Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
In a message dated 10/4/01 12:46:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time, xlh883@ea*.ne* writes: > Here's a question since we are talking about required quals. for a given > type of dive. How does one go about getting that experience if he/she is > denied doing the dives in the first place due to lack of experience? David, Experience is gained by gradually working towards one's goals. As one gains experience at a particular level they reach a point where it's time to push to the next one, if they so desire. As a general rule there are many experienced technical and cave divers willing to mentor individuals as they build-up experience. I believe Capt. JT's comments about refusing certain "applicants" referred to those individuals who had failed to "pay their dues," and were seeking instead to jump straight into the "big dives." Without question the best practice for diving is diving. The more time one spends in the water the more problems they get to work through, the more comfortable they become as they build greater familiarity with their equipment, physiology and pyschology. In order to build the experience and skills needed every dive does not have to be at the edge of one's personal limits. There is a lot to be gained from less challenging dives as well. The mechanics of a dive are the same requardless of depth. The predominate differences for "big dives" being the diver's psychology (stress) and a smaller margin for error. So how does all that add up in answering your question, "how does one go about getting that experience if he/she is denied doing the dives in the first place due to lack of experience?" You start with training. Training is not an end to all ends but provides a foundation of knowledge an skills upon which to build. Pull back from the maximum depth/penetration/etc. you achieved during training and apply the knowledge and skills learned by doing several work-up dives untill you reach that maximum again, comfortably and competently. Once you become proficient diving to these limits seek additional training or develop a mentorship relationship with a more experienced diver. Again pull-back, apply what you learn and work your way slowly back to your new maximums. After building experience in a certain depth range no one is likely to deny you an opportunity to extend that range by 10 or 20 feet. However, regardless of how many dives you accumulate in a certain depth range, no responsible person in a position of authority is going to allow you to extend your range by 50, 75, or 100 feet of depth at a time. The opportunity to build experience is always there. It simply needs to be a gradual, rational transition. Regards, Bob Decker list-owner NCtechdivers@sportdiverhq.com www.SportDiverHQ.com -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]