confidence

Question
hi Jesse
I just received my advance open water in Jamaica. However, I still feel questionable on my skills with the limited dives I have had.How do I increase my skills in breathing and buoyancy control which seems the most difficult to conquer. In addition if air supply control is an issue should I purchase a pony.

Answer
Hello Al.  I would be happy to help.  I assume you have 25 dives or less right now.  It is not uncommon for divers with in frequent diving experience or a low number of dives to still be learning good buoyancy and breathing techniques.  Experience (an increased number of dives) usually results in better techniques assuming you have been given the proper fundamentals.

My recommendations are as follows:
- Take the PADI or SSI or equivalent Advanced Buoyancy specialty course.  You will learn proper techniques in this class.
- Dive often and continue to increase your skills
- Be sure you are always properly weighted (do not be over weighted)
- Do some practice dives (in a pool or open water) on your own where your only focus is on hovering with neutral buoyancy and breathing control.  Don't swim around, explore or anything else.  Just work on these skills only.  Many find that just a couple of 30 or 40 minute sessions like this have an amazing impact.
- Calculate and log your air consumption rate on every dive.  

Over time your air consumption rate will tend to decrease and stabilize as you learn better techniques underwater and learn to relax more.

I do not suggest bothering with a pony bottle.  You should be properly monitoring your gas supply and no decompression limits and should never need one.  You don't want to create a false sense of security just because one is hanging on your gear somewhere.  In addition, the extra bulk and lack of stream lining the pony will cause may actually reduce your streamlining and mess up your trim underwater and thus increase your air consumption.

I hope this helps.  Best of luck.  Keep diving and have fun!  Jesse