Diving manners?

[happybuddha]

It's our fault? We have them for a couple of days and years later it's our fault?

If you let a diver leave their course without an understanding of proper buoyancy and trim of course its your fault, where else will they learn it if not from their instructor? Buoyancy doesn't come naturally to many of us, but we can certainly instill an understanding of what they should and shouldn't do.

 

[mongoose]

The worst thing is, IMHO, leaving your buddy, although technically, I guess this crosses the line from "being rude" to "being dangerous". I will also admit to having done it but certainly not in an intentional or cavalier manner, and I kicked myself for letting it happen.

Being weighted properly is so, so critical to avoid kicking the bottom, thereby wrecking coral and screwing the viz...I am just now learning the lesson about weight, and man what a difference. I dropped over half the weight I was wearing with my 3mm(14lbs to 6), and I feel like I'm gliding along underwater now, instead of always fighting.

I agree about lack of respect for marine life...Now, I will tap a big crab on the back of his shell to get him to move his arms, or stroke a tubeworm to make it suck in, etc. And I constantly mess with the fish in Terrell(but only because they're jerks, and they always dodge my hand). But that's about the extent. No picking up, no poking, and certainly nothing mean or cruel. I was with one guy on a Catalina, that would pick up sea cucumbers, carry them like a football, them toss them aside. Same thing with starfish... pick it up, shake it, poke it, try to bend the arms, then fling it aside when he got bored. Definitely not cool.

-- Use the least amount of space possible on the deck of a dive boat.
-- I would agree with the other poster & say to yield to those coming *up* the line.
-- Look down as you descend, and up as you come up so as not to whack people and startle them.
-- HANDS OFF other peoples gear unless they give you explicit permission to touch it.
-- Choose buddies that have similar goals and abilities as yourself
-- Don't pressure someone to make a dive or do something underwater they don't want to do(cavern, swim-through, etc)

I'm certainly no moral paragon, but probably the best rule to go by is the Golden one.

Take care & dive safe, bro...

--'Goose

 

[UnixSage]

Pet Peeve ~ Ascent and Descent right of way on the anchor line, when diving off a boat.

Please enlighten us (or maybe just me).. What is the "correct" way? So I do not have a blazing sign "IDIOT" on my forehead.

Thanks

 

[Dion]

I, too, have done the scream through the regulator, and often clasp my head with both hands when it's really serious (international signal for "omigod!"), but I do have a more effective tactic which I usually employ. I gently grab the diver's fin, move it away from the subject of it's attack, and hold on to it. When they try to swim off, they feel resistance and turn around with a surprised "what the ?" look. I then point to what they were just kicking, and they immediately get the message. Usually, nothing more needs to be said, and it eliminates any possibility of denial or hard feelings later. People aren't nearly as sensitive or defensive when they're caught in the act, and tend to think more about what they're doing when they know they're being watched.

I have done that a few times as well, but then seen the person do the same thing a few minutes later. Afterward, I asked them if they want assistance "streamlining" their swimming technique and they just kinda shrug and complain about buoyancy. *sigh*

And I have seen the same thing with photographers, its like they think having a camera makes it ok to grab things or barge in the middle of people who are trying to look at something rare or unusual, instead of waiting their turn. Although I will say that I have also known some very courteous ones too. And I like the idea of taking pictures underwater, but when I tried it, I found it ruined my enjoyment of the dive so now I just relax and enjoy. I figure I have my memories, lots of fish books and there are so many good photographers who put pictures on the internet I can always find a picture of any fish I might want to look at or show someone.

I am glad that I am not the only one who finds this frustrating.

Dion

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

If you let a diver leave their course without an understanding of proper buoyancy and trim of course its your fault, where else will they learn it if not from their instructor? Buoyancy doesn't come naturally to many of us, but we can certainly instill an understanding of what they should and shouldn't do.

No problem, I'll keep them around until they get it right, shouldn't cost a hell of a lot more should it?

Hey, we get them ready and safe. If they develope crappy habits afterwards is that our fault too? I've seen lots of newbies leave class and not dive for months afterwards. Is it our fault they don't come back for a tune up?

For all those who love to poke fun at instructors I think you'd have an interesting time trying to become one. Then an even more interesting time trying to be a good one.

Not one student leaves our pool without spending 6 sessions of which we spend a lot of time working on bouyancy. Do they all get it? Hell no they don't, it takes practice in the real world. 4 scuba dives doesn't usually do it.

 

[Dion]

Well someone has to take the blame. <g>

Seriously, I realize you guys can't teach them everything, but maybe warning them that this behavior might one day result in their air being turned off by a fellow diver might give them an incentive to avoid it. :155:

Dion

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Dion I was diving with a former student a couple of weeks ago. Fins were kicking up the bottom. I just got their attention and pointed down. Many just don't realize it.

 

[happybuddha]

For all those who love to poke fun at instructors I think you'd have an interesting time trying to become one. Then an even more interesting time trying to be a good one. .

We are instructors for different agencies and I can't speak about your agency's process, but when I became an instructor I thought it was all a bit too easy. Oh sure, the training course was fairly tough, and you have to know your standards and understand physics, physio, etc. , but for the subjective part of the exam (actual evaluations by an examiner from the agency) I thought the minimum standard was pretty low.

In reality, the more instructors that are passed the more sales people any given agency will have out there schlepping their product. Unless you are an absolute menace to society its to the agency's benefit to have you out there selling courses.

 

[Vie]

Gloves and people that wear them...80-90% of my diving is in the Philippines, in warm water, so there is no excuse for most people to wear gloves. I was on a liveaboard last October and one of the divers wearing gloves touched and picked up everything in the ocean.

Drew,

Here’s my excuse for wearing gloves AND a hood on every dive (even in 30°C water). I am allergic to something in sea water; not sure what but the likely explanation could be “sea lice,” jellyfish pieces or other organisms. In places where the wearing of gloves are prohibited/discouraged (such as Layang Layang and the Maldives), my hands broke out in rashes. My lips are exposed on every dives I make and that is the one place that will take a hit every time. Safe Sea lotion on my face, neck and hands (but gloves and a hood is much better) helps but I can’t put it on my lips.

Anyway, just because someone wears gloves does not automatically mean that s/he will “touch and pick up everything in the ocean.”

 

[mcm007]

I think idiots with their SPG dragging across the coral is equally as bad as bad swimmers.

I think that many divers just dont get enought time in the water to have good buoyancy like you and I.

I had a problem with a newbie last time I was on the boat. I took it up with the divemaster and was told to stop giving her such a hard time, even though I said nothing to the diver , except for hand signals underwater. . This same newbie kept crasing into me, causing unsafe diving. She also left the trainer/ divemaster to chase a turtle and got lost for a while. I also saw the DM get hit in the head by the newbie too, which then got a "serves you right" under my breath.

These people are not only unsafe for the environment but also to us divers./

It's not just bicycle swimmers - many photographers are guilty of not watching their feet or where they are cramming their strobes, concentrating only on the object in their viewfinders. Reef molestation is an offense is committed by both newbies and veterans alike, and while it's more understandable in less seasoned divers, it should be addressed in either instance.

I, too, have done the scream through the regulator, and often clasp my head with both hands when it's really serious (international signal for "omigod!"), but I do have a more effective tactic which I usually employ. I gently grab the diver's fin, move it away from the subject of it's attack, and hold on to it. When they try to swim off, they feel resistance and turn around with a surprised "what the ?" look. I then point to what they were just kicking, and they immediately get the message. Usually, nothing more needs to be said, and it eliminates any possibility of denial or hard feelings later. People aren't nearly as sensitive or defensive when they're caught in the act, and tend to think more about what they're doing when they know they're being watched.

Pet peeve #2 would be those who pee in their wetsuits, and then want to stand right next to you after the dive and have a conversation. To all who are guilty, please know that WE CAN SMELL YOU, even though you can't smell yourself. It's much worse than farting, which most people would avoid subjecting you to. I never know what to do in this situation, short of fainting. Any suggestions?