Regardless of your diving experience there are still many questions that run through divers minds. It maybe what diving to do next, or what actions they should take next to develop and improve their diving experiences and abilities.
Many divers ask or discuss what they should do next with their diving and there are so many options to choose from. Here are just a few fields that are discussed after many years and numerous conversations on the subject with a range of divers.
Purchasing equipment is always a great way to open up new experiences and in gaining further knowledge. Dive computers are a must if you don't have your own and they quickly become your best friend especially with regards to dive safety. A compass can mean that you start to carry out your own navigating rather than following others. A top pair of fins, a top range BCD or a quality torch can all add to the quality and enjoyment of your dives. The most important piece of equipment are your regulators and a good quality set from a major manufacturer is a must. You can then be totally responsible in their ongoing care and maintenance rather than hiring a set that you know nothing about.
Enroling on a dive course is always a good thing especially when you are a new or relatively inexperienced diver. The trick is to complete a course that suits what you need at the time and that you will get the most from to suit the type of diving you are doing or want to do. A buoyancy course, night diving, deep diving, nitrox, navigation and others are all excellent courses to expand your knowledge and abilities. A good knowledgeable Instructor who goes through more than just the motions due to their experience is also a must in getting the most from any course.
You are always learning when you go diving no matter how experienced you are and experienced divers can look to the likes of deep diving, wreck penetration diving and technical diving to expand their diving experiences and take them onto dives that they would not have been able to do before.
Keep up with your diving, training and equipment. Keep in the mindset to always respect the foreign environment you are entering.
Dive trips and travel are another great way to gain valuable dive time, experience and to meet other divers. Keep diving and don't let yourself lapse for too long. Log your dives with all the valuable information you gain from each diving experience - what kit did you use, what was your ideal weighting and trim, what tank did you use, what was the depth and dive time with your finishing air pressure. All of these things can be used to improve your diving.
Meet more divers, learn from more professionals and gain experience in different diving conditions and on different types of dives. Diving in a current for example can take a dive or two to get used to but these dives can be very rewarding as they attract a lot more marine life.
Nobody expects you to be a pro, you shouldn't expect it yourself too soon either, experience must be built. Never fear judgement, always be hungry to learn and never lose the desire to improve. Learn how to improve your buoyancy and have better control in the water and on your ascents and descents. Overall enjoy it and have a lot of fun in the process.
Diving is a culmination of skills that should be mastered and maintained. Purchase more of your own equipment, get some further training and go on regular dive trips either at home or abroad or preferably both ! All of these things will continue your education, encourage more diving interests and give you many more new adventures in diving.