Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dive guides

[BoltSnap]

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

No, most of it is "pontification," not trying to help, just insulting and patronizing. This is the kind of shiiiit that scares people from posting to discuss issues, knowing they are going to be humiliated and attacked. This isn't how one "guides" others to be better divers. In fact, people here weren't trying to guide or help the OP become a better diver; the majority of the posts here were showing off, saying the politically correct stuff, not what actually happens, and it happens frequently underwater. I feel sorry for the OP.

 

[scubadada]

I've done a fair number of guided dives. I've never had a guide that behaved similarly to the guide the OP described. I would not tolerate that behavior well either.

 

[BoltSnap]

I've done a fair number of guided dives. I've never had a guide that behaved similarly to the guide the OP described. I would not tolerate that behavior well either.

Yes, people do make mistakes, and there is a way to handle them in a more professional and even firm way, but not this way. The bit about the OP renting a big nitrox tank only to be told to go up much sooner than necessary just because another unrelated diver was low on air is just too much. I'd be pisssed myself.

 

[Centrals]

Pre-dive briefing should have explained how to deal with the situation when one diver is low(need to define that as well) on back gas, going up with the assigned buddy or the whole team. Diver can also raise the question before the dive as well.
If my assigned buddy is low on air then I would go up with him/her with no question asked. Might require change of buddy afterward but that is another story.
I was on a LOB in Thailand when one of the diver was low on air. The dm lead the whole group,four of us, to the moored boat and escorted that diver up and indicated us to stay behind until one of us reached 50 bars.

BTW, I have never met any dm behaving what the OP had described.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

The DM sounds like he is a control freak. Either that is his natural personality or he has issues personally underwater. Cant take the pressure of ANYTHING going wrong.

 

[Maolli]

The DM sounds like he is a control freak. Either that is his natural personality or he has issues personally underwater. Cant take the pressure of ANYTHING going wrong.

But they were so different above water. It was like a complete transformation.

 

[Maolli]

No, most of it is "pontification," not trying to help, just insulting and patronizing. This is the kind of shiiiit that scares people from posting to discuss issues, knowing they are going to be humiliated and attacked. This isn't how one "guides" others to be better divers. In fact, people here weren't trying to guide or help the OP become a better diver; the majority of the posts here were showing off, saying the politically correct stuff, not what actually happens, and it happens frequently underwater. I feel sorry for the OP.

I'm good with it. Just words typed on a screen by some folks with unresolved issues that causes them to lash out at others.

I observe it, I wonder about it, and sometimes I question it. But no offense taken. As with the dive guides.

 

[Maolli]

We occasionally practice 15m 'out of air' swims along a 15m line in our local quarry during practice dives.
This is with full mental preparation, knowing exactly what will happen and what you need to do, and an instructor's octopus about 2 inches from your face during the entire swim. Yes, it's bad vis, cold water and more gear than in Mexico, but still an applicable comparison.

Most of our club's divers find this exercise stressful, and many don't always make the full 15m.

I'm not saying you're wrong nor that I'm right about whether 10 meters buddy separation is a acceptable in calm, clear waters however I'm rather surprised that when practiced as a drill some of your club members can't do a 15 meter swim on one breath. I'm typing this as I sit by a hotel pool that is about that distance and I can do across and back underwater on one breath, covering twice that 15 meter distance, and not having the benefit of fins to propel me faster even with a tank on my back.

Also I cannot fathom any scenario where a competent diver- the only diver I would ever buddy with- is 10 meters away and just took their last available breath from their tank. Even a catastrophic failure would provide some gas for at least a few breaths.

 

[Maolli]

I think I should elaborate: if you're 10m apart, swimming 10m/min and they're swimming 8m/min away from you -- as is the case if they're leading -- how long until you can grab their fin? For most, I think the answer is, "too long".

Your scenario puts the maximum buddy separation at a far greater distance than the 10 meters that I stated it to be. You're changing the narrative. In your scenario the distance would be too far.

A good buddy team is always aware of the position of the other and would not be in a situation where, at the maximum safe agreed upon distance, would be swimming in opposite directions at a steady or fast rate.

 

[Blackcrusader]

If you go below and ahead of the group, your bubbles will ruin it for everyone in the group as they would have to swim through that, so, that behavior in my view deserves an enthusiastic hand sign.

LOLZ So divers above me cannot avoid my bubbles in the big wide ocean? There will always be divers above other divers. As for following guides.... I prefer it when the guides just follow me so I can go at my own pace and the guides can enjoy going slow and looking at things.