Diving w/o a divemaster

[louisianadiver]

This is a non-judgemental question and is posed only to satisfy my curiosity: How many of you dive on your own (not solo, but without a divemaster)? If you do dive independent of professional supervision, how many dives or what level of certification did you have when you first tried it? -Clay

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

This is a non-judgemental question and is posed only to satisfy my curiosity: How many of you dive on your own (not solo, but without a divemaster)? If you do dive independent of professional supervision, how many dives or what level of certification did you have when you first tried it? -Clay

The first time I dived without a DM was my first dive after OW class. That pretty much goes for anyone who dives here, whether shore diving or boat diving. Even the dive charters do not put a DM in the water ... they give you a dive briefing and tell you the pool is open. Beyond that, it's your dive.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[String]

In water dive masters here are rarer than rocking horse *****. (boat ones are near as rare). Nearly all diving here is in buddy pairs from day one. Conditions dictate that. You cant group herd in <10ft vis that reliably.

What level of certification before its done? First dive post qual (although obviously you try to pair up with more experienced divers for the buddy).

My first experience diving with a DM was when i went abroad to dive. I was far from impressed with the herd mentality that was enforced.

 

[BabyDuck]

umm...lessee...

i've done dives with folks who are/were dm's or instructors, but unless i was taking a class, i've never had a dm-led dive on purpose. as in, sometimes my buddy who happens to be a dm is leading, but i didn't pay him to and it wasn't a big group thing or whatever. so i've never had a dm-led dive.

edit: oh, wait, we were going to once, in summersville wv. but we lost him before we could even decend, the vis was so bad. so put me down for a half, for having had the intention once.

 

[cinder4320]

First dive after certification. A month after certification we (b/f and me) went on a trip with our LDS. Although there were DM's and an instructor they all dove in buddy pairs and were not babysitting. They were underwater but I wasn't near them nor being led nor watched. I trust my buddy and myself much more than any random DM.

Miranda

 

[proyce]

First dive after OW cert. Shore dive with my sister at Puako on the Kona coast in Hawaii. It was splendid!

 

[dherbman]

Since the start.

My first DM led dive was last March. I'll be doing another while in Maui next week, but prefer to do my own thing after learning what I can about the site. I was born to dive and have always been comfortable in the water. I also take every dive very seriously and look as far ahead for problems as I can. I also have a very good sense of my abilities and stay within those abilities when I dive.

 

[RonFrank]

DM's are handy when you are in an unknown location, and they are able to point stuff out, and provide a plan. I've not dove with one yet that really stuck with me like a buddy. They are generally leading a group, and it brings up an interesting question, who is the DM's buddy cause they seem to generally be *solo* with the group. The assumption is I guess that they are DM's so what could go wrong?

IMO don't count on a DM to save your skin, or even be a good buddy UNLESS you pay them specifically to be a buddy. The DM's I've dove with were very good guides, set the plan, and lead, but they were NOT good buddy's (not that they wouldn't be IN the buddy role).

 

[TSandM]

Well, I did my four OW dives, then five AOW dives, then four instructor-led dives in Maui. So I guess it was my 14th dive that was the first one without a dive professional. But, for quite a while, I made sure I dove with far more experienced people. The first dive with somebody with no more experience than I had was number 28.

Clay, my husband and I both loved your book, and I recommend it to everybody. It has everything in it the PADI divemaster book has, but it's way more fun to read.

 

[cummings66]

How many of you dive on your own (not solo, but without a divemaster)? If you do dive independent of professional supervision, how many dives or what level of certification did you have when you first tried it? -Clay

I always dive without a divemaster, and have done so since my first OW dive as do the majority of the buddies I have. One buddy of mine is a DM but he doesn't act as a DM when we dive together so I don't count that as diving with a DM. The only time I've even seen a DM in action was during my AOW class.