What Do You Wish You Knew Now When You Started Diving?

[@bodee1994]

More wheels the better! You are so right, Mark

[@DarthMuffin007]

Always start with a BPW and long hose setup…don’t waste money on a traditional BCD and a short, yellow hose.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

If you use a dive computer during a course, set the end dive time to 10 minutes. This will prevent the dive computer registering 5 dives because you surfaced between exercises.

[@mrmoose6765]

@@bloodymarvelous4790 Me, it was 8 dives registered.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I remember upsetting my computer with the CESA skill with multiple students

[@Amplev-db4vo]

Hi Mark, great segment. I wish I new about fitting a mask with a reg or snorkel in the mouth. It really make a difference to the mask fit.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Yeah, that's a handy tip. It was a long time before I learnt to do that

[@Twes_werf]

When you buy stainless parts, always go for 316. The most common type is 304 which will rust before you're out of the water 😅. Learned that lesson when I got new nuts for my backplate.

[@ABCDiver]

And pray that it wasn't shipped from China, where they stamp whatever label you want on the same material. I made a mistake of buying a knife from there, advertised as 316, blade showed rust spots after my first ocean dive.

[@TheNext010]

I only regret one thing, buying a set for one cylinder and not going straight to the twin. It is much better to buy a set of 2x7 or 2x8.5 liters.

[@alienzwelcome]

Hello there. Recently I finished my Sidemount course. There’s a lot to learn yet and I’m still excited with the challenges to come. Could you please explain how to setup a cable to hang my bottles on the boat then donning them in the water ? Cheers ! #askmark

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

There are a few ways depending on what's most convenient for the dive, with a tag line or a gear line. A *tag line* will run alongside the boat from bow to stern or you can run a *gear line* that drops straight down into the water from a secure point. Either use an alpine butterfly knot for thinner ropes or a jon line for thicker ropes at key spots to create a secure attachment point that you can clip each cylinder to.

[@rbarata77]

Hello there. Below what water temperature would you consider to be a cold water diving? I see that some regulators are better than others for cold water. Where do you cross the line? I'm from Portugal. The water is definitely not warm (15ºC-20ºC), but it is not freezing... #askmark

[@dive_with_matt]

Great question! Generally regulators that are tested for ‘cold water’ they class as I believe 10°c or less from memory

[@mrmoose6765]

When you start to shiver.

[@Sherwoody]

It’s really cold when you start choking because your testicles have shrank up into your throat.

[@chankwanting]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qn2rfXiKr7uCrc0

[@RobinMoerland]

My cold water level is at 14 degrees. That's the temperature I'm starting to become aware of in a way: huh this is starting to get cold. At 9 degrees I'm going in the mode off: ok this is cold and won't last too long here. Let's go up a bit.

[@toadou8127]

Go slow. No unnecessary movement. No hand sculling, only use feet for propulsion and steering. Every muscle you use, consumes gas from your tank. Plus, if you slow down, your likely to see more critters!

[@Frankiewizard]

Cheers Mark

[@RanaRahman-z8u]

I am working at dive shop from last five years I have full experience in maintenance and refilling of regulator bcd cylinder and I also do cylinder filling as well as repairing here if you have any vacancy plz Please let me know I am very keen to move from here to United State

[@santosfabio98]

can you make a review on ScubaPro regulator Mk25 G260 Carbon

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I can ask if I can get one to test. I've always liked the G260, it's a practical design and a nice breathe. Now it's a bit lighter in the mouth it's a solid choice for a regulator

[@UltimateLogbookApp]

"If you can get someone else to pick up all the heavy stuff for you..." Another one of #MarksClassics 😂

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Delegation, the key to a good diver

[@UltimateLogbookApp]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine delegation sounds so much better 😉

[@bunsoybee]

industry judges a diver based on certification regardless of skill. it pushes divers to hurry and go for higher certification instead of honing their skills. u can have a new diver go thru ow and advanced with just 10 dives total and still be considered as more qualified than an ow diver regularly diving in varying conditions for 10 years.

[@aliasincognito0]

There should be a bare minimum for buoyancy, trim, and propulsion. Most recreational and even some tech divers lack the stability and watermanship needed for diving. I've seen people boast about their "1000+" dives only to see them flailing their arms, sea horsing, and generally just terrible in the water. I wish I knew that GUE fundamentals was an option when I first started so I didn't need to relearn how to dive after getting my OW.

[@dtt3426]

what is seahorsing

[@aliasincognito0]

​@@dtt3426 Where the diver is head high with their chest out, like how a sea horse moves. You should be flat and horizontal (or parallel to the structure if cave/wreck diving) throughout the dive, especially on ascents.

[@peterpanci78]

I want yo buy a watch and I don't know which one? Sunto ocean or garmin? To wering all day. Thank you very much

[@DelcoTrash]

Casio

[@garthb2554]

I love the Shearwater Tern TX. Functions as a watch and computer but not a smaret watch like the Garmin.

[@mrmoose6765]

Both, I have the garmin and was going to buy the suunto later.

[@Daveador876]

I'm definitely upgrading from my d5 to the ocean

[@alykissas]

If you'll use it all day and for tracking workouts, go with the Garmin. It's smartwatch capabilities + workout tracking can't be beat (plus battery life for what it's tracking), and the dive computer is fantastic.

[@amadeuss3341]

I love to dive with new divers if it's instabuddy situation. They are kind of predictable and humble. Making my dive a lot more relaxing that with unpredictable commando 😅

[@chrisphilhower6029]

That my shop takes the entire summer to schedule classes

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Oof, yeah it can be frustrating when you want to do a course but they want to wait for more students to fill the class

[@chrisphilhower6029]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine I have to request the days off. Then have to cancel them.

[@hatty7090]

Yup, my local dive shop has a hard time with scheduling but it’s usually due to weather. Bad weather stops the course happening but then to reschedule requires fitting the course into what is already scheduled.

[@NateMeyer-ub2fx]

On the last comment, I was advised to only share my Open Water cert (as opposed to my higher certs) with dive operators at resorts, cruises, etc., to avoid having to babysit.

[@Ginwood]

@@NateMeyer-ub2fx Certainly agree. I have found babysitting to happen in larger groups where you have a guide up front and DM as tail end Charlie, I’ve been asked “hang around the middle bit” despite being a paying customer like the rest of the group. I try and mitigate this now by diving in very small groups I.e. dive guide plus 1 or 2 divers. Where it’s a larger group I down play my certs where possible, showing just enough qualification to suit the dive

[@dylonswiatek]

dont spend over 2500.00 on a Halcyon Dive Light

[@harambeexpress]

... unless you're a technical diver. Those Halcyon laser beams are great for communication.

[@dylonswiatek]

@@harambeexpress I have one and I am a technical diver

[@dylonswiatek]

@@harambeexpress I prefer my Big Blue Lights

[@joethong726]

That was my first light. It’s really good for signaling because of the tight beam

[@chankwanting]

Look after your back. Get someone else to lift the heavy stuff.... so they wreck their back instead. 🤣