Had 2 scary experiences: How to avoid in future?

[redacted]

My wife has ear clearing problems on the first couple dives. We explain the problem to the DM, and explain that we will go in first and while I stay on the surface and wait, she will work her way down to 10 ft and wait there for the rest of the divers to submerge. That gives her ears extra time to get thru the most difficult part of the descent.

 

[DandyDon]

Thank you DandyDon. Yes... I understood this to be a HELPFUL place for new divers. I was a newbie to skiing once, now I'm an expert. I was a newbie to mountain biking once, now I teach my friends..... what comes around goes around.

I am glad you did come back - at least to clarify the realities. I really found your post pretty reasonable. I was thinking that you confused drift line and anchor line, but I don't read minds well at all (ask any of my Exs), and it didn't occur to me that you may have confused memory details on two dive trips 3 years ago. Very understandable.

I hoped that the critics on this thread who did not feel honor bound to apologize for their insults would at least shut the hell up, but - well, I don't know. If you would like any assistance with our "Ignore Member" feature so you can ignore any individuals, do let me know.

Best wishes on a great trip!
> I do hope you can obtain help from an ENT or DAN medic on decongestants and/or antihistamines. I take both when diving, but I respect the possible negatives to that approach.
> I do hope you both have DAN insurance. If not, please do get it ASAP: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/
> Do keep in mind my Inst friend's suggestion: Clear 3 times before leaving the boat, then keep clearing.
> The private DM for the first day is a very good and inexpensive idea. Do remember that the group DMs are generally very good guides and saviors of the distressed, but not expected to Instruct. There are boat diving courses available, but the private DM should cover this okay.
> I don't know where you are, but staying in practice between dive vacations would surely help, too.

If you would like any more help in this area, I do hope you will continue to post on this thread, and accept the help that is offered.

If you would like any advice, help or discussion on Cozumel itself, may I suggest our Coz forum: http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=208 Great reading, good place for Searches, and good forum for new discussion threads if needed. I would suggest not referencing this thread there, in hopes that the unreasonable response can now cease.

I am but a regular member here, and certainly not that great of a diver, but if I may help in PMs, just click the link below....

 

[Jim Lapenta]

There are certified divers in our area who have never seen a current more than what the fins of the diver in front of them is making. They don't do anything but local dives for various reasons. Financial, time constraints, etc. My first drift dive was in the coffee colored river that flows past Ginnie springs. It was also my third dive in my new dry suit. I got turned upside down, around, pushed into trees, and generally beat up. But it was a blast! Once I relaxed and went with it instead of fighing it. Divers who DM in Cozumel and were trained there have dealt with currents from the beginning so to them they are not a big deal. I have not been there as yet but have experienced a 2 hour drift down the Rainbow river, been on the Grove when a 4 knot current was going, drifted at a nice leisurely pace in the Keys, and saw a couple wild rides in the St Lawrence that I thoroughly enjoyed but saw one of our group tumbled along on the bottom. From the sounds of it too many people go to coz thinking it's an easy place to dive and for me and others with similar or more experience it may be. But coupled with the stories of taking newbies to 120 ft or more it sounds like it's not the place for the inexperienced diver. What can be done? First and foremost it is a question of personal responsibility. As far as the Dm knows you are there, you're certified, and you came here to dive. If you don't know what you are getting into then find out. If the answers are not satisfactory don't do the dive! It is up to the diver to know his/her comfort level. There is also the language issue. If there are communication problems remember you are in their country. Thery should no more cater to you than we should those who come here and expect us to change an entire culture for one group. That's a problem. We are used to political correctness and not wanting to offend anyone when if we go to their country they couldn't give a rat's behind about offending us. If you know that you have trouble clearing perhaps you should choose sites where that is not a big deal. Don't go to cozumel. Try Bonaire or Belize where you dictate the pace not the DM. And do more diving, cold water, low vis, local lakes and quarries. If you only dive on vacation perhaps you should stick to easy sites that really cater to those who don't dive regular.

 

[Web Monkey]

You shoot your mouth off at an organization that many people on this board respect, and you expect us to treat you kindly?? I think not.

Actually, given the number of complaints, I don't think you'll find a whole ton of people here that "respect" PADI, aside from their instructors, DMs and shop employees.

Terry

 

[bluewatertoy]

I don't believe I insulted anyone Don, and if you look back at post #21 you agreed with everything I said. Except for being a troll. Way too many divers experienced or not think the DM is a babysitter, and that is simply not the case. I stand by my original views on this OP other than being a troll, to get some more experience before blaming everything on the DM. One other thought would be to check out the Coz forum. There are plenty of dive ops in Coz that are much better than the one you used orignally.
Kelly

 

[bluewatertoy]

Actually, given the number of complaints, I don't think you'll find a whole ton of people here that "respect" PADI, aside from their instructors, DMs and shop employees.

Terry

Considering they certify probably 10-1 versus other organizations. I think it stands to reason they have more complaints. It doesn't make Wal Mart worse than any other mom and pop store.
Kelly

 

[danielt]

U guys are a nasty bunch!
Not all sweet huh....

 

[DandyDon]

U guys are a nasty bunch!
Not all sweet huh....

No, that's not generally true here. I do hope you'll stick around long enough to get a good introduction to SB. Usually pretty nice place with helpful members. I don't know what happend on this thread?

 

[danielt]

thanks don
u always write honest and good advice
ive noticed!

 

[ams511]

U guys are a nasty bunch!
Not all sweet huh....

Not really Daniel. But look at the facts, someone new shows up with very little in the profile and blames PADI for her diving misfortunes. Her story contains numerous descrepancies and then latter we learn that this is a three-year old incident in a different location than the one originally specified.

The OP takes no responsibility for her actions, did not talk to the dive master before the dive and does not maintain buddy contact with her buddy (husband). I can take her word the PADI does not cover too much about diving in currents during OW but I am sure they still stress buddy skills and air management. Also she expects the DM to cater to her problems and does not realize the DM is responsible for the other divers in the water also. She feels it is fine to inconvenience all the other divers on the boat. I may sound harsh but read her posts over, would you want to dive with her as your buddy?

BTW my first boat dive was a drift dive and I had zero problems with it.