Number of Dives Logged

[Black-Gorrilla]

but that info doesn't show up...

[mobeeno]

After logging quite a few cold water dives I thought diving the tropics would be easy. However on the first tropical dive, I used up so much air quickly because my weighting was all different, the current was strong and I could see so far in all directions.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by FishFood

I wouldnt call someone with 24 dives a veteran

I do get what you're saying however. With 0-24 you can't tell if the user is certified yet. Could help in answering questions if that info is known, and not everyone comes right out and says it.

Frankly, the difference between someone with 0 dives and the someone with 1 dive is pretty negligible also. At 1 dive, you're not finished getting certified, and your skills certainly all that developed.

And honestly, how many people with 0 dives hang out on dive forums? If they're into it enough to be hanging out here, they're going to be getting certified soon enough.

May as well leave it as it is, IMO.

I do agree that someone with 24 dives or less is not exactly an old pro at diving.

[Wolfie2012]

I really hope nobody is placing any weight on how many dives it says in somebodies profile. It's not like anybody is verifying it. It's much more intelligent to judge a person's knowledge based upon what they say rather than what they choose in the drop-down list for # of dives.

Besides that, even somebody being truthful about the number of dives can be an idiot - whether it's 1000+ or 24.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Wolfie2012

I really hope nobody is placing any weight on how many dives it says in somebodies profile. It's not like anybody is verifying it. It's much more intelligent to judge a person's knowledge based upon what they say rather than what they choose in the drop-down list for # of dives.

Besides that, even somebody being truthful about the number of dives can be an idiot - whether it's 1000+ or 24.

If someone is spouting off like an expert, and yet saying things are blatantly wrong, and I look and see they have listed 0-24 dives, you can be sure I'm going to give some weight to the number of dives posted when I correct them.

They either need to learn a little more before posting, or they're liars. Hopefully the former. Anyone who purposely lies deserves any grief they get.

[rawalker]

Not that it would help with verification or even suggest knowledge or experience but I'd like to see a dive frequency number based on the prior year or maybe an average of 3 years with notes of divers active for less than 3 years.

Once a year
Twice a Year
Quarterly
Every other month
Monthly
More often than monthly

This may serve to show those that are actively practicing and learning.

A diver who is active and expanding their abilities may have more to offer than a diver with 200 logged dives over 10 years and the first 150 dives logged over 9 years ago.

[elijahb]

Originally Posted by matt151617

Change the options to make 0, then 1-24, instead of 0-24, for number of dives logged. I don't think it's fair that someone who hasn't even taken a class yet counts the same as someone with 24 dives.

I agree why not 1-23 ( basic open water) 24-x advanced open water?

[hoobascooba]

i'm at 14 "logged" dives... just in case if anybody wished to know.

[hoobascooba]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I do agree that someone with 24 dives or less is not exactly an old pro at diving.

if you dove with me, you would NOT know that I'm still *new* at diving, unless I told you. I promise you that. Well crap, I kinda just did, didn't I? lol

Last Sunday was my first dive boat dives, nobody knew it.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by hoobascooba

if you dove with me, you would NOT know that I'm still *new* at diving, unless I told you. I promise you that. Well crap, I kinda just did, didn't I? lol

Last Sunday was my first dive boat dives, nobody knew it.

So how many OOA divers have you dealt with in your diving career? How many new diver questions have you fielded? How many dry dives in 45 degree water that exceeded recreational limits? How many beach entries through 5' surf? How many times have you had to execute a search pattern to find a missing buddy in water with 3' vis... in the clear places? I'm not asking if all of these things were done flawlessly... but were they done at all? And can you therefore actually know what they're like?

Experience brings all kinds of extras to the table that might not be immediately apparent. Inexperience brings all kinds of "holes in knowledge" that also might not be immediately apparent... to the new diver, OR the casual observer.

Some people are naturals... and if they are (and you are), kudos. But that doesn't mean we should give your advice the same weight as an instructor with 15,000 dives who has been teaching diving since 1965. It doesn't mean we should ignore, you either... and I wouldn't. But you have to realize that there IS at least some correlation here.