How often do you need to dive to maintain skills?
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carolrose
Contributor
Messages 273 Reaction score 6 Location Harriman, NY # of dives 200 – 499
Once you get your certification, I understand that you need to continue to dive regularly to maintain your skills and learn more. But how often would you consider ‘regularly’ to be? Obviously vacation once or twice a year would not be ‘regular’, but what about maybe a couple of dives a month? Would you be able to maintain the stuff you learned and continue to become a better diver with that amount of dives? What would you consider to be the threshold for continuing to be a safe and continually improving diver?
1_T_Submariner
Contributor
Messages 3,010 Reaction score 12 Location Pontiac, IL # of dives 500 – 999
I try to dive 2 times a month (Job gets in the way of diving more often) Sometimes more. Not sure about your threshold question the responses should be interesting.
Dive Dive Dive.
eckybay
Princess of Dorkness
Messages 648 Reaction score 1 # of dives 50 – 99
One of the instructors I know tells new divers to aim for atleast ten dives a year. This is probably a good place to start. But, if you go on a dive vacation, it would be easy to get these all at once and not dive the other 11 months out of the year. That doesn’t really seem like the best option as far as keeping skills fresh.
This is my first summer as a diver, and I’ve been trying to go every few weeks, schedule, weather, and budget permitting. I’m planning on hoping in the pool a time or two over the winter just to keep familiar with stuff. For the “average” rec diver, this seems like a good idea. Once or twice a month during the summer and if your location doesn’t readily allow for winter diving, hop in a pool to stay sharp.
Reactions: ZephyrNYC
Trixxie
Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Messages 1,226 Reaction score 5 Location Madison, Ga # of dives I’m a Fish!
I was out of the water for 6 yrs and was right back into the ‘swing of things’, buoyancy and all after a couple of pool sessions. Would not recommend this route however. I am just very comfortable in the water and scuba seems natural to me even though it really shouldn’t since we don’t live/breathe underwater.
I have been going to the pool 2 weekends/month working on my DM, plus 4 – 6 ow dives/month. Going to get in at least 10 dives by the end of the month.
Reactions: ZephyrNYC
suthnbelle
ScubaBoard Supporter
ScubaBoard Supporter
Messages 2,301 Reaction score 1 Location North Carolina # of dives 200 – 499
I try to get in the water at least two days every month (even in the winter) and with my schedule that is pushing it some months. The days I get to dive I get in 2-3 dives and I’m usually working on different skills. Depending on where you live and what is available you can hit quarries, lakes and/or the pool to work on skills throughout the year. That way when you do go on a dive vacation you aren’t feeling rusty on skills or run the risk of becoming overly stressed if an incident happens and you need to keep your wits about you. If you are practicing as often as you can it will definitely help when you are put in a situation where you need to stop, think and take action.
How about feeling out your profile so we know what region you are in and a little more about you.
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https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/how-often-do-you-need-to-dive-to-maintain-skills.159622/
