Professor Nemo
Registered
I am a relatively new diver. I obtained my certification some time ago but only purchased my own equipment in December of last year and as a result I have developed a new found interest in the sport. I just recently got my Advanced Open Water and Nitrox I certifications. My question concerns how I should conduct myself when diving with a charter. I did a few dives this summer with diving charters and for each dive I paired up with two other divers on the boat. However, because I am relatively new to the sport I am still a little nervous when I first go in the water and, as a result, I consume air at a faster rate than my fellow divers do, especially on the first dive of a two dive trip. Now, I am very careful to make sure that my buddies understand that I am a fairly inexperienced diver before we get in the water and tell them that I am likely to consume air at a faster rate than they will. The typical result is that I reach the ascent pressure of 1,000 psi in my tank when my two buddies still have 1,400-1,500 psi in their tanks. (For a dive at 80-90ft I usually have a total dive time of 30 mins where they have 40-48 mins). I let my dive buddies know when I am getting low and when I should be getting ready to ascend and so we locate the anchor line. In most cases my buddies leave me there (which if fine with me, I actually prefer it for a reason I will come to in a minute) and other times one of my buddies will ascend with me until I get to the safety stop rope.
Here is my issue which I hope ScubaBoard members can help me resolve. I feel guilty about making my buddies break off from their dive that they are enjoying and which they have paid good money for because I am an air hog. I realize it inconveniences them. I am looking into purchasing a Pony bottle outfit so I will have a redundant air system because one day, in the long future (when I have many more dives under my belt), I would like to do some solo diving. However, even if I had such a system I know that it is only to be used in an emergency, not something that you factor into your dive plan so you can abuse your main tank’s air supply with the knowledge that this redundant system is available. All of this being said, as experienced divers who have dove with novices before, do you find it irritating or inconsiderate to be paired with someone like me who does consume air at a faster rate than is “normal” (if such a thing exists)? I have thought about paying an extra $40.00 to the dive shop to have one of their instructors go out as my dive buddy and realize that this would solve the issue but it would also cut into how many dives I can afford to make. Any advice related to this issue would be most beneficial.
P.S. I would like to state that all of the divers I have been with have been incredibly understanding and gracious and I am thankful for that.
Here is my issue which I hope ScubaBoard members can help me resolve. I feel guilty about making my buddies break off from their dive that they are enjoying and which they have paid good money for because I am an air hog. I realize it inconveniences them. I am looking into purchasing a Pony bottle outfit so I will have a redundant air system because one day, in the long future (when I have many more dives under my belt), I would like to do some solo diving. However, even if I had such a system I know that it is only to be used in an emergency, not something that you factor into your dive plan so you can abuse your main tank’s air supply with the knowledge that this redundant system is available. All of this being said, as experienced divers who have dove with novices before, do you find it irritating or inconsiderate to be paired with someone like me who does consume air at a faster rate than is “normal” (if such a thing exists)? I have thought about paying an extra $40.00 to the dive shop to have one of their instructors go out as my dive buddy and realize that this would solve the issue but it would also cut into how many dives I can afford to make. Any advice related to this issue would be most beneficial.
P.S. I would like to state that all of the divers I have been with have been incredibly understanding and gracious and I am thankful for that.