Overly Dramatic Title: The Curse of The Most Experienced Diver

[scubamarketing]

So it's fairly common that when I'm on vacation, I'm the most experienced diver second to the guide. Even if someone is there who has more dives, they usually let me fall into the pit due to my instructor level.

This means I'm last in line through caverns, I'm last in the water, last onto the boat, and occasionally am asked to surface with other divers who are low on air when I'm planning on surfacing with more than the guide.

I don't mind any of this 99.99% of the time.

I also shoot photos and videos and know that we have a bad reputation for getting in the way of all the cool marine life. But since I'm the most experienced diver and am last in line, I can't really dominate the marine life.

In fact, since I'm last in line, silt is kicked up more, the halocline is stirred up more, and the marine life has been scared away.

I get to dive enough that this doesn't really bother me, but some times being last gets old.

What does anybody else do? Do you just deal with being last or do you lie about experience so you're not the most experienced?

As a dive professional, I don't mind being the courteous guy who says, "Oh no, after you" and I understand the logistics of having the most experienced person bring up the rear, but I'd like to see the cool stuff too

 

[CamG]

Give them your AOW card.
No law against not revealing your level of cert.
I show my Rescue card or none at all if they do not ask.
Dive solo if you have to.
Most photographers should be solo qualified anyway and as a instructor you dive solo more often than not.

I have no issues tailoring my dive for another if need be but there are dives I will not even consider it.
I have never turned a diver who needed help down and will offer assistance when ever I can.
I hope you find a happy medium I find quiet humility goes a long way.

CamG

 

[fisheater]

Try being first in the water?

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Maybe some experience outside of cattle boats would help.

 

[knfmn]

I agree with CamG. Show them whatever the minimum card you need to get on the boat is. Or try gently reminding them that you're not there in a professional capacity, so expecting you to baby sit other divers isn't very realistic or fair to you, since you're paying to be there.

Kristopher

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Tell them if they want you to babysit the answer is no. Unless they are going to pay you or comp you the trip. As for being last that's a choice. If you're ready to go when they declare the pool open, go.

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[oly5050user]

Show them any card you want.It should not matter. If you are asked to assist/accompany someone who is not your buddy just say that you would like to but you paid to dive like everyone else on the boat and its not your problem if someone in the group who is not your buddy needs a guide of any type..Very often it is someone who should not be certified to dive in the first place and screws up kicking sand,scaring away marine life,etc.. If they insist on your assistance you insist on being paid and not having to pay for the trip. I have been asked this a few times and I tell them I have to be paid to dive with an unknown person, oh and my rate $75. per dive and that I expect my trip to be free, and my wife (usual buddy) gets a comp, plus I get a share of the tips.. That should end the discussion immediately and if it does not I get paid.

---------- Post added April 14th, 2013 at 08:44 PM ----------

Tell them if they want you to babysit the answer is no. Unless they are going to pay you or comp you the trip. As for being last that's a choice. If you're ready to go when they declare the pool open, go.

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Same answer as mine Jim ! Except you should get paid AND comp on the trip.

 

[Ayisha]

I know some individuals who are instructors that show their AOW cards so as to just enjoy the dives. I know some couples as well who are instructors but also show their AOW cards because they've been asked to separate and dive with newer divers or be responsible for other divers and they'd like to just dive together. It seems to work for them.

 

[Steve_C]

What is this line stuff? I dive mostly off the coast of North Carolina and the Florida keys with some other stuff thrown in. I frequently dive with less experienced divers. But all these boats work on a buddy system so there are two (sometimes three) of us in a buddy group. All the buddy groups follow their own agenda. Plus the instabuddies usually are happy to have me navigate. So once I make sure they are comfortable at depth, I amble along in the lead and take some photos. If I see something interesting I will point it out to them. They usually hang nearby like a remora so are easy to keep track of. At the end of the dive it depends. If I have a lot more air and it is NC I will see that they have an escort up the line and I will take a few more photos unless for some safety concerns I think I should follow them up. But then after they go up from the hang bar after the safety stop, I may just hang out in mid water watching the stuff swim by. Several of my more memorable moments underwater have been up in midwater.

 

[TMHeimer]

Tell them if they want you to babysit the answer is no. Unless they are going to pay you or comp you the trip. As for being last that's a choice. If you're ready to go when they declare the pool open, go.

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I would do exactly that. I don't boat dive often at all so I'll let you know the first time this happens to me.....