Lessons Learned

[Gi]

Taking up on Matthew's challenge to share lessons on our diving experiences, I am starting this thread so others may advise or learn from our experiences / misadventures.

The Miss Universe question is, "What were the 3 most valuable lessons you learned in your diving experience?". You may write the story behind the lessons.

Paalala lang po, yung mga not so young na marami nang karanasan, top 3 lang po, ha. Don't get carried away.

PS. the attachment below has no connect. Gusto ko lang ilagay action picture ko. Wahahaha! ;D

Attachments:

[Gi]

1. Master buoyancy ASAP. Aim for neutral bouyancy throughout the dive. You will enjoy your dives more because you use your air more efficiently . There is less finning, you're more relaxed, you get to see more marine life (esp. macro). Most importantly, we get to dive responsibly by lessening our negative impact on the coral reefs.
2. Familiarize yourself with your equipment before you dive. For people like me who get rentals, it has been my constant source of stress when I cannot find the zipper of my BC or the purge valve, etc. under water.
3. Loosening of weight belt is to the right while BC is to the left. I did not mind this before until I accidentally loosened my weight belt while I was adjusting the fit of my BC under water (pareho silang nasa left). Good thing, Rodel, my dive buddy was nearby. He held me down until I was able to place my weight belt back. Kundi, shoot up ako.

[charrie]

my top three:

1. learn how and when to use the inflator
2. don't grow too fond of the inflator
3. know when to let go of the inflator

[Gi]

I would like to revive this post and make it, "LESSONS and DISCOVERIES on MY LAST DIVE" to promote self - assessment of skills, open communication and continuing improvement on every dive.

1. On my last dive in Apo Reef, I noticed that I am not using my inflator hose as often as I used to to control my bouyancy (except on descent and ascent, of course). Purge valves are cool when I need to take out pockets of makukulit na air left on the BC. I just need to tilt (not contort, ok!) my body on certain ways.

2. Learning to breath and using it for bouyancy control will always be a work in progress for me. Hirap to change bad habits (chugging on air when getting excited)!

3. Slow ascent... AS IN SLOW ASCENT! Buti na lang di nakakapagsalita ang dive computer (hehehehe).

Regards,
Gi

[matthew]

Good points Gi! I hope everybody takes note of these.

[Gi]

Grabe! Kakaiba ang PG. Conditions may not be perfect but I sure learned a lot about my diving here. On March 26 and 27, 2010, I learned the ff:

1. Do not be shy to ask for more info about the dive plan. It will help in anticipating scenarios on the dive.

2. I thought I had vertigo... May whirlpool?! Meron pala nun? So when in PG, expect the unexpected.

3. If your primary malfunctions, you still have your octopus to count on.

4. My absolute dive essentials in PG (apart from air ): balloon, dive computer, presence of mind (from Matt: walang namamatay sa agos, may namamatay sa panic), endurance (all that jogging paid off, man).

Regards,
Gi