MEMBER TO MEMBER
112
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SUMMER 2014
06
FALL 2014
L
ooking down at the water, time can seem
to slow down. The next time you are about
to dive, ask yourself what emotions you are
feeling — excitement,
nervousness, self-doubt,
even boredom? Diving is more than
just a physical activity; it involves
every aspect of an individual’s self.
The unique approach each diver
takes sets the tone for his or her
dive. After several decades as a diver
and dive instructor, I try approach
each dive with fresh eyes.
For all divers, including
beginners, preparation is key.
Research the dive conditions you
are about to encounter. Consider
what type of suit you need for
thermal protection. Determine
whether the visibility fits within
your comfort zone. Remember to
consider currents, waves and even
methods of transportation to the
dive site. Will you get there by boat, car or perhaps even
a mule? Showing up to a dive site and discovering there
are 199 steps down a steep hill may not be your cup of
tea, and these steps are only going to feel longer after
the dive on the way back up.
Knowledge is power. As a diver gains time in the water,
his or her self-doubt will disappear and comfort level
will increase. For some divers, an end point is reached in
which the level of training is maxed out. If you are one
of these divers, take advantage of events to help build
your knowledge base. Work on your buoyancy skills to
keep you efficient in the water. Learn to send up surface
markers from depth to make drift dives less stressful. If
diving in cold water doesn’t seem attractive, try a drysuit,
which will make you warmer and require that you gain
new skills. Either you’ll love cold-water diving, or the
Caribbean will become more attractive than ever.
Evolving technology also provides opportunities
for you to continue to build on your experience. For
example, sidemount and
closed-circuit rebreather
(CCR) events can expand
your level of understanding
of that equipment. Visiting
trade shows will also give you
insights into new technology and
information. There is much to
be learned by attending various
lectures and chatting with other
divers. Choose subjects that
interest you enough to get you in
the water more often. Consider
putting together a presentation for a local club, library or
civic organization. Sharing insights with a dive community
is a great way to help your peers and yourself come to
each dive with your eyes open to new information.
I practice what I preach by actively teaching advanced
and technical classes. I organize demos on CCR and
sidemount diving. I recently volunteered to work with a
marine archeologist in Lake Michigan on a CCR trimix
photo dive, and I’ve signed up to volunteer at my third
aquarium. By the time you read this, I will have already
lectured at the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean
Isle, N.C.
After decades of diving, the water still looks great.
AD
SHARE YOUR STORY
Do you have tips, advice, travel strategies, dive techniques, lessons
learned or other words of wisdom to share with your fellow divers? Alert
Diver wants your story. Email it to
or mail it to “Member
to Member,” c/o Alert Diver, 6 W. Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705.
T E X T A N D P H O T O S B Y P E T E N A W R O C K Y
Eyes Wide Open
