OK, First post.
I am starting my OW class in two weeks, very excited. Been doing A LOT of reading online, researching gear, best practices etc. (I know that experience is the only real tool for skill/safety development, not the "interweb", or "book learnin' ").
I've worked professionally as a Mountain Bike instructor, Full time Rock and Ice Climbing Guide for over 20 years, so I understand risk management very well.
I have, (unfortunately) learned that I have a very cool head under extreme pressure and first aid situations; having lead or assisted in everything from guiding parties in deterioration conditions, to S+R in the woods, to splinting broken bones in the backcountry, to body recovery.
Here's the thing: I've done enough snorkeling to know that I am a "mission focused" person in the water. I want to look at stuff, and specifically hope to do a lot of shark tooth hunting/fossil hunting in Florida. I tend to follow fish, explore nooks and crannies, see the "little stuff" and appreciate it.
I've been reading up on DIR concepts, and Hogarthian rigs, best practices etc.
I'm pretty bummed out. It looks, initially, like I will be a really crappy "Buddy" due to my desire to not just swim next to other divers using scuba, but instead to be doing "things" while diving. I want to be a good buddy, I want MY buddy to be a good buddy.
How do you reconcile enjoying the underwater world while still being a good buddy?
What if I'm really focused on looking for sharks teeth, doing a very careful and thorough search of a pile of debris? Will I need to find a buddy who will take turns with me, and me with him, watching each other v.s. looking for stuff? What do you do?
I am starting my OW class in two weeks, very excited. Been doing A LOT of reading online, researching gear, best practices etc. (I know that experience is the only real tool for skill/safety development, not the "interweb", or "book learnin' ").
I've worked professionally as a Mountain Bike instructor, Full time Rock and Ice Climbing Guide for over 20 years, so I understand risk management very well.
I have, (unfortunately) learned that I have a very cool head under extreme pressure and first aid situations; having lead or assisted in everything from guiding parties in deterioration conditions, to S+R in the woods, to splinting broken bones in the backcountry, to body recovery.
Here's the thing: I've done enough snorkeling to know that I am a "mission focused" person in the water. I want to look at stuff, and specifically hope to do a lot of shark tooth hunting/fossil hunting in Florida. I tend to follow fish, explore nooks and crannies, see the "little stuff" and appreciate it.
I've been reading up on DIR concepts, and Hogarthian rigs, best practices etc.
I'm pretty bummed out. It looks, initially, like I will be a really crappy "Buddy" due to my desire to not just swim next to other divers using scuba, but instead to be doing "things" while diving. I want to be a good buddy, I want MY buddy to be a good buddy.
How do you reconcile enjoying the underwater world while still being a good buddy?
What if I'm really focused on looking for sharks teeth, doing a very careful and thorough search of a pile of debris? Will I need to find a buddy who will take turns with me, and me with him, watching each other v.s. looking for stuff? What do you do?