How many people won't dive with a new diver?

[voop]

<SNIP>

One comment I have as a new diver is how grateful I am for the experienced divers willing to dive with me. At first, they may be taking a risk that I will end up ruining their dive, and their willingness to take that risk, demonstrate patience and assist are quite appreciated. As someone else on this thread posted, I hope that someday in the distant future when I'm experienced, I'll be able to repay and act in the same capacity for newer divers too.

Don't think of it as a risk that you end up ruining anyone elses dive. You're not, I assure you. I think of diving with students or with newly minted divers as a way of ensuring good dive-buddies for me (and others) in the future. If that means hanging out in a cold quarry looking at.....suspended silt....while someone messes with his bouyancy or drysuit or something else, then that's no problem. If it means cutting a dive short because my buddy's air-consumption is bad, then no problem -- I'll get him a bigger tank for the next dive, if possible, otherwise just enjoy whatever underwater time I get.

If my buddy doesn't recognize his own limits, runs out of air (0 bar), strays far from the dive plan and from me etc., then there is a problem -- not with skills, but with behavior. We talk about it and try again. If the whole thing repeats itself, then it's the last time I buddy with him. But then again, that isn't exclusive to just "new" divers -- I know instructors, who I'd never again be diving with for exactly those reasons.

Example: I was with a relatively new diver (AOW, warm water experienced but freshly dry-suit certified) on his first dive in a drysuit after his drysuit-classes. We were on a boat, and the boat went to a place where one of the attractions were a swim-through. Once in the water, the new-dry guy had problems with his bouyancy in his drysuit, hence with his respiration and propulsion. We took it easy and he got time to work on it himself at his own pace. When we came to the place with the swim-through, he obviously wasn't up for it. Other divers went through while we watched, but I did not want to go through there with him, and was pondering how to say it without hurting his feelings. He grabbed my arm, pointed at himself, then the swim-through and then shok his finger from side to side in the "no no" movement. I OK'ed, and we swam around it, incidentially running into a nice big octopus (of the ink-squirting kind) which was busy doing something to a rock. We hung out watched him for a while (amazing how hanging out just looking at something cool can encourage divers to get their bouyancy under control), then swam back to the boat and surfaced.

Did this guy "ruin" my dive? No, not at all. We did not di the swim-through, but we had a great dive, seeing something else which was cool (the big octo moving about). I knew he was new to drysuits, and so I got what I expected: a diver who was working on getting better. And what was most important, this guy showed me the right attitude: he did not feel comfortable doing something, but he did feel comfortable saying "no, I am not doing that" -- recognizing his own limits. THAT was -- in my mind -- a good dive with a good buddy.

 

[voop]

What would be an appropriate response to that?

Well, assuming that the briefing was a site-briefing, not a "follow the leader" briefing (I never do that kind of dives anyways, so neither would any buddy of mine), then it would be "I'd really like to to see that thing which the DM told us was down there at X m", then followed by thoughts on air-consumption/reserves/turn-point, time-constraints, safety stops, questions about my weird gear etc. This would be more or less guided by questions, depending on the buddy.

Even if the DM says "Go to X m for Y min, or come back at Z bar", each diver should make up his own mind and plan the dive in details with his buddy. DM's are just "advisors", not Gods (sorry to break it to y'all) and do not know the comfort zone and skills of each diver.

 

[Scubadawg]

All these posts make perfect sense. and all have good points, But we all need to remember that we all started out the same way. I enjoy taking new divers out and showing them around. If everyone decided to not dive with newbies we would all be solo divers

 

[brssmnky]

Do most divers not want to dive with new divers? I've had two experienced divers tell me they won't dive with others unless they are AOW and rescue certified divers. How common is this? I'm planning on getting the AOW and rescue diver (i'm a former EMT) but I'd like to dive in between.

Diving solo seems frowned upon. I realise the dangers of going deep solo but what about beach dives in 20 feet or so if I have someone on the beach keeping an eye on me?

Did anyone think of this... maybe those two experienced divers want AOW & resscue cert.ed buddies because they know they're bad divers and need someone to save them. Just a thought.
Anyways, I don't know if you're involved with a LDS in your area, but I've met several experienced, very friendly dive buddies through my LDS, they don't care who you are or how new you are. They just like to dive. And they know it'll be short dives because I'm still new, too. If these people don't want to dive with you just because you're new and they're "too good" for that, find a new crowd to hang around.

 

[Gary D.]

Did anyone think of this... maybe those two experienced divers want AOW & resscue cert.ed buddies because they know they're bad divers and need someone to save them. Just a thought.
Anyways, I don't know if you're involved with a LDS in your area, but I've met several experienced, very friendly dive buddies through my LDS, they don't care who you are or how new you are. They just like to dive. And they know it'll be short dives because I'm still new, too. If these people don't want to dive with you just because you're new and they're "too good" for that, find a new crowd to hang around.

Thanks Keith, I was just getting ready to type what you said in the first paragraph.

Now look at it from another angle. Would you rather dive with someone who was freshly certified or someone who has been diving for 20+ years that has only made 60 dives spread out over that 20+ year period?

The newbe still has some learnin stuck in da gray matter. The other is 20 years worth of cocky.

Just remember that everyone of us made that first dive and was a rookie ourselves. Now having an attitude that you won't dive with one is just a plain selfish act in my book.

We all need to band together and be a mentor to these rookies. It just might mean one less body a PSD has to recover.

Gary D.

 

[ShakaZulu]

I only dive with hot blonds...............oops.:monkeydan

 

[fldivenut]

Do most divers not want to dive with new divers?

No. And it doesn't depend on your skills or amount of dives but your attitude. A know-it-all newbie I would stay away from but someone that asked to dive with me due to that they might pickup some good things about diving is welcome anyday.

I've had two experienced divers tell me they won't dive with others unless they are AOW and rescue certified divers. How common is this?

Probably not common. I would not dive with them though, ever, never, ever.

Diving solo seems frowned upon. I realise the dangers of going deep solo but what about beach dives in 20 feet or so if I have someone on the beach keeping an eye on me?

Yes but it is more common than admitted too. However you need to get the experince in to do it. While solo from the beach probably would not require any extra equipment don't do it. Beach diving is inherited more dangerous than boat diving. (due to waves, current, tides, visibility, overhead boat traffic etc.)

Go on boat dives, you can go on your own, there will always be someone on the boat to dive with.

However, pick boat trips to dive sites that are applicable for your experince. That is the only time I say no to dive with a diver, when they are way in over their head. (or if they have the wrong attitude overall)

--A

 

[fldivenut]

Another comment I have is the important lesson I've learned, which is to rely on myself and my skills and not to depend on the experience and skills of the experienced divers.

You are right on here. Make sure you can take care of your self. After getting comfortable in the water this is the first thing to have as a goal.

--A

 

[LoneGunman]

Thanks for all of the support. I found out today that someone I know is a DM, he's offered to dive with me. I also have some great motivation to keep on learning. In the future I want to get my DM and be DIR and then tell the two I won't dive with them.

 

[aviddiver(him)]

To LoneGunman - glad to read you've buddied up. I have about 400 logged dives since 1998. To this day, if I approach a relative stranger aboard a dive boat, inquiring about the possibility of buddying, I still sometimes get the same NO you recieved. Conversely I've given it too. But usually because either I looked foreward to diving with another or I judged the dive unsave for the prospect's skills. And I only go deep with experienced divers. Otherwise, usually, I welcome buddying with anyone. Developing new divers are usually quite entusiastic, EVERYTHING is new and wonderous. It takes me back and I enjoy watching their delight. And, quite honestly, I keep you safe - no swimming the wrong way, you'll be FREQUENTLY checking your PSI with me, you won't be making unplanned deep dives, but foremost, you will have a fun dive.

Welcome aboard.