Photo by Gene Page
We’ve all been on a boat or at a dive site and have heard somebody referred to as, “A good diver.” Good divers have confidence and ability. They are capable and prepared, with skills and experience to handle almost any situation underwater, while always seeming to have a good time on their dives. Most other divers notice and appreciate the proficiency, poise, and self-reliance of the good divers and want to become good divers as well.
What does it take to become, “A good diver?” There are many skills to learn and considerable experience needed to become a good diver, but we hope all divers strive to be the best they can. The ability to handle a variety of situations underwater and the confidence to make challenging dives will add to your enjoyment of the sport but, more importantly, it will make your diving safer. The very important first step is to simply relax.
Just relax; it sounds easy but as we all know, it can sometimes be very difficult. It truly is the first step, and one of the most important skills needed to become a good diver. The ability to relax and remain calm through all phases from the planning process to the end of the dive is the key to becoming a skillful, accomplished, and safe diver. It’s vital for many reasons.
Safety first! That’s a familiar term so let’s start there. Being nervous, rushed, apprehensive and pensive can lead to distraction or forgetfulness. Taking a calm and measured approached to any task produces better results and it’s very important in diving. From planning to gear assembly to executing the dive and, especially in an emergency, staying calm and relaxed is always the best advice. Being rushed or nervous can lead to mistakes and, in an emergency, if you are not calm it can lead to panic, so staying calm and relaxed can save the day.
To help keep diving relaxed and stress free good planning and preparation is important. Try to prepare in advance, set realistic goals, and arrive at the dive site with plenty of time to set up your gear. Being rushed and being poorly prepared is stressful and can cause mistakes.
Photo by Gene Page
Being calm and comfortable in the water will dramatically reduce your air consumption. During your Openwater class, that aluminum 80 seemed to drain in just minutes but, as you got some experience, your dives became longer as you began to use less air. In the beginning all divers are excited and apprehensive. We are doing something foreign and exciting as we venture into a new world and breathe underwater. Of course, our heart rate and breathing rate is high in the beginning but as we become more confident and experienced we settle down and begin to relax. Good divers continuously become more comfortable and see their gas consumption improve over time. A relaxed diver has a better SAC (Surface Air Consumption) rate and that aluminum 80 will last a lot longer underwater. This makes diving safer and more enjoyable because you can stay down longer and see more without watching that SPG all the time.
The final area where being relaxed is important is in a diver’s trim, buoyancy control, and general form. Many new divers seem to constantly move feet or hands and maybe even flail underwater. Some divers progress in the sport to accomplish many dives but always seem to be constantly finning and moving. This is not a sign of a good diver. Good divers have the ability to hover and remain motionless in the water. Much like a fish, a skillful diver can float with little movement and adjust buoyancy with just a breath. It takes only a flick of powerful fins to turn or move. This ability comes from developing a calm, relaxed attitude underwater. Constant fidgeting and movement requires energy and it makes it harder to maintain your position underwater. This is inefficient and distracting. It raises your SAC rate and makes the dive less fun because a diver who is fighting to maintain trim and buoyancy is too busy to see that whale shark that may be passing. Being able to relax and calmly float with little movement or effort is absolutely the number one sign of somebody who can be called, “A good diver.” Learn to relax and float without movement. Use only your fins for propulsion and maneuvering. Keep your hands at rest and use them to manage your gear; not for finning. Learning to float motionless will help a diver understand what proper trim feels like and will lead to mastering buoyancy control. Relax, float weightlessly and enjoy the beauty around you.
SCUBA diving can be an awe-inspiring sport as we journey into the tranquil majesty of the underwater world, floating and gliding effortlessly like the fish. Learn to relax and enjoy the beauty that so few people will ever experience. Plan well and calmly undertake the tasks of preparation. Once in the water forget about the world above and allow your mind to focus on the experience. Remember your training and safe diving practices while mastering your skills. Relax and become a better diver.