I have been sitting on this for a few days now and somewhat alluded to it in another thread. As a new diver myself, I am not sure it is my place to say something.
When my wife and I were out diving this past Saturday, we were stopped by a gentleman who was asking about the dive site. I was happy to help We had just completed our first dive for the day. None of the platforms had buoys on them but we knew the area pretty well since it was one of our favorite dive sites. I walked him to the shore to point out where the 30-foot platform (my dive flag was tied to it), compass course, and fish cribs were located. He asked if he could use the line as a reference.
As we talked we learned he was just certified and looking to get dives in before taking his AOW. I had mentioned that my wife and I started diving in May of 2019 and were hooked instantly. I had also told him this was the first time we were out this season due to covid-19. I offered to share our tent/canopy we set up but he had his own.
I watched as he carried his gear to the shore even though there were dive tables for easy in and out of BCD. I was going to ask him if we wanted to join us since he appeared to be alone, but at some point, he drove away.
Lisa and I kitted up and entered the water for our 2nd dive. As we worked on our drysuits, I couldn' help but worry about this new diver we met. I knew he would be staying close to the dive platform based on the conversation we had so I chose not to venture far. I kept a lookout but did not see him. I grew concerned. After about 30 minutes without seeing him, I signaled my wife to go up for our 3 minutes safety stop and ended the dive.
Lisa asked why I ended the dive. I told her I was worried about the diver we met. His stuff was still on the shore. We chatted a little bit and saw two other divers while we floated by our dive flag. As we were about to get ready to go back down, we saw him come down to the shore. He struggled to get into his gear while in the water. I yelled to him asking if he wanted to dive with us. He originally said no, but changed his mind.
He didn't do a weight check. We did a quick check to make sure his air was on and everything was in order. We explained the dive plan to him. He seemed concerned about losing us, so my wife suggested that I take the lead and she would bring up the rear behind him.
It became apparent right away that he was overweighted. He struggled with his buoyancy which we all experienced when we first started diving. I wish I would have suggested we descend down the line but when I asked he was ok descending were we met him. This meant we had to go through some sunken trees, not the easiest thing to do when learning buoyancy.
As we approached the dive platform, I looked back and notice him sinking to the bottom. He used his hand on the bottom to stabilize himself which stirred up the bottom. He failed to make little adjustments which meant he was up and down. I brought him over to the railing on the platform and attempted to help him get neutral. He seemed under control, so I proceeded to lead him through the compass course. He was still struggling with buoyancy but not as bad as before the platform. We went back to the platform and I attempted to gesture him to use more breath instead of his inflator. As I did this, I thought to myself I am not an instructor, who am I to try and help.
We moved from the platform, a good point of reference, and headed to the fish cribs. He was looking better. As we moved through the fish cribs I had lost him. I turned around and saw he had a camera out taking pictures of the fish. I had no idea he even had a camera with him. I gestured to turn the dive. We went back to the platform and I signaled we were going up to do a 3-minute safety stop.
Once on the surface, we talked a little bit. He admitted he was overweighted because he is fearful of shooting to the surface from the bottom. I told him that being properly weighted would make it easier for that not to happen. Lisa and I were now low on air so we told him we needed to go to shore to switch out tanks and have some lunch. He stayed behind to continue diving.
As we had lunch I was relieved to see him come out of the water. We chatted a little bit. He knew some other divers that had set up on the other side of the road. We told him we were going to do one more dive before heading home. I am kicking myself for not asking if he wanted to go with us again.
We completed our last dive and headed home.
I am not sure why I was so concerned about him. I know PADI teaches to buddy dive. I know there are risks to diving alone, especially without proper training. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. I am not sure it was my place to say. There was also a part of me that didn't want to offer him to dive with us. It was Lisa and I first day out in open water for this season even though we both had been practicing in the pool (this goes a long way).
A conflicted diver.
Dubious
When my wife and I were out diving this past Saturday, we were stopped by a gentleman who was asking about the dive site. I was happy to help We had just completed our first dive for the day. None of the platforms had buoys on them but we knew the area pretty well since it was one of our favorite dive sites. I walked him to the shore to point out where the 30-foot platform (my dive flag was tied to it), compass course, and fish cribs were located. He asked if he could use the line as a reference.
As we talked we learned he was just certified and looking to get dives in before taking his AOW. I had mentioned that my wife and I started diving in May of 2019 and were hooked instantly. I had also told him this was the first time we were out this season due to covid-19. I offered to share our tent/canopy we set up but he had his own.
I watched as he carried his gear to the shore even though there were dive tables for easy in and out of BCD. I was going to ask him if we wanted to join us since he appeared to be alone, but at some point, he drove away.
Lisa and I kitted up and entered the water for our 2nd dive. As we worked on our drysuits, I couldn' help but worry about this new diver we met. I knew he would be staying close to the dive platform based on the conversation we had so I chose not to venture far. I kept a lookout but did not see him. I grew concerned. After about 30 minutes without seeing him, I signaled my wife to go up for our 3 minutes safety stop and ended the dive.
Lisa asked why I ended the dive. I told her I was worried about the diver we met. His stuff was still on the shore. We chatted a little bit and saw two other divers while we floated by our dive flag. As we were about to get ready to go back down, we saw him come down to the shore. He struggled to get into his gear while in the water. I yelled to him asking if he wanted to dive with us. He originally said no, but changed his mind.
He didn't do a weight check. We did a quick check to make sure his air was on and everything was in order. We explained the dive plan to him. He seemed concerned about losing us, so my wife suggested that I take the lead and she would bring up the rear behind him.
It became apparent right away that he was overweighted. He struggled with his buoyancy which we all experienced when we first started diving. I wish I would have suggested we descend down the line but when I asked he was ok descending were we met him. This meant we had to go through some sunken trees, not the easiest thing to do when learning buoyancy.
As we approached the dive platform, I looked back and notice him sinking to the bottom. He used his hand on the bottom to stabilize himself which stirred up the bottom. He failed to make little adjustments which meant he was up and down. I brought him over to the railing on the platform and attempted to help him get neutral. He seemed under control, so I proceeded to lead him through the compass course. He was still struggling with buoyancy but not as bad as before the platform. We went back to the platform and I attempted to gesture him to use more breath instead of his inflator. As I did this, I thought to myself I am not an instructor, who am I to try and help.
We moved from the platform, a good point of reference, and headed to the fish cribs. He was looking better. As we moved through the fish cribs I had lost him. I turned around and saw he had a camera out taking pictures of the fish. I had no idea he even had a camera with him. I gestured to turn the dive. We went back to the platform and I signaled we were going up to do a 3-minute safety stop.
Once on the surface, we talked a little bit. He admitted he was overweighted because he is fearful of shooting to the surface from the bottom. I told him that being properly weighted would make it easier for that not to happen. Lisa and I were now low on air so we told him we needed to go to shore to switch out tanks and have some lunch. He stayed behind to continue diving.
As we had lunch I was relieved to see him come out of the water. We chatted a little bit. He knew some other divers that had set up on the other side of the road. We told him we were going to do one more dive before heading home. I am kicking myself for not asking if he wanted to go with us again.
We completed our last dive and headed home.
I am not sure why I was so concerned about him. I know PADI teaches to buddy dive. I know there are risks to diving alone, especially without proper training. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. I am not sure it was my place to say. There was also a part of me that didn't want to offer him to dive with us. It was Lisa and I first day out in open water for this season even though we both had been practicing in the pool (this goes a long way).
A conflicted diver.
Dubious