admikar
Contributor
My, oh my, another of those Scubaboard "OP did not get what he/she was looking for" threads. 
I love this place!
I love this place!
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dive guides
- Thread starter Maolli
- Start date
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My, oh my, another of those Scubaboard "OP did not get what he/she was looking for" threads.
I love this place!
I've found the replies on this thread to be quite valuable and appreciate the efforts put into them by the various posters, many of whom I view as accusatory, judgmental and presumptous.
But that’s a key attribute — theyre not meant to be, they are meant to be illuminating and clarifying another perspective that you can’t have (being a 1st account observer, you can’t perceive yourself from the outside) that can help you identify things that didn’t work out on your side
We don’t have the other side of the (3) story(ies), so we can only make sense of what you say and honestly you’re being a bit dismissive/defensive of it
Early on right after my AOW I got “copped” for being all over the place, and I think I deserved it; as long as it’s not rude/flat out offensive
Talking about it topside I realized what I can improve upon and it made my dives easier after that (and improved my situational awareness)
Eg. A “judgment” that being 10m away from your buddy isn’t a judgment of you, but of that fact — that it’s too far to react without unnecessary stress/risk
Nobody here is against you — we’re just stating what we think you might have not (self)observed
Scared Silly
Contributor
I haven't read all the posts but years ago we splashed with a dive guide who gave a reasonable briefing. Unfortunately once we splashed one diver on rental gear had a wee bit of a gear malfunction. I helped them to surface then hand him off to the dive guide and rejoined my spouse and the group at the bottom. After perhaps five minutes we decided to do the dive so five of us went slowly down along the reef figuring they would catch up. They never did. We had an enjoyable dive.
Once back on the surface we headed into shore for lunch, the dive guide bolted off the boat before anyone. Once back on board for the second dive, the dive guide said to everyone "I am the dive guide and no one is to do the dive without me." We all looked at each other with "What the" expressions which followed by some minor discussion amongst ourselves.
The point is that some dive guides and in this case some operations are quite rigid. Other people diving with them felt the same, they were quite rigid. After the 4th day I spoke to the owner's son who was running the operation about our observations and expectations. It did not really resonate.
Last two days did not go quite as well. So much so that on the last day my usually tolerant spouse ripped a strip out of the guides right in front everyone. We paid our bill with no tip.
At the end of the day it is all about communication, the guides and the guests.
For inquiring divers, that was with in 2007 with Seahorse Dive Shop in Placencia Belize and Brian Jr. YMMV.
Once back on the surface we headed into shore for lunch, the dive guide bolted off the boat before anyone. Once back on board for the second dive, the dive guide said to everyone "I am the dive guide and no one is to do the dive without me." We all looked at each other with "What the" expressions which followed by some minor discussion amongst ourselves.
The point is that some dive guides and in this case some operations are quite rigid. Other people diving with them felt the same, they were quite rigid. After the 4th day I spoke to the owner's son who was running the operation about our observations and expectations. It did not really resonate.
Last two days did not go quite as well. So much so that on the last day my usually tolerant spouse ripped a strip out of the guides right in front everyone. We paid our bill with no tip.
At the end of the day it is all about communication, the guides and the guests.
For inquiring divers, that was with in 2007 with Seahorse Dive Shop in Placencia Belize and Brian Jr. YMMV.
I’ve seen this mindset pop up a lot—divers planning their dives with the assumption that their buddy will save them if something goes wrong. Personally, I think that’s a dangerous way to approach diving.
Yes, we dive with buddies. However, I believe every diver should plan and prepare as if they were diving alone. That doesn’t mean ignoring your buddy—it means not depending on them to bail you out in an emergency.
Here’s how I approach it:
- Avoid trouble before it starts – I plan my dives carefully to minimize risk and avoid situations where I’d need help.
- Redundancy is key – I carry backups appropriate for the dive (gas, lights, cutting tools, etc.).
- Self-sufficiency – I ensure I have the necessary skills and equipment to handle problems independently.
This isn’t about diving solo—it’s about diving responsibly. I still dive with buddies, communicate, and stay aware of each other. But I never assume they’ll save me. That mindset invites complacency.
That's not what I get from reading all his posts here and the other people's posts as well. He is engaging in a discussion and providing counterarguments to some nonsensical points made by others. Are you expecting him to roll over and accept whatever others are telling him, without any thoughts or expressions of his own? I appreciate and respect his standing his ground, giving thoughtful opinions, and even taking criticism, even when it borders on personal insults.
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