Blind Trust

[Heffey]

Last week I went on my first resort type boat dive and I was a bit surprised by the other divers on the boat.

Out of the entire boat of six divers and the dive master there were 2 dive computers and one dive watch. The dive master had one computer and I had the other computer and the dive watch.

Maybe I am over just cautious, but I run the tables before a dive just to get a reference even though I am diving with a computer. I can’t imagine jumping in the water and following some unfamiliar diver and assuming that he or she will keep me safe.

Is this kind of blind trust common on these kinds of dives?

 

[fisherdvm]

I think so. On one of my dives in January, the DM pushed the NDL. One diver's computer beeped, myself and another diver noted that we were in the yellow range of our nitrogen loading.

Sometime, the DM might not have a dive computer, or have one that is too liberal. I think that on some of the dives in Cozumel, you are required to have your own dive computer, as they do push the limit.

 

[Guba]

Not for me and the friends with whom I dive. Everyone carries their own computer (I don't know anyone who doesn't dive with one), and many also run tables to cross-check.
Even of the other divers on resort boats, the vast majority I observed had their own computers.

 

[Ocean One]

The situation you raise is NOT uncommon in these dive operations. You just need to remember: YOU are responsible for YOU So, plan your dive and dive your plan. Do not trust them to take care of you as they are not you. If you are headed for the yellow in a dive then you probably should head to a shallower depth or end the dive depending on what you days diving plans are or leave enough surface time to off-gas sufficiently before your next dive.

 

[Charlie99]

Is this kind of blind trust common on these kinds of dives?

More common than it should be. Usually in tropical resorts that are NOT generally dive destinations, with divers that are just doing a dive or two during a vacation to a tropical resort.

I'll bet that the other divers all had rental equipment, and that none of them had either a compass, a cutting device, or any surface signalling equipment (surface sausage, whistle, mirror, light, etc.).

Kind of like "Discover Scuba" for certified divers. Generally relatively shallow and short, so it's not likely that any of the divers came anywhere near an NDL.


Where was this?

 

[Jimmer]

I had the same experience in Cuba about 3 weeks ago. Myself and another Canadian I met at our resort both had our own gear and computers. No one else did, and the DM led the dive and everyone blindly followed.

 

[Heffey]

More common than it should be. Usually in tropical resorts that are NOT generally dive destinations, with divers that are just doing a dive or two during a vacation to a tropical resort.

I'll bet that the other divers all had rental equipment, and that none of them had either a compass, a cutting device, or any surface signalling equipment (surface sausage, whistle, mirror, light, etc.).

Kind of like "Discover Scuba" for certified divers. Generally relatively shallow and short, so it's not likely that any of the divers came anywhere near an NDL.


Where was this?

It was in Jamaica and yes most all the divers had rental stuff.

The dive was 40 min @ 55ft.

 

[Jimmer]

We had 2 deep dives, one to 100, one to 60 feet, and both dives we got pretty close to the NDL. The only reason we didn't hit the NDL was because on each dive, one of the other divers ran out of air.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Darwin loves these kind of divers. Takes a few every now and then also one way or another. As it should be.

 

[Carribeandiver]

I have been to resorts on several carribean islands and on a few liveaboards and while I will admit some of the divers are not exactly skilled and experienced, everyone was equipped with a computer, bottom timer, depth gauge or some means of keeping track of time, depth, etc.
Never has any dive master pushed the limits on any of my dives. But then again, on some, the divers were on their own and not following a dive master.
As Ocean One stated, you are responsible for you. YOU should set a dive plan, gas plan and stick to that plan. Have a turnaround pressure preset in your mind and stick to that number.