Another opinion: To buddy or not to buddy

[mizzie]

I think it's ridiculous for him to insist that you buy new gear. Maybe it's not exactly what he would have picked, but so long as you are trained for it and it's well maintained, then tough. Part of the reason there are so many choices in dive gear is because just one thing isn't going to work for everyone. You should politely tell him thank you for the advice, but you are happy with your current set up. If he refuses to dive with you because of it, that's his problem.

I know I'm a newbie and I would welcome advice or suggestions. Heck, once I know more about it, I'll even welcome enthusiastic discussions about the merits of A vs B. But if someone point blank told me my gear was crap and I *need* to buy XYZ, I'd tell them to stuff it.


ETA: Unless he's offering to buy you all this new gear... ^_~

 

[tplyons]

I see why a backup is an excellent idea- but as an Open Water diver, isn't the easy solution for failure to just surface? That's why new divers aren't supposed to be in overhead environments, and new OW divers aren't supposed to be that deep, a wonderful source of unlimited air is always available right above you.

And as much as people seem to worry about failure, those who use them don't seem to report it happening that often.

Imagine this... you just splashed and your computer isn't reading your wireless transmitter correctly, but your depth gauge and bottom timer are still working. Would you want to abort a dive because you don't know how much air you have, or continue using your computer for depth and time and your SPG to know how much air you have.

I'd expect wireless transmitter failure to be more common than the entire computer crapping out. If our transmitters crap out, I can finish my dive safely, while you'd be back on the boat.

 

[fisheater]

There are LOTS of experienced, patient divers in your area who are happy to dive with enthusiastic newbies like you. You don't need this guy.

Just post something in the SoCal subforum.

 

[Aguablanco1]

We stress that in diving we are all responsible for our own safety, as it should be. Why any individual would give more than advice, let alone what amounts to an ultimatum, regarding your gear, which by your account is new and safe, is beyond belief. There are an infinite number of gear configurations that are not only safe but allow each individual to achieve their own comfort level. To allow this person to dictate your equipment is to allow them to be responsible for your safety. Are you ready for that level of baby sitting? As an earlier poster noted, how a relationship starts is very important to how a relationship develops. I am curious as to this divers experience. How many dives and what level of certification?
RichH

 

[EastEndDiver]

When you say this diver has a lot more dives than you how much more? The reason I am asking is that is he had 30 dives ,twice the amount you have, he would still be a newbie also.

I would advise you to dive with what you are comfortable with not with what someone else tells you to.If any of your gear is really unsafe then this person should explain why he feels that way and then I would get a "second Opinion" from someone else in your area.Everyone has personal preference but that doesn't mean your choice of gear is wrong.

 

[KevWind]

As newbie to diving (decidedly not a newbie to life ). I think that what I would go talk to him face to face to discuss particularly his recommendations and exactly why. Decide before hand what if ( if any )you might be willing to change or add to accommodate. Let him decide what if anything he is willing to compromise on to accommodate.

Remember that his attitude if uncompromising above water is a pretty good indication of his attitude underwater and ask your self, do I really want to deal deal with this under water
Remember diving with a buddy you have confidence in, is the goal. Diving with an uncompromising critical Drill Sargent is likely to be of little enjoyment.

Keep in mind , experience while very very valuable does not automatically imply Wisdom.

 

[sailordiver11]

Thank you to all with all the great response. I've decided that I do want to keep practicing with my own equipment and get very acquainted with it. Afterall, why should I trust the condition of his?
So, with that said, I will talk with him and ask him if he thinks he wants to be dive buddies, and if he says he does, then it only makes sense for him to learn how my equipment operates as well as I should learn how his does. I don't want to switch gear because of one persons individual opinion.
again, thanks to all. This was very helpful.

 

[mselenaous]

Hugo, just go dive. There is so much diving in SoCal. And there are so many potential buddies too. Check out the local SoCal forum to meet some of our SB regulars.

As for the diving, you've gotten a lot of great advise in this thread.
Get comfortable in YOUR chosen configuration. Eventually after you've gained some more experience, you will change up some things - we've all done it!
Drysuit! YES, you are very lucky to start out in a drysuit.
Steel tank, YES, anytime possible, especially in a drysuit (and you probably will have more air than any diver in an AL tank). I understand your buddy dives AL because it is most common in travel destinations, but if you can dive in steel, you probably won't have any problems when you travel if you've got a lot of local experience.
Octo vs Air2, It's about communication so as long as you and your buddy do your buddy checks and discuss the "what ifs", even do a quick air share practice then it isn't an issue.

Good luck and enjoy the great local diving.

 

[Damselfish]

I think you've gotten a lot of great advice. If you still want to dive with this guy, have a discussion and see if he lightens up sufficiently. (Though given all the stuff you list he said, I'm skeptical he will, and I would have run away already.) If he doesn't get over himself, I wouldn't hesitate to say no thanks and look elsewhere for buddies.

I especially don't get the aluminum tank and wetsuit suggestions. Besides that most people would consider steel and a drysuit a better idea in your situation, and that you already have them, the fact that most places you travel to use aluminum is so irrelevant. Assuming these are warm water places, you'll also be wearing much different exposure protection so the weighting will be all different anyway.

 

[cbm32]

IF he came across the way it sounds like he did.........I would just go dive with other people. At some point he will probably ask if you are diving and my response would be that he made it clear he didnt like my gear and didnt want to be burdened by me diving with it and so I crossed him off my list of dive buddies.

This post my not be real popular but.....

I am going to assume you put some thought and research into what you bought and didn't just let your LDS tell you what you should get and then provide them with your credit card. With that assumption in mind, why the hell would you even need to ask the question you did in here? This guy has some real ballz to give you ultimatums about your gear "if you want to dive with him", and if you are going to be responsible for your own safety you are going to have to be much more confident in your own intelligence and decision making.

Maybe it is just the way I am but I will listen to advice and accept positive feedback but tell me what I HAVE TO do and there is a realllly good chance i won't do it. A mentor is one thing, a control freak dictator is quite another.

There is more than one way to skin a cat and when it is YOUR cat skin that sucker however you want to.