Top 10 Pro Diver Skills & Traits #scuba #top10 @ScubaDiverMagazine

Hi Mark

Hi Mark, watching you from Saracen Bay, Cambodia where I'm doing my Dive Master.

How about learning to maintain situational awareness outside your own little world?

I Learned since my Rescue course, 5 Years ago that im not the best diver but I can survive, I know what I’m doing and be able to help others :D
Now I’m a Padi OWSI here in Germany and I learned that our hobby is f*cking expensive 😂

Now serious:
Establishing a routine is really important for me. When I’m assembling and checking my gear I don’t wanna get disturbed.
The next best thing, I Learned from you Mark: Emotional support BoltSnap.
I really try to have one in my pocket from the W7 or D9X just in case… And at the IE it safed one of my team mates because there shoulder buckle got damaged during rescue 7. And with the BoltSnap he was able to secure it so he can make the evaluation.

😎👍🇵🇭🤿! You really hit on key points and I enjoyed the way you presented pro tip’s and learned also!

Pro diver tip: warch mark's Videos

I think proactive on the dive boat if they see something untoward. i.e. I will always try to lash a cylinder down if I see it loose and there's no diver near it. Similarly I will try to gently ask someone if I see they have missed a key step (tank valve is still closed, mask isn't on their face etc.).

Some of these traits apply elsewhere as well. I'm a skydiver and acrobatic pilot. In my case, any error no matter its degree, can result in my death. Pre flight checks of my parachute or aircraft is essential. Things happen quickly in the sky, and it needs to be fixed within a few seconds or less otherwise it will literally spiral out of control. SCUBA is arguably much more tame but a similar mindset is still necessary. Keep calm, asses the situation, and execute based on your training and experience.

Pro divers treat their gauges as verification tools rather than information tools. For example, before a pro diver checks their SPG, they can estimate what it should read based on the dive time and depth, and their own SAC rate. This way, if the value is off - they know something is wrong (gas leak, broken SPG, over exertion...)

During my DM training ( and previous work ) Plan everything out. I’m If I’m doing a course, be it at the pool or open water, I arrive 30 mins - 2 hours before students to go over my kit, check conditions and do a check dive if possible. Myself and another DM where doing a check dive at swanage pier prior to students turning up, and we voiced concerns about the current & swell to the shops Master Instructor. It ended up being 1 student per PRO level diver, where as the instructor could usually handle 4 students herself. We aired on the side of caution due to the experience and trust within the team.

who can tell me why its Scuba diver Magazine now where is "Simply scuba"?

It's amazing, as others have said, how stuff transfers to different tasks in life. Coming from a fire service background, most if not all transfers almost 100%. People kinda laugh when I tell them I have a knife in each pocket in my turnout gear but when I explain that I never know if something should happen which one's id have access to, it clicks in. Or just staying calm, which granted is easier said than done, but just taking a second to regroup will go leaps and bounds into solving your issues.

Thanks Mark! Love these longer videos 👏🏻

Thanks Mark, great video as always.
When I started diving I was told "If you buy cheap, you'll buy twice". Sounds like good advice, but is it really?

For example dive computers. It can be difficult for a new diver to see what the difference is between a Shearwater Perdix 2 (€1300), a Shearwater Peregrine (€580) and a Cressi Leonardo (€150)?
From a novice divers point of view they all do the same job.

The same goes for BCDs, Octos pretty much everything ... I spent days (weeks) reading reports, reviews (watching your videos) and taking to divers before investing in mine..

Finally a Pro Tip from my friend who is a MD. Ask yourself the question "does your life depend on it?" If the answer is yes, spend as much as you can afford on that item. Concentrate on your regulators, BCD, dive computer before you worry about which snazzy pair of fins will look best with your new wetsuit.

I am a new diver, thank you sir.

Great accomplishment you a well on your way to 500 K and more. my favorite dive watch is my Tag Huer dive watch that has been flooded and repaired several times. Unfortunately I no longer use it because I dive with 2 computers a primary and a backup.

Picture of the diver with sidmounted tanks is a VERY specialized set up so POS picture.
Guess your just a noob who doesn't know much.

This is why training is so important, and why they drill over and over to "what can go wrong" ... so there is no thinking, just acting...

Am I right in saying a frog kick is not the same as a breastroke kick? But a tighter version of one?

"You're not the sign language person at an Eminem show"

That had me laughing out loud 🤣

Being physically fit.

Good idea 👍 First time I have heard about repeating hand signals back👌

Most of my diving has been off the east coast of FL. Usually fairly short distance to sites. So, as soon as everyone is onboard and equipment stowed, I assemble and check my gear. This way I have plenty of time to fix equipment for myself or other's. And not dealing with the mass of people trying to get ready latter.

Pre-dive briefs and post-dive debriefs are critical to understanding and learning. Check lists are intended to slow you down so you don’t miss something important. Proper diet, hydration and fitness.

Very clear video.
Check your phisical condition.

Love ALL your videos, but... I can't stand those off-axis camera shots that are edited into your pieces! I've been a tv director since the '80's and all of my colleagues can't stand those "gratuitous" shots that are included just for the sake of, "oh wait, we have to do something different now!" That is all.

Adopting the ‘deliberate practice’ principle.

1. Own your own gear 2. When being teamed up with insta-buddies, look for the guy/girl who has their own gear which is not shiny/new 3.Diving is not a race - slow and steady 4. Always have a backup mask with you (seriously) 5. Set up your own gear, never leave it to the boat crew 6. Don't brag about your last dive in Cozumel 7. Find a quiet space 10 minutes before the dive and chillax 8. Never dive unwell 9. Always be open to learning from more experienced divers 10. Share your knowledge with humility.

All that is on the boat is old guys with no one to talk to so they just go underwater for the piece and quiet.