TOP 10 DIVING MISTAKES

SKIPPING THE BUOYANCY CHECK

Take a look at whether or not you are over-weighted or under-weighted whilst diving, it occurred due to the fact you didn't do a buoyancy take a look at at the surface. If whatever has modified given that your remaining take a look at — weight loss or gain, new wetsuit or specific thickness, freshwater rather of saltwater, new or extraordinary BCD — then you want to do some other one to make certain that you're weighted properly. The incorrect weights can value you treasured power and air at best, or purpose an out-of-control ascent at worst.

DIVING OUTSIDE YOUR TRAINING LIMITS

It's effortless to get swept up in the exhilaration of a new dive website and to experience like you'll be first-rate due to the fact you've obtained anybody with you who has greater superior training. This is frequently a massive mistake. Most diving accidents occur due to the fact a diver used to be no longer good organized for the prerequisites in which they have been diving. Don't ever suppose that extra coaching or journey is a waste of cash or time. Every year, divers who have by no means taken a wreck, cave, or cavern category die interior cave systems. Nearly as often, divers besides applicable coaching die internal the overhead surroundings of wrecks, too. Get the appropriate coaching earlier than trying any dive above your ability level.

LACK OF BUDDY COMMUNICATION

Whether it's your buddy or a household member, or even an insta buddy, conversation is essential. From early education instructions on, I see divers who don't even recognize the place their pal is at any given time. Keeping tabs on the character who may additionally be referred to as upon to assist shop your lifestyles — or whose lifestyles you may additionally have to retailer — have to be your pinnacle priority. Go over your hand indicators so there's much less confusion down below; hold a watchful eye on your buddy's place so you constantly recognize how a long way away they are; and hold tabs on their air as properly as your own.

LACK OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

New divers have a tendency to focal point on one or two particular things, such as their tools or marine life, and pass over the greater picture. This is understandable, however it's additionally dangerous. While you're staring at the tremendously fish or fussing with your mask, a cutting-edge may additionally be pushing you down. You can effortlessly lose the team or boat. One of the most frequent problems includes new divers being unaware of their depth. Wall dives in unique are infamous for this, as divers stare at the wall and marine lifestyles and don't pay interest to an overlooked descent. In some places, a down modern-day should push divers down, and a ways previous leisure limits if they're now not careful. Lack of situational cognizance is additionally an problem when divers swim with their arms, as they're regularly unaware of different divers nearby.

NOT WATCHING AIR CONSUMPTION

New divers are well-known for absolutely ignoring their air-pressure gauge, which is scary for the reason that air is the single most vital factor to a diver. I attempt to teach my college students to preserve such a shut watch on their air that when I ask them how plenty they have, they shouldn't have to seem to be to know. Watch your air and be aware of at all instances how lots you have — there is no excuse for neglecting this. After your dives, chart your air consumption so that on future dives in comparable stipulations you'll be in a position to estimate how an awful lot air you'll need.

STRAINING ON THE SURFACE

New divers continually appear to neglect they can inflate their BCD at the floor and simply kick returned and relax. My college students regularly warfare to tread water after surfacing, even if they inflate their BCD. They regularly proceed to kick out of sheer instinct, tiring themselves out in the process. Diving equipment is uncomfortable on the surface, so it may additionally take some exercise to analyze to loosen up with it. Your excellent wager is to inflate your BC ample so that you can lean lower back barely and loosen up your legs.

USING THE POWER INFLATOR TOO MUCH UNDERWATER

While many more moderen divers have a tendency to overlook about inflating their BCD at the surface, they in no way appear to neglect about it underwater. Inflate, deflate, inflate, deflate — that looks to be the addiction of most new divers rather of getting to know properly buoyancy control. It takes practice to perfect, however that's challenging to do if you're continually achieving for your strength inflator.

TASK LOADING

You're on a lovely reef with stunning marine life, so it makes feel that you favor to take pictures. But more moderen divers already have a lot to deal with. Adding greater can be detrimental. I've viewed divers on their first open-water dives, on my own in a company new environment, carrying new gear and carrying high priced cameras and lighting fixtures equipment. Try no longer to do too lots at as soon as when you're nevertheless mastering new habits. Once you have a few dives underneath your belt in a range of stipulations and are acquainted with your new dive gear, then damage out the fancy digicam gear and fireplace at will.

NOT EQUALIZING SOON ENOUGH

Despite going over and over it in class, many new divers nevertheless wait till they sense ache or strain earlier than equalizing. Aside from bodily troubles in the ears, this is the most frequent cause divers have problem equalizing in the first place. Once you're experiencing pain, it's going to be difficult, if now not impossible, to equalize your ears. Even making an attempt to do so ought to reason infection and inflammation, making it even tougher on the subsequent dive. Equalize each and every couple of ft on your way down, earlier than you sense ache or pressure, particularly in the first 30 feet. If you do sense pain, ascend a little and then strive to equalize. Don't pressure it; you ought to quit up inflicting damage.

RELYING SOLELY ON A GUIDE

I apprehend if you don't choose to examine how to navigate with a compass or attempt to determine out the high-quality dive sample for a dive site, however setting all of your have faith in a information and neglecting to pay any interest to the place you are is dangerous. I've viewed divers totally skip dive briefings about currents, marine life, backside times, and depth limits due to the fact they experience they don't want to assume about any of that when you consider that they have a guide. I'm now not claiming that the have confidence is misplaced, solely that each diver have to be accountable for himself even if he is relying on a information to exhibit him around.

Pay interest for the duration of the dive briefing; take note of landmarks and instructions whilst swimming; be an energetic participant in your dive journey and accountable for your safety. Doing so will assist preserve you and the humans with you safer, make the trip extra enjoyable, and make you a higher diver.