diving non-certified

[SteveC]

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

Safety Edit:
It is ScubaBoard policy that NO ONE should be encouraged to dive without proper instruction from a certified Scuba instructor. As a Message Board we are committed to Dive Safety and feel that both OW and Cave diving are not environments suitable for learning by experimentation. Enough divers have given their lives for our sport and we don't need any more to die needlessly. Thanks, NetDoc

 

[Kriterian]

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

Legal trouble as in being arrested by the scuba police? Probably not.

Legal trouble as in being sued by his or her widow if this person dies? Probably.

I'm not sure what certification agency you went through but for mine there was a clause in the contract about not allowing uncertified people to use your equipment.

It's probably better to just take your friend to the local dive shop for a "try scuba" event. Most of the shops I see offer something of this nature.

 

[MoonWrasse]

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

How shallow? You know you can do shallow dives via snorkel, or off a diving board.
Anything deeper, I assume you haven't taken any rescue diving course, not a good idea IMO.

On the other hand, you could do it Soprano style, go out on a rowboat, tie a bag of quickset cement to him and dump him overboard

 

[PugetDiver]

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

You're kidding right.....?

If not, I would not recomend you do this without an instructor present. What happens if your friends mask leaks water at depth? Or if he bursts his ear drum because he doesn't know proper clearing procedures? Disaster waiting to happen here.

Take him out on a discover scuba dive with an instructor. He would have much more fun that way and it may end up saving him a whole world of hurt.

 

[Tom Smedley]

Its all in accordance as to whether you want your friend's widow(er) to own your home, car, stereo, bank account, and business.. He/She might even be able to drink your liquor from an old fruit jar and step on your blue suede shoes. There are lots of nice LDSs in the St Louis - Belleville - St Charles area that will legally take your friend for a dive for little recompensation.

Second question - where are you gonna find a shallow lake near St Louis?

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Diver0001]

If I'm just a basic certified open water diver, that is not a dive instructor, what are the rules on taking a non diving buddy to the lake for a shallow dive. Is this a complete no no? Can you get in legal trouble?

Thanks,
Steve

Don't do this. There is just too much that can go wrong that, believe it or not, people like instructors and some DM's are actually trained to deal with. Your enthusiasm is admirable but take your buddy to the LDS and help him arrange and intro.

R..

 

[ScubaFreak]

I think you already have your answer SteveC,

If you had just learned the basics of driving your car, would you let a friend that couldnt drive in the driver seat and have him take you down the street as you told him how to drive?
It's just too risky. Take him on a Try dive with your LDS, much more appropriate.

SF

 

[MikeFerrara]

These days I can't see any real reason to start diving without instruction. An OW diver certainly isn't trained to help some one get started.

Still, it's how lots of us started. At one time there were no shops to go to. There may have been a few clubs around but for the most part you mail ordered equipment or maybe even built it...and went diving. In those days it was people who already spent lots of time in the water who were doing it. A free diver who could hunt at 70 ft probably wouldn't think it much of a challange to do it with air to breath.

Now days, people who can barely swim dive all the time. People who would never do it on their own take a class and go diving. It's todays breed of non-water person who is likely to panic and hurt themselves because of a flooded mask or whatever. They absolutely need formal training and lots of repeat practice to learn the basics. There's no doubt that others could take up diving without formal training and have absolutely no problem. now days, though, there are cheap, short and convenient classes available on almost every street corner so why not take advantage? Besides it'll prevent people from looking at you like you have two heads. LOL

 

[scubamate]

Ditto all the above!!

 

[ScubaSarus]

Not a good idea and a rather bad one. You should know that shallow water can be more dangerous than deeper water in regards o an embolism. Just the fact that you would ask such a question makes me wonder if you have had proper training.