The biggest secrets to working with skills is twin sets

The biggest secrets and challenges to working with skills is twin sets

The diver never learned correct functions in simpler setups. What I mean by this is that advanced setups like twins magnify issues, not create them. When you really understand the setup of a single tank and are able to accomplish technical skills to demonstration quality, then you are ready to move to twins. Using the same skills in twins becomes much easier.

When doing any skill... SLOW DOWN. This means everything. If you think you are going slow, slow down even more. The more you focus on each PART of the task as an individual skill, the better it will be and more fluid. If you don't have time to do it right the first time etc. SLOW DOWN.

RELAX in position and practice the simple hover. If you can't relax and hover, you aren't ready for skills. The relaxed hover is one of the most critical skills you can become proficient at.

Check your balance. If you can't put your knees and ankles together, close your eyes, and breathe for 30 seconds without falling in any direction, you are out of balance and need to find a center balance. Sometimes it is just a matter of shifting gear around, but sometimes a little trim weight helps too. Start with moving gear around. I have found that I needed to add a spool to my left pocket to balance myself from left to right.

Valve drills. Extend your arm all the way out to the right (or left if you use your left arm) then take it over your back. It will prevent the tendons from bunching up and allow you to reach farther back and probably allow you to reach your valves and isolator.

These are just a few tips that we teach in Fundies. Which brings me to the most important.

BEFORE YOU GO INTO OW with ANY Setup like this, dial it in while in the POOL FIRST. You should be able to do these skills in a pool comfortably first and ANY OW should only be an evaluation and review of their quality. Diving an unfamiliar or new setup in OW is asking for issues. Just my suggestions as a Tech instructor for Sidemount and TwinSets.