DPV On Dive Trip (Guide Without DPV)?

[hedonist222]

Anyone take a DPV on an international dive trip (say the Philippines or Indonesia and reef dives not macro) in spite of the dive guide not having one?

I've started doing this locally when diving with a group.
I'm self-reliant declared and therefore not part of anyone's buddy system.

It's nice to be able to "traverse with the pack" while having the liberty of being able to slow down my pace then easily catch up, or veer diagonally to explore something, or advance ahead.

The only con I can think of is the guide may not feel very motivated to get my attention when he or she finds something. Understandable though.

I also realize that the effort required to haul it may not equate to the benefit gained of having it.

 

[SpaceX Aquanaut]

Yes, on a liveaboard to the Similans/Thailand (2007) -first check was to see that I had a Cert Card Specialty for DPV.

Dive Guide was then okay with it, but the rest of the group of photographers claimed that I was scaring away all the marine life with the noise from the Scooter. . .

 

[NothingClever]

I think as long as we’re sincerely mindful of others and their desired experience, most of us will use good judgment to (a) not create a distracting accountability problem for the guide and/or the pick up boat captain and (b) not disrupt the dive experience of other divers.

I either dive in the general direction the guide is going and circle back periodically during that dive or re-establish visual contact before the dive is over OR I make unmistakably clear that I’m on an entirely different dive plan. I don’t leave the guide guessing what my plan is.

Also, it doesn’t cramp my style to come off trigger with plenty of standoff from other divers and switch to legs as I approach a group to ensure I don’t disturb somebody else’s dive experience. Or I just swing well wide of the group if I’m not intending to join them.

Occasionally there will be somebody chronically perturbed no matter how polite or considerate I am. TBH, I probably have more experience and training than that person so I just let them percolate and then try to walk them towards neutral ground. It’s easy to muscle up and fire a Hellfire missile into their chest but I’d rather broaden their perspective. Honey, not vinegar.

However, I’ve found most people are curious and admiring, especially if you share info in a way that encourages them that they can train to dive like this, too.

 

[Tassi Devil Diver]

I have taken my DPV to the Tulamben/Amed region of Bali a number of times, I have dived there enough that I don't need a guide, the dive operator I dive with is fine with that.