Can I dive with a buddy who isn't certified?

[weitodive]

I'm very surprised that anyone is saying that it is an OK thing to do as a basic open water diver. There's a reason some agencies have divemasters/instructors to do this. It's because most open water divers wouldn't know what to do if someone freaked out underwater. Do you know how your dad would react if he all of a sudden had a flooded mask or if his regulator malfunctioned? What would you do if he bolted to the surface? Would you have emergency oxygen available for him? I've heard people take others out. I think it's a lot on the stupid side. Sorry to be mean. There are plenty of agencies that are providing options for people who don't have much time. For PADI you have the following options:
1) Discover SCUBA Diving - no class work really, just watch a video, learn a couple skills and a divemaster or instructor will take you on a guided dive.
2) PADI Scuba Diver - Less class and pool work than the full Open Water SCUBA Diver. Certified to dive with instructors and divemasters after cert is done.
3) PADI E-Learning - all the academics work is done prior to even meeting a dive instructor. You get referred to a dive center that's close to where you want to dive. Instructor takes 2-3 days with your dad to do confined and open water dives.

I'm not try to flame anyone in this. Just not the smartest thing to say that anyone other then certified professionals take a non-diver diving. The risk isn't worth the value.

 

[Sas]

I think we've been had, folks.

Whatever. There is no harm in diving people the benefit of the doubt. If you think the OP is having you on, don't read the thread.

 

[cruiser]

gmaguitar01--

It's for your dad's safety that he shouldn't dive unless he's had training.

Main thing that comes to my mind--does he know what happens if he bolts to the surface while holding his breath?

 

[Splitlip]

I think we've been had, folks.

I had the same thought.

 

[ReefHound]

Whatever. There is no harm in diving people the benefit of the doubt. If you think the OP is having you on, don't read the thread.

Don't get me wrong, the thread has value regardless.

 

[PvtStash]

not too long ago thats how Everybody learned... (before agencies existed/or were prevalent) ...from an experienced/knowledgeable friend...

they didnt have half of the safety/diving aids we have today

lets not get all uppity on our "training"... its not rocket science...


- you explain the characteristics of a volume of air under varying pressures and the ramifications therein... (dont hold your breath, how to clear and why)

- you explain the concept of Nitrogen loading and the importance of slow ascents

- you introduce them to each piece of equiptment they'll be using and its function/operation



I think with 3-4 hrs. of instruction I could take a friend on a follow-me dive in a quarry for 30 minutes @ 30'.

 

[Guba]

I think we've been had, folks.Reefhound

Hmmm. Maybe it's a test by a moderator to see who can be civil.

 

[OldNSalty]

While there are no scuba police there could be legal ramifications if something goes wrong. An over-zealous DA could make your life hell. IANAL but my scuba instructor was and we discussed the ramifications of teaching and engaging in dangerous sports. About the time I was getting certified someone had died in the area while learning sky-diving and so we were all talking about it on the ride over to our first check out dive. My instructor told me that there is something call ‘assumption of the risk’ which basically protects the instructor provided that he has done several things including explaining the risk and providing adequate teaching, guidance and equipment.
If the parachute the kid was using had a failure rate of 1 in 1000 and the instructor had drilled the kid in how to overcome the failure and the kid tried that but it just wasn’t his day then the instructor was probably OK. However, if the instructor had failed to show the kid how to pack his chute correctly then just because the kid understood that this was dangerous but opted to do it anyway, the instructor could still be brought up on criminal charges and/or brought into a civil lawsuit.
I agree that many people dive without being certified but why would you?

 

[weitodive]

not too long ago thats how Everybody learned... (before agencies existed/or were prevalent) ...from an experienced/knowledgeable friend...

they didnt have half of the safety/diving aids we have today

lets not get all uppity on our "training"... its not rocket science...
QUOTE]

Agreed, someone had to have started doing it at some point in time without all the training involved. I'm all for people having fun and enjoying getting in the water. I love diving and would love everyone to dive. However, I've had my experiences with people freaking out in a controlled environment when some water gets in their mask. It's all about safety now a days. If we want to promote diving to people to enjoy, we're doing diving a diservice if someone gets hurt.

 

[jviehe]

I live near a dive park and I was NAUI certified this summer as a Basic Diver. My father has always wanted to go SCUBA diving but never has and he just doesn't have the time to take classes. Is there anyway he can obtain a passport or go diving as my buddy without him getting certified?

Yes, if you have an instructor along with you, your father can try out diving without taking the entire class. The instructor will go over some basic safety information, do some basic skills in the water and then supervise you both on a dive. Ask at the dive park or a local dive shop if they have an instructor who can do this. Should cost up to $100.

Beyond that, if the dive park requires a cert, then no.