DM or insta buddy?

[robandliza]

HI

I'm heading to key Largo to dive with It's a Dive on 23rd and 24th Oct

I've got a PPB class booked for the morning of 23rd and a 2 tank trip booked for the afternoon. Then got another 2 tank dive booked for morning of the 24th

I obviously won't need a buddy for the class dives but ,as I'm very inexperienced(total 11 dives) would you recommend that I ask/pay for a DM to accompany me on the other 4 dives or take my chances with an insta-buddy

Having had quite a hair-raising experience on my last dive trip I want to make sure that I'm with someone who's a bit "been there,done that" if you know what I mean...not that there was anything wrong with my buddy on the last trip, just don't want to end up with a mirror image of me to buddy up with on this trip

On the other hand, are there any SB members interested in going along with me?

Rob

 

[Garrobo]

Next time, go a little further south to Islamorada and dive with Key Dives. They automatically put a DM with all groups, not to exceed 6, at no extra charge. Problem solved.

 

[TSandM]

I'd contact the dive op and ask them if they have any idea what the makeup of the group will be, and explain that you've had a bad instabuddy experience. They may recommend hiring a DM, or they may know someone going out on the boat who would be a good companion.

I don't envy you. At 11 dives, I would have been very unhappy to have had to dive with someone like your last co-diver (I won't call him a buddy, because he didn't meet my minimum criteria for same.)

 

[robandliza]

Hi TSandM

Sorry, I'm doing my previous buddy a disservice with my poor English

I didn't have a problem with him, what I meant to say is that I don't want to have to buddy with a person with similar experience to myself, i.e. very few dives. I want someone who will be the "senior" partner in the pairing

I will definitely take your advice to call the op and ask them who else is diving

Rob

 

[trigfunctions]

Pay for the DM. You will enjoy the dives much, much more since you won't have to worry, and the DM will be able to point out fish and things that an insta-buddy may not. The slight added expense will be well worth it.

 

[trucker girl]

Pay for the DM. You will enjoy the dives much, much more since you won't have to worry, and the DM will be able to point out fish and things that an insta-buddy may not. The slight added expense will be well worth it.

Agreed.

robandliza- At 11 dives in an unfamiliar location (despite your class), I'd pay for the DM.

Unless you can find an SBer or find someone through the dive op. I'm not a fan of instabuddies. I had a very bad exp on my first OW dives- I was on my 5th dive, and my two instabuddies were on #5 and #15. We had no business being together in the open ocean.

Even now, I would be wary of instabuddies. I would deal with it if I had to- but you'll regret if if you do wind up diving with Mr. Iknowitall or Mr. Whatdoyoumeanbythumbsup or Mr. YoumeanIwassu'posedtonoticemybuddy.

Dive experiences like my first OW dive made me realize that I had a lot to learn about diving- still do- and that sometimes it's better to be an overbearing *** and insist on getting things your own way (aka- no, I won't dive with you unless we have a guide) than to go with the flow and dive with an unsafe diver- or even a clueless diver.

 

[robandliza]

Hi Trucker Girl

That is exactly what I want to avoid....like I said, don't want to end up buddied with someone like me!!!

I will contact the op and see how much they charge. Anyone with an idea of what is average?....I've seen $50 mentioned before, but would that be per dive or per trip do you think?...i.e 2 tank trip would be $50 or $100?

Thanks again

 

[RonFrank]

Rainbow Reef also provides DM's. However, keep in mind the DM for a group of six is exactly that! They are not YOUR buddy, rather a group leader.

IMO hiring a DM is never a bad idea. Do you need a DM? Well that depends on many factors including how comfortable you are in the water, what site you will visit, and the conditions on those days.

You may want to hold off on the decision until you have done your classes where you can see what the conditions are like. Unless the conditions are very poor (current/low vis), or you are doing the deep wrecks, you will likely find that diving in the Upper Keys is quite easy. With vis in the 50+ foot range on most days, mild current, and shallow dive sites, a DM may not be necessary.

Calling the OP to determine who is on board is an option. But unless other dives have used that OP before, all they can do is provide you with is what they know which is likely very little. Most divers don't share their dive history when booking a DiveOP unless they want to do advanced dives (and generally not then either). All the DiveOp will require to do shallow reefs in the upper keys, is a OW certification, and payment!

You may also find that you can hook up with some buddy's during the first few dives. Many divers will use one boat for the entire trip, and you may find a comfortable buddy after a couple of dives.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Given what you've posted, I would also hire a DM.

It is clearly a cost/benefit decision. It is more costly. But there are significant benefits, particularly if you lack experience - with diving in general and with this environment specifically.

You can ask your DM about issues regarding the dives, as well as other issues involving gear you may need, charter operations, standard operating procedures, recommendations for other logistics, etc.

You may have all the answers on your next trip but if your first trip is a solo venture, hiring a DM is not an unwise move.

Not every day will be a good day. Having someone with you who is familiar with the environment can make a trip much more enjoyable.

Food for thought...

 

[sberanek]

I had a blast having the DM as my buddy in Jamaica. He had 20+ years of diving in the area and knew where the cool stuff was to point out. Granted, this was my first time diving in the ocean (all quarry diving for me) so it was all cool to me. I really liked having someone to show me around rather than having to navigate myself around. I had so much going on with the new experience, the camera, and such that it really made things better being with the DM.

Sigh... now it's back to the quarry. At least I know the fish by name there.

--Shannon