Experience
Remember when you first earned your license to drive a car? Looking back, we can all probably say that we passed the test, but it still took months or years to truly get comfortable, confident, and competent behind the wheel. The same can be true with diving. You might have earned a certification, but it takes regular practice and discipline to become (and stay) sharp with your skills.
I appreciate it when divers want to be my students because they are eager to improve their abilities and to learn more about the underwater world; I do enjoy teaching. But I also appreciate it a great deal when divers tell me they regularly go out and practice what they have been trained to do. That’s what really makes someone proficient.
This is also the reason that GUE requires experience dives between many class levels. For example, a student who successfully earns a Cave Level One qualification can’t sign up for Cave Level Two the next day. A minimum of 25 dives at the current level of training must take place before moving into the next course, thereby putting the diver in the position to practice and apply what they did in class so they are truly comfortable, confident, and competent.
In my local area, we have a lot of lakes and quarries to explore. Often times, my buddies and I gear up and plan a simulated advanced dive. On more than one occasion, other divers have seen us getting ready and entering the water. They have said, “You guys are ridiculous. You don’t need all that equipment to dive here!” They are correct, we may not need a set of double tanks for a dive to 30 feet in the quarry, but we are there to practice the skills and techniques that keep us sharp and able for the diving we want to do on a trip. Mentors have called it “training day” versus “game day.” We have a lot of training days to make sure we are truly ready for game day. It makes game day more fun when you are ready and able!!!
Do you and your buddies practice the skills you learned in classes? How about basic things such as mask clearing, removal, & replacement? How about gas sharing? Are you able to do these things automatically and without hesitating? If so, good! You are more likely to handle a real challenge without difficulty.
If you have questions about specific skills, please contact me; I am happy to help. I can schedule coaching and review sessions seven days a week. From beginner level to more advanced skills, I can work with you in the classroom, pool and open water to help you get through anything that you need and want to improve on in order to take your diving to the next level. Rates for coaching days vary depending on the number of students, location, and duration.
Most importantly, get out there and dive a lot. Always plan your dive in a safe, responsible manner, and stay within the limits of your training. Practice your critical skills so that they are second nature. Have fun!