a0some\u00a0 dives, you will be able to properly assess your needs and make the best decisions.<\/p>\n Gear. The never ending topic. Online you can find endless discussions about diving gear . In the market there are so many different options for a single\u00a0piece of gear that it is almost impossible to know them all. Your only option is to try equipment, stay with the one that makes you feel more comfortable and discard the one that does not go well with you. We do not want this article to become never ending. It is good to read the opinions of others, but remember that everyone is different and likes different things. If you want to become self-sufficient diver, the only way is to test and decide for yourself what works for you.\u00a0 Keep an open mind. If you have the chance to try something new, don\u2019t make yourself comfortable using what you already know it works. Try it, who knows? Maybe you love it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.0.9″ text_text_color=”#0db4d5″]<\/p>\n If you want to become self-sufficient diver, the only way is to test and decide for yourself what works for you.\u00a0 Keep an open mind. If you have the chance to try something new, don\u2019t make yourself comfortable using what you already know it works.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.9″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Believing others blindly is not an option when you want to be a self sufficient diver. But, listening and paying attention can be very instructive. If someone tells you that\u00a0he or she\u00a0has tasted 20 different fins and that the\u00a0ones that he or she uses are the best,\u00a0 why not give\u00a0it a chance?<\/p>\n Why waste your time \u201creinventing the wheel\u201d if you can learn from the experience of others? Take advantage of every moment you spend with an expert diver. Ask, listen, observe, treasure what works for you, discard what does not work for you. Do not be afraid to ask in forums and\u00a0facebook<\/a>\u00a0pages and\u00a0 groups. You can\u00a0contact us<\/a>\u00a0if you have questions, we will answer you happily. In diving, if something shines above other things, it is the willingness of many expert divers to help the less experienced ones. Ask, ask and ask again!<\/p>\n Some years ago, we could only evolve through experience or through the few books that were published. Today, all the knowledge is out there waiting for you to read it. There are thousands, maybe even millions of pages and articles online with\u00a0diving tips. For example, you can learn from home, relaxed on your couch, how to\u00a0improve your buoyancy<\/a>. And put it into practice the next weekend when you go diving. If one is a scuba diving addict, eventually has to end up reading a lot about diving.<\/p>\n There\u2019s something I always say: \u201cThe day\u00a0I think I know everything about diving, I\u2019ll\u00a0quit it\u201d So, never stop improving. There is always more to learn. Each dive is a new experience\u00a0and you do not know what will happen. From seeing creatures that you have never seen in your life before to situations that you had never had to solve.\u00a0In the world of diving there are always new challenges and adventures. Do you think you have mastered diving and feel comfortable at any depth and in any condition and configuration? Check the\u00a0technical diving!<\/a>\u00a0It will change the way you see yourself as a recreational diver. Do you think you are an experienced\u00a0technical diver<\/a>? Try diving in caves, deep caves, explore wrecks, deep wrecks, ice diving, ice cave diving, rebreathers,\u00a0scooters<\/a>,\u00a0FFM\u00a0<\/a>etc. There are always things to learn. Never Stop Evolving!<\/p>\n So we hope you got into the mood of being a Self-Sufficient Diver. By following our easy tips\u00a0you will be able soon to show up in a Dive Centre and say: \u201cI want 4 pieces of 1kg each, 2 on my belt and 2 on my trim pockets, and a 5mm suit please. How deep do we go? Ok, a 12l tank will be fine.\u201d Doesn\u2019t it sound better than to put a poker face every time they ask you how much\u00a0weight you need?<\/p>\n More tips will be coming soon. Stay up to date!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.9″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is the biggest step you can take to improve as a diver? Basically,\u00a0 the biggest change occurs the day you stop depending on your instructor or you buddy and you dare to walk by yourself. That moment when you decide to become a Self Sufficient diver. It is not so much an improvement of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,131],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-posts","category-all-about-diving"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFirst steps to become a self-sufficient diver<\/strong><\/h4>\n
1 \u2013 Decide by yourself how much weight you will need<\/h3>\n
2 \u2013 Surface Air Consume<\/h3>\n
How do we calculate the SAC? It\u2019s not complicated.\u00a0On your next dive, write down:<\/h4>\n
\n
Dive at 20m
15l tank filled with 200bar
you finish the dive with 150bar after 20min
VT = 15 liters || VC = 50 bar || T = 20 min || P = 3 (pressure at 20m)<\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a03 -Discover your natural trim and buoyancy<\/h3>\n
4 \u2013 Learn about your body temerpature<\/h3>\n
5 \u2013 Try different gear<\/h3>\n
Vest? Wing? Donut? Backmount or Sidemount? Black or transparent Mask? Console or not? Jet fins or not? Din or Yoke?<\/p>\n6 \u2013 Ask others and learn from them<\/h3>\n
7 \u2013 Read and re-read<\/h3>\n
8 \u2013 Never stop evolving<\/h3>\n
No one in the world can say that he\/she knows everything about diving. In fact, anyone who dares to think that, demonstrates that he\/she knows nothing about diving.\u00a0Nowadays,\u00a0 scuba diving\u00a0is evolving\u00a0very fast. It has too many different modalities. And it is\u00a0 impossible\u00a0 to become experienced in them all in a lifetime.<\/p>\n