It shames me to confess this...but here I go...

[lickety-split]

Hello from Goleta, California.
I purchased a Mini 3 Pro for checking ocean water clarity from above, and for finding the ever shrinking kelp paddies along the Santa Barbara coast and surrounding areas. I've alway been only so so at judging viz and it seems to me that my old and new dive buddies are even worse than me! At 58, I'm done being the bird dog. Throwing on a wet/sandy suit then swimming through mirky water, then doing it all over again. From now on I'm sending up my drone (just got my Trust Card) and getting a Birds Eye view. If you're in my truck when I say the viz is bad...and you disagree! I'll throw your gear out the window and you can call an uber! Not really, but if this works as well as I think it will, I'll be doing more diving and less hiking. I'm sincerely grateful to this community for allowing me to join. I look forward to learning about the different adjustments and filters available for looking into water.
Sincerely,
Lickity Split. AKA Bob

 

[msinger]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[michaeldallen1]

Hi Bob, and welcome to the forum!
Congrats on getting your TRUST... That's Important!
Get ready to be bombarded with lots of 'welcome's ' and words of advise for the 'new guy'.
P.S. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the Mini 3 Pro!
I, too, am on the California coast further south of you at Dana Point.
I love the costal flying.
Stay Safe!
Mike

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.

 

[Cafguy]

Welcome from the Dry deserts of Bakersfield

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

 

[RodPad]

Welcome to the Forum!

Your thread title was confusing to me.
"it-shames-me-to-confess"
I really thought your post meant you lost or crashed it already.

A lot of good members here, Ignore me I'm the goofy one.

But Really, watch this thread.
I good day goes bad really quick.
Been There

Crash & Flyaway Assistance

mavicpilots.com

Rod ..

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America lickety-split.


Nice to meet you Bob.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[LoudThunder]

I purchased a Mini 3 Pro for checking ocean water clarity from above,

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

As a new owner of the DJI Mini 3 Pro, you might be intererested in a FREE Deep Dive Course on your New Drone Offered by PilotInstitute… They offer many other course, some Free and some for a Fee. All are great!

DJI Mini 3 Pro Deep Dive - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in California, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3 Pro, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

DJI Mini 3 Pro - Download Center - DJI

Learn and download DJI Mini 3 Pro related apps, software, and manuals at the DJI Download Center

www.dji.com

Fly On and Fly Safe…

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum

 

[Gagey52]

Greetings Bob, welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia. Look forward to your input.
Regards

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[Jimmy Stevens]

Welcome from sunny Saint Petersburg, Florida!!

 

[twickers14]

Hey and a welcome from over the pond to add to Old Man Mavic’s. Love your story and always good when a new member has a very clear view of what they want to view! Have fun and be safe.

 

[PakNheat380]

Welcome to the forum from NW Montana

 

[Laborous]

Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!

 

[PMF23]

Greetings and welcome to the community! I am also a new member, based in Iowa. What you describe sounds like a good use for your drone for sure.

 

[Escape_Velocity_Coach]

Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to seeing some of your captures.

 

[SpitFire]

Bob; Greeting, Welcome to the Forum from Chicago the Windy City.
FLY SAFE & FLY SMART ALSO FLY LEGALLY

 

[bcfd29]

Hello from Goleta, California.
I purchased a Mini 3 Pro for checking ocean water clarity from above, and for finding the ever shrinking kelp paddies along the Santa Barbara coast and surrounding areas. I've alway been only so so at judging viz and it seems to me that my old and new dive buddies are even worse than me! At 58, I'm done being the bird dog. Throwing on a wet/sandy suit then swimming through mirky water, then doing it all over again. From now on I'm sending up my drone (just got my Trust Card) and getting a Birds Eye view. If you're in my truck when I say the viz is bad...and you disagree! I'll throw your gear out the window and you can call an uber! Not really, but if this works as well as I think it will, I'll be doing more diving and less hiking. I'm sincerely grateful to this community for allowing me to join. I look forward to learning about the different adjustments and filters available for looking into water.
Sincerely,
Lickity Split. AKA Bob

EXCELLENT use of technology for maintaining heightened situational awareness, and ensuring GOOD dives!