Disturbing trend in diving?

[The Chairman]

Solo diving is not allowed

But, SOBs certainly are!

Spoiler

Same Ocean Diver!

 

[JuLe]

Is there a video of this event ?

I found it, but it is an unedited version of the live stream that was on during the competition. The video is long and there is a lot of time where nothing happens. Anyways, here it is:

Laitesukelluksen SM-taitokilpailut Jyväskylässä Aalto Alvarissa, 23.11.2024

Livestriimi laitesukelluksen SM-taitokilpailuista Jyväskylässä Aalto Alvarissa, 23.11.2024Kilpasuoritukset:Suoritukset ja veteenmeno voivat alkaa noin 15 min...

www.youtube.com

Edit: hope it gives you some idea what the competition was like.

 

[Umuntu]

Solo diving is not allowed, and as a single diver I had to be assigned to someone else. In each case, the DM, knowing dull well that I am an advanced diver, asked an instructor and young (early teens) diver to take me as a buddy. What am I going to say? "I don't want to dive with them?"

Yes, politely … speak to the DM privately … not using the words above … but making it clear that you want to do a longer/deeper dive with a more experienced group.

If they refuse, call the dive and ask for a refund for the dive.

 

[NothingClever]

Have you actually seen the PADI OW book?

Instructor materials? No.

Student materials? Yes.

 

[dmaziuk]

Student materials? Yes.

And which part of that is not split into bite-sized chunks with "goals and objectives" up front and a quiz at the end of each chunk, just like the "mastery learning" ordered?
I know: the index

 

[Leatherboot69]

Yes, politely … speak to the DM privately … not using the words above … but making it clear that you want to do a longer/deeper dive with a more experienced group.

If they refuse, call the dive and ask for a refund for the dive.

My LDS once mentioned me as ‘third in command’ after the instructor and his DMT on a dive with a bunch of novices, first time in cold water and low visibility (I was an in date DM with them, but off duty). I had to do some shepherding because the DMT was out of their comfort zone, and the dive had to be called after half an hour. They gave me a credit for another dive. I like them, there’s a bit of give and take, I’ll be back.

 

[Diver-Drex]

Dunno I never got OW e learning.

I had a break of several years a while back and completely bypassed the refresher training and dives because it was going to be $150-$200, opting instead to just go with a pretty accomplished buddy. Not ideal and easily preventable. I would have payed $30-$50 for a 30-60min review session.

You should have the books or elearning access. I know the crew pack hologram got push back but a big part of that was to make sure you had your own materials to review whenever you wanted.

When I do a Reactivate, it includes a pool session and/or a dive. The elearning is listed at $81. Getting a card includes in water work and has to cost more to cover my costs, $150 total. I have been to many dive ops where a dive within the last year is required. That is where getting the card comes in. You get a dive or two, with an instructor, to get you ready and to meet the recent dive requirement.

You could just go over your books and book a dive with an op that doesn’t ask or you can tell them whatever you want. If you had access to local diving, that’s running you $130. So you’re saving $20, is it worth the risk?

I’ll add that in my experience, Reactivate seekers come in three flavors. Retirees who haven’t dove in a long time. A lot has changed like computers, bcds and their bodies. Parents with teenagers who are getting certified. They are generally fine in the water but rusty. And the last is younger people who were certified at a resort somewhere and probably should not have been issued a card. For each of those, a reread of their book wasn’t going to make much of a difference.

 

[boulderjohn]

But, SOBs certainly are!

Spoiler

Same Ocean Diver!

That doesn't work when each group is supposed to have a dive flag. Reach the surface with no flag 15 minutes after your group got on the boat and people will not be happy. In a case where that happened years ago (with the same operation I was just using) another boat picked up the SOB, published a video on YouTube claiming the boat had lost its diver, and started a smug ScubaBoard thread. That created such a Hell of a problem, with a threatened lawsuit, that it is one of only a couple of cases I know of in which ScubaBoard deleted a thread in its entirety.

 

[scubadada]

In many cases, all it requires is a DM who cares. I related earlier a story about what has happened to me several times on a dive operation here in Florida. Solo diving is not allowed, and as a single diver I had to be assigned to someone else. In each case, the DM, knowing dull well that I am an advanced diver, asked an instructor and young (early teens) diver to take me as a buddy. What am I going to say? "I don't want to dive with them?" Any other group would have been perfectly fine with me, but in each of these cases, the dives were predictably short. In the last dive (last week), I reached the surface with about 2,000 PSI.

I would happily choose another operator, but there is little choice where I am presently.

Hi @boulderjohn

I believe you do your Florida diving down in Pompano or nearby. Do you have to do the wrecks or are nice reefs OK? Have you done any diving in Boynton Beach (no guide) or Palm Beach (guide)? The dives here are all an hour.

 

[boulderjohn]

Hi @boulderjohn

I believe you do your Florida diving down in Pompano or nearby. Do you have to do the wrecks or are nice reefs OK? Have you done any diving in Boynton Beach (no guide) or Palm Beach (guide)? The dives here are all an hour.

Right now I do just about anything. I have a transportation issue going that far north. My wife and I share one car.