Rude Divers on the Boat

[KathyV]

Just be glad that you didn't encounter the rude people on a liveaboard - then you can't escape them!

One time when were on a liveabord and there was a group of dive buddies on the boat and they got together once each year for a much-anticipated dive trip. One of them, a married man, brought his girlfriend. None of the other guys knew about his affair and they were unhappy because they were friends with his wife (and their wives were friends with his wife!) and he had unknowingly turned them into accomplices to his infidelity. They were mostly afraid that their wives would find out and then they wouldn't be able to go on any more dive trips with the guys.

The lovers were really annoying, they were passionate and indiscreet all over the boat (and loud too!). I had the misfortune to head up to the sundeck one time only to interrupt them while "he was giving her snorkeling lessons" yuck!

At one point, she was in the galley and obviously naked under her flimsy wrap, which was annoying enough, but then she suddenly dropped something on the floor and found it necessary to get down on all fours and crawl around to search for it - she gave everybody an explicit and unwelcome show!

The other members of their buddy group asked the videographer to edit her entirely out of their videos because they didn't want their wives to see her. It was an uncomfortable situation all around. I don't know what the Captain could have done, she was a paying guest and he had no idea that her presence would annoy other people; but I think that he could have had a private word with them and told them to be more discreet and "keep it in the cabin!"

 

[scottwilson1]

OP where were you diving ?

interesting read - I've been pretty lucky so far, Only been diving since October and have 29 dives almost all boat dives except for my OW. Only boat dived in Thailand where you get a nice batch of different cultures,
complaints - don't steal my spot - unless were talking like one spot off no big deal - and divers who ride others divers fins - stop it - It's not my fault but still feel bad when kicking someone in the face behind me.
one other complaint would be snorkellers hanging around in divers area when suiting up or down - MOVE - yup that's it so I think I've had it real good. Even with the slight complaints can't say I've dived with a outright "rude" diver unless they were being rude in a different language ?

Now I've only dived with the one DIVE op and on some days you do feel like a part of staff - however I never felted entitled if anything I felt more compelled to help out especially with other divers who have a issue ( and if i know the answer) Simply because I really like the Dive op and want it to do well and I'm a manager whose use to helping customers so I guess it's second nature.

---------- Post added April 6th, 2015 at 07:28 PM ----------

Just be glad that you didn't encounter the rude people on a liveaboard - then you can't escape them!

One time when were on a liveabord and there was a group of dive buddies on the boat (mostly financial lawyers and investment bankers) and they got together once each year for a much-anticipated dive trip. One of them, a married lawyer, brought his girlfriend. None of the other guys knew about his affair and they were unhappy because they were friends with his wife (and their wives were friends with his wife!) and he had unknowingly turned them into accomplices to his infidelity. They were mostly afraid that their wives would find out and then they wouldn't be able to go on any more dive trips with the guys.

The lovers were really annoying, they were passionate and indiscreet all over the boat (and loud too!). I had the misfortune to head up to the sundeck one time only to interrupt them while "he was giving her snorkeling lessons" yuck!

At one point, she was in the galley and obviously naked under her flimsy wrap, which was annoying enough, but then she suddenly dropped something on the floor and found it necessary to get down on all fours and crawl around to search for it - she gave everybody an explicit and unwelcome show!

The other members of their buddy group asked the videographer to edit her entirely out of their videos because they didn't want their wives to see her. It was an uncomfortable situation all around. I don't know what the Captain could have done, she was a paying guest and he had no idea that her presence would annoy other people; but I think that he could have had a private word with them and told them to be more discreet and "keep it in the cabin!"

So I'll be getting married soon and was thinking of a liveaboard for a honeymoon how sound proof are those cabins in general anyways ??
we're discreet but ...........would be good to know.

 

[Patoux01]

So I'll be getting married soon and was thinking of a liveaboard for a honeymoon how sound proof are those cabins in general anyways ??
we're discreet but ...........would be good to know.

Most likely badly soundproof. However, you can make a "sorry" package like people with kids sometimes make when taking the plane

Including:
- ear plugs
- candies, loads of candies
- some other cool stuff
- a "sorry for the noise, just married!"-note

 

[KathyV]

...So I'll be getting married soon and was thinking of a liveaboard for a honeymoon how sound proof are those cabins in general anyways ?? we're discreet but ...........would be good to know.

This couple was really obnoxious and in heat; just use a little discretion and you will be fine. Just don't go on Blackbeards Cruises because you will be sharing a shelf in the galley protected only by a flimsy curtain! Congratulations!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

It is unfortunate that you've had bad experiences (the photographer is pretty over the top) so early. I've probably had about 60 boat dives in different locations, but never have I come across that. I think I am largely able to tune out idiots, but I'm sure eventually I'll run into one that I can't. Demeanor also has a bit to do with it. I'm only 5'11", 180 lbs, but my guess is that if Evander Holyfield was a diver and photographer, not too many people would shove him out of the way.

 

[cbm32]

I cant say that I have ever had any really terrible experiences....but then I am pretty tolerant. However, I believe that there is at least one person out there that may tell a story about how rude I am .

Back story is that I am disabled after having an accident back in 2005. I was never supposed to walk again, but after five years of working my own (along with the help of my oldest son) rehab plan I left my wheel chair behind for good. I still have a lot of problems left over from the spinal cord damage and walk with a cane. I use a fairly heavy wooden cane that was made for me at Matava Resort in Fiji.

Two years ago, while diving for several weeks on Cozumel, I was about to get into the boat from off a pier. Obviously, I used my cane to get to the edge of the pier, but needed to not have it in my hand in order to use both hands on the canopy supports to step down into the boat. The DM and boat captain both happened to be busy with other things and so, in order to get aboard as quickly as possible and not make people wait any longer than necessary, I reached in and dropped my cane (flat) onto the bottom of the boat prior to climbing in. It took one small bounce and landed about a foot or a bit more from a gentleman's foot. I climbed aboard, retrieved my cane, stowed it under the seat, and sat down while having a woman sitting next to this guy staring daggers at me. After I sat, she proceeded to ream me out pretty good for, "almost breaking her husbands leg with my cane".

I smiled at her, while shaking my head, and went about putting my gear together. In my younger, less tolerant days, I might have, gently, thrown her overboard Instead I ignored her the whole day and was thankful he had to go home with her and not me.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Just be glad that you didn't encounter the rude people on a liveaboard - then you can't escape them!

One time when were on a liveabord and there was a group of dive buddies on the boat (mostly financial lawyers and investment bankers) and they got together once each year for a much-anticipated dive trip. One of them, a married lawyer, brought his girlfriend. None of the other guys knew about his affair and they were unhappy because they were friends with his wife (and their wives were friends with his wife!) and he had unknowingly turned them into accomplices to his infidelity. They were mostly afraid that their wives would find out and then they wouldn't be able to go on any more dive trips with the guys.

The lovers were really annoying, they were passionate and indiscreet all over the boat (and loud too!). I had the misfortune to head up to the sundeck one time only to interrupt them while "he was giving her snorkeling lessons" yuck!

At one point, she was in the galley and obviously naked under her flimsy wrap, which was annoying enough, but then she suddenly dropped something on the floor and found it necessary to get down on all fours and crawl around to search for it - she gave everybody an explicit and unwelcome show!

The other members of their buddy group asked the videographer to edit her entirely out of their videos because they didn't want their wives to see her. It was an uncomfortable situation all around. I don't know what the Captain could have done, she was a paying guest and he had no idea that her presence would annoy other people; but I think that he could have had a private word with them and told them to be more discreet and "keep it in the cabin!"

How RUDE.. Bringing a WOMAN on a dive trip for guys!

 

[WarrenZ]

Comment deleted since I'm not ready to get kicked off scubaboard

 

[halocline]

I guess diving is surprisingly stressful for lots of people and hence the irritation on boats. Well, that and the close quarters. Regarding the woman getting naked, I thought you had pay extra for that!

 

[UserNameBella]

Assuming you are referring to diving locally in Canada, you are completely bursting my bubble as to my perception of Canadians.

Add me to the list of people who have not encountered such rude divers. I have encountered one or two photographers of the type who believe they have privileges the rest of us don't, but I have come to deal with that by avoiding getting anywhere near photographers. The behavior of photographers has, for the time being, turned me and my dive buddy (wife) off to the idea of getting into photography.

I dive mainly warm-water destinations, and it's been my experience that people on vacation are relaxed and just happy to be there, and so pretty much mind their own business. Essentially ALL of us are there for just a week or two. Maybe on a "local" dive boat there is a greater likelihood of encountering "regulars" who feel they are more like crew than ordinary customers--more likely to offer unsolicited help, assert perceived privileges, etc.?

I am most certainly a Canadian diver, but I have been diving my way around the Caribbean and Central America for the last three months. But it most certainly was a Canadian who shoved me. I'm fairly new, and I tell myself : If I can't make the shot without scaring the critter, kicking the coral, creating a sandstorm in my wake or waving my hands frantically, it is a shot I should not be trying to take. I wish that warning was written on every go pro sold.

The naked lady wasn't anyone anybody would purposefully want to see naked, which made matters much much worse. For some reason the naked people are never the people who you wish to see naked.

I did see a funny one - a guy who had just told the DM that he didn't need to listen to her because he had been diving longer than her was walking around the outside of the boat while the boat was ripping through some awesome waves despite the DM and the captain warning him not to do so .... needless to say he went flying off the boat. Fortunately he was fine, but his ego was bruised and hopefully he wasn't such a jerk in the future. Sometimes karma works like that.

---------- Post added April 6th, 2015 at 11:20 PM ----------

I cant say that I have ever had any really terrible experiences....but then I am pretty tolerant. However, I believe that there is at least one person out there that may tell a story about how rude I am .

Back story is that I am disabled after having an accident back in 2005. I was never supposed to walk again, but after five years of working my own (along with the help of my oldest son) rehab plan I left my wheel chair behind for good. I still have a lot of problems left over from the spinal cord damage and walk with a cane. I use a fairly heavy wooden cane that was made for me at Matava Resort in Fiji.

Two years ago, while diving for several weeks on Cozumel, I was about to get into the boat from off a pier. Obviously, I used my cane to get to the edge of the pier, but needed to not have it in my hand in order to use both hands on the canopy supports to step down into the boat. The DM and boat captain both happened to be busy with other things and so, in order to get aboard as quickly as possible and not make people wait any longer than necessary, I reached in and dropped my cane (flat) onto the bottom of the boat prior to climbing in. It took one small bounce and landed about a foot or a bit more from a gentleman's foot. I climbed aboard, retrieved my cane, stowed it under the seat, and sat down while having a woman sitting next to this guy staring daggers at me. After I sat, she proceeded to ream me out pretty good for, "almost breaking her husbands leg with my cane".

I smiled at her, while shaking my head, and went about putting my gear together. In my younger, less tolerant days, I might have, gently, thrown her overboard Instead I ignored her the whole day and was thankful he had to go home with her and not me.

Wow, I usually don't say much, but I think I might have reamed her out had I been there! Good for you for keeping on with the diving. There's nothing like weightlessness to help you forget whatever ails you!