Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to roll out that most popular New Year's cliche: "A New Year, A New You." Time to hear about everyone's New Year's Resolutions and know there's, like, a 10% change they will actually see it through. Well, if you haven't jumped on the resolution bandwagon yet, we have a short list of realistic goals you can and should make for yourself this year.
2017 New Year's Resolutions for Divers:
Dive More!
No matter how much you currently scuba dive, every diver wishes they could dive more.
This can be accomplished pretty easily if you live near the ocean. All you need to do is take a hard look at your life schedule and decide where you can carve out some extra time to go blow some bubbles. You don't have to commit to long dives every time you go out; 30 minutes here and there is plenty. The best places to find more time is either an early morning dive before work or maybe night diving after work. What better way to wind down after a long day in the office or to wake yourself up in the morning?
If you are landlocked, like thousands of other divers, getting underwater more is as simple as doing a little research and discovering more local places to go diving. You may be surprised at the possible dive sites hiding just around the corner. It could be a reservoir you never thought about diving in, a local quarry, or even river drift diving! With more diving options come many more dives!
Become A Better Buddy
Unless you are specifically trained and equipt for solo diving, diving with a buddy is the single most important safety aspect to any dive.
Here are some ways you can be a better buddy in 2017:
- Use the shoulder-to-shoulder rule. You should try to stay shoulder-to-shoulder with your buddy and always within an arm's length of each other.
- Know your buddy's gear well. Chances are you typically dive with the same friends or family so know what gear they wear well; know where all of their quick releases are, how their weighting system works, and where their alternate airsource is located.
- Perform a buddy check for each and every dive. Don't become complacent and think you don't need it. Keep each other accountable in doing the buddy check every time.
Get In Better Scuba Shape!
Ya, ya, EVERYONE wants to get into better shape at the beginning of the year, but it has extra importance to a diver, since the better shape you are in, the less weight you need to dive and the less air you will consume on your dive. Start up a simple exercise program like 20-30 minutes of cardio just 3 times a week. Add in a couple of days of sit-ups, push-ups, squats and lunges and you will see improvement in no time! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, you don’t need to join a gym, and you don’t have to do it every day.
Learn A New Diving Skill
Learn a new type of diving this year by taking a dive course. Ok, maybe it's been YEARS since you've taken an actual dive class but no matter what you choose to learn, you will always become a better diving after taking any course and diving under the supervision of a scuba instructor. So, what have you always wanted to try? Taking underwater images? Using a GoPro underwater to take video footage? How about reeling yourself into and out of a shipwreck or diving at night? What every you choose, you're bound to have a blast!
Choosing which resolution to make is the easy part, but actually sticking to it and seeing it through can be tough sometimes. Start by just choosing one, pick a start date and, to quote Nike, 'just do it.' Then if you are ambitious you can try the others as well. Happy New Year from Underseas Scuba Center!
