Your first few dives can be overwhelming. Just after finishing your training you’ll be trying to remember everything you learned all at once and some small mistakes can become big problems if you’re not careful. Here you will find five top mistakes that many divers, beginner and advanced, tend to make. Keeping these few in mind can help you avoid them the next time you dive into the water on your next deep water swim.

1. Not CommunicatingScuba Diving Certification Professional Diver

It’s a rule of thumb to keep tabs on your scuba buddy (or buddies) at all times. Diving should be a partnership where all divers are aware of the other’s location, oxygen levels and hand signals. No matter who they are to you, keep tabs…it may be the only thing that saves a life.

2. Bypassing the Buoyancy Check

Many divers will assume that they don’t need to do another buoyancy check because their last one was recent or it isn’t that important. Any changes (body weight fluctuations, water freshness or salt content, etc) can influence your diving weight. Not checking can potentially contribute to an out of control ascent and bring consequences you don’t want to be facing. Preparation is key.

3. Lack of Awareness

It’s easy to rely on your compass and find yourself suddenly lost or focus on a few little things and be surprised by a dangerous circumstance, such as surpassing your depth limits or getting too close to things you shouldn’t. Make sure to keep your senses alert and pay attention throughout the entire dive to have a safer and more enjoyable experience.

4. Not Knowing Your Limits

Being trained at all does not make you a pro diver. You’ll never regret taking additional courses to prepare yourself for specific dives. You make think that something looks simple but can actually be very difficult and prior training is essential in all instances. Don’t be a diver that loses control and eventually their life because they tried something they weren’t ready for or trained to do.

5. Neglecting to Watch Air Consumption

It may seem obvious, but don’t neglect checking your air-pressure gauge. You should always be aware how much you have and plan accordingly. This practice will also help you know how much you will need to plan for in the future.