Dive Buddy Qualifications

[Scubabaer]

Thanks all for the responses. I suggested to the owner of my LDS to put up a "Buddy Board" in the shop. People could put there name and contact info so others could call them to go diving. Or put together a list to publish in the dive shop's news letter.

ppilot - I've only gone diving up in Door County on the bay side. I did my OW in a quarry up in Amberg. I understand there are some wrecks down your way, Manitawoc and Two Rivers. Maybe we could hookup some time before it gets to cold.

Lead_carrier & diverbrian - Thanks for the invites.

 

[Phish-phood]

I have a friend who likes to dive with newbies. Her reason is that she has been diving so long that she sometimes forgets the simple pleasures and diving with a newbie who is excited about the smallest of things brings her back to that.

On top of that she is very patient and as long as people are honest about their experience she is happy to dive with them

 

[Uncle Pug]

Scubabaer once bubbled...
they were "stuck" with me

While that is a bad attitude for them to have it is a good attitude for you to have. That way you will appreciate them more.

I dive with brand new divers but I don't make a steady diet of it. While it can be nice to dive with a n00b and share in their excitement plus have the opportunity to teach them… it also burns up time available for dives.

Some of the diving I like to do would not be safe for a n00b or even myself if I had a n00b along to worry about much less depend upon for a dive buddy.

So... as with all things enjoyable... moderation and balance is called for.

~~Some time spent diving with n00bs-some time invested mentoring others-some time diving with peers-some time learning from a mentor.~~

You are privileged if you have more experienced divers that are willing to dive with you. You would also be wise to develop a dive buddy who is a peer... some one at your skill level. Dive within your training and you should be safe together.

And after you have gained experience begin to pay back those divers who were "stuck with you" as a n00b... dive with a n00b yourself... but only at their level and within the scope of their training.

 

[pwfletcher]

Well, I hate to be contrarian ... but ... it truly depends on the dive and the competence level of the noob. However, I must say that, for me, it is not a safety concern as I am always prepared to self-rescue and more than willing to assist others in need. The problem for me arises when you are first off the boat to a pristine spot and a noob bounces off of the bottom a dozen times and kills the viz. Accordingly, if the noob has good buoyancy skills (which far too many do not), then I don't have a problem diving with a new diver.

A solution to the problem: more instructors should teach their students about diving etiquitte and instill into them the knowledge that skimming along the bottom is a no no because it kills the viz and can ruin the dive for everyone.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I will tend to do a 7am deep dive either solo or with an experienced buddy and then go back to the dock for the new divers that show up.

It's a nice way to do it as I have deep dive out of my system and am much more receptive to doing some shallow dives that are within their limits.

I find that the new divers ability is far less important than their attitude. If they devote all their efforts to trying to prove to me how much they know and are not receptive to a little advice now and then, it ends up being a long day. In severe cases it's just a long morning as we end up back at the slip around noon, so I can have a peaceful afternoon.

But a new diver who really is open to advice and likes to learn and try new things is a pleasure to dive with as you end up being reminded of what it was like for you when you first started diving.

The other unpleasant type of newby is one who really is not comfortable in the water and spends the whole time stressing out. I sometimes wonder why some of these divers started diving and why they persist. On occasions where I have tactfully asked it ends up being something like spousal pressure or that they are trying to dive locally to build experience before a tropical dive trip.