How to ensure my safety when there is no guide dive with me?

[Splash-X]

To the OP and those that think having a hired DM keeps you safe, have a visit to the Acidents and Incidents forum where some of the bigger topics are HIRED DMs around the world involved in fatal diving accidents.

A guide or a DM is no replacement for diving within your own limits and not pushing yourself over those limits.

There are plenty of "resort type" operations in the US that have a DM in the water on every dive. Hawaii and Florida come to mind.

.....

Since Fark has a Florida tag maybe in the diving world Florida should be considered "resort style diving"? How many resort locations have you been to in Florida? I'm a little defensive , I know, but you're making a pretty bold statment.

If you ask here about a specific dive location (Florida Keys, for example, or Hawaii, or Texas, or whatever) and do some searching online, you'll find one.

It is even more specific than that, each dive operator and LDS in the Keys (everywhere for that matter) has a different approach to diving. Some are cattle boats where they load you up and drop you off with a DM to watch up to 20 people and some are small and personable 6 packs where you can hire a DM if needed.

For every diving style there is a shop / operator to fill the void. If you're looking for diving that has an underwater guide then make that clear.

It's just like service on a automobile, each place includes different things as part of the price. Your job as a diver is to decide which "parts" you want as part of your dive package.

 

[StreetDoctor]

How to Become a Better Scuba Diver [VIDEO] | Precision Diving

 

[fnfalman]

I dove in Asia ( Philippine, Malaysia) , Jamaica and United States for several times.

I found a major difference for scuba diving in United States than in Asia is that DM in United States won't get into the water take care of divers. All the divers in United States are asked to get into the water by themselves, no DM would take care of the divers underwater and lead the team.

Not too many vacationer divers coming to the US for diving, hence the arrangement is different. The typical diving vacation resorts have priced the dive master/dive guide into their charges while the American charters don't. But as you said, one can pay extra for DM/dive guide personal service.

1) If the boat is going to be anchored, there would be a big shadow on the top of water. I guess look at that shadow would help to relocate myself.

2) Always follow the buddy . But how about if my buddy and me get lost?

3) Should I buy a underwater compass? Or if there's any equipment can help me to find my location?

3) Is there any other tips to help me feel more comfortable to dive with ONLY my buddy?

Thank you very much ... looking forward for your valuable tips. .. :kiss2:

1) That would work only if you have good visibility. I don't know about the Atlantic coast but you'd be lucky to see 50-ft in the Pacific Coast.
2) You don't always follow your buddy. One of you is suppose to be the lead and the follower still need to know what the dive plan was and be ready to correct the lead.
3) Didn't they give you basic instructions in the use of compass in OW course? And yes, there's a piece of equipment that helps guide you back to a boat. It involves a beacon transmitter mounted on the boat (assuming that the captain would let you modify his boat) and the tracker accompanies you underwater. You follow the arrow back to the boat. Yes, it's expensive.
4) Don't plan your dive outside of your comfort zone, training, experience and skills. Plan your dive and dive your plan. Keep it shallow and stay close to the anchor point if you don't know where you're going.

 

[stadevene]

So I wonder, how can I make sure I am safe enough in the dive trip? Would anybody share some tips with me, to let me feel more confident under water?

Like you, I have primarily done guided dives. I'm in the process of working through the transition to what I suspect some of the people in this thread might consider a "competent diver"...or at least they might look down their nose less at me.

First thing is training. Depending on where you're at, an advanced course will at least give you the basics of navigation and you can progress from there.

I'd ask the DM/guide/local for a description of the dive. Is it a wall? How long is it? What are the distinguishing features? Should we expect a current? Is it a drift dive? All the basic to get a picture in your mind...or even a picture on your slate.

When you go down, look for the features near the boat. If it's an anchor dive, you could follow the anchor down and see what's around. Note sometimes the anchor slides or the captain will have to alter the position of the boat so sometimes it's not exactly in the same spot but should be reasonably close. Same idea with a mooring line. From there you can do things like count your fin kicks and take bearings - like Doc says, learn how to use your compass if you buy one.

Recognize your limitation. Ask about the dives ahead of time and if it's a low vis, wreck dive to 100 fsw, in ocean swells with a decent current where you'll be descending and ascending without a reference and will be picked up after having drifted for half a mile or more after your safety stop, it's probably not a dive you or I are ready to tackle on our own. I don't think there is anything wrong with accepting this and I hope some of those fish who posted above would agree. Eventually once we gain some gills, we'll be able to handle these dives.

 

[D_B]

In the OP's post I see 4 questions on how to dive safely without a DM or guide that he's used to having ... So, why all the posts about DM's and hand holding?
... I know, Dee is right about grown up divers, and responsibility for safety rests on your own shoulders, but he is asking about it, He's asking for suggestions and tips so he doesn't feel the need to have one ...

 

[Jim Lapenta]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...ering-diving/283566-who-responsible-what.html

Everything you need to know.

 

[@sea]

Try to get an area orientation from the dive guide before the dive. Ask a bit more than he tells you about the dive. Throw some questions at him to get some info.

The whole point of having a buddy is not to loose him/her. So communicate with each other.
If you are diving in the same area most of the time. Find a buddy with the same level of experience or one with more experience to dive with you.

The more you dive with the same buddy and get to know each other. The more you get comfy with him. (or vice versa)

Good luck

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I think $120 for 3 dives is pretty cheap for a divemaster in the States, if you need one. If the guy did it 5 days a week he'd have annual revenues of ~$30k. He's not getting wealthy at that rate. But let's compare that with competent instruction. If you opted for a top-of-the-line six-week course (does that still exist?) for, I don't know, $500, you'd be set for a lifetime of relatively safe diving. What a bargain! For the price of 4 days of safe diving you could get a lifetime's worth, and not look like a pantywaist while you're at it.

My 8 week course is 289.00 USD. And I will even give discounts for various people/ groups,ie, police, fire, military, and very hot chicks. And when my students are done they do not require a DM to lead them around. And really don;t want one because they are fully capable of deciding what is interesting to them and planning their dive to see it, executing that dive, and getting back safely.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

As a DM candidate I can tell you not everyone agrees, primarily my instructor.

You need a new instructor. I plan on paying my DM candidates or at least compensating them in some way. I was a slave to an instructor for awhile. It sucked, cost me money, and I will not put someone else through it.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

In the OP's post I see 4 questions on how to dive safely without a DM or guide that he's used to having ... So, why all the posts about DM's and hand holding?
... I know, Dee is right about grown up divers, and responsibility for safety rests on your own shoulders, but he is asking about it, He's asking for suggestions and tips so he doesn't feel the need to have one ...

You know, I hope I misunderstood the true tone of the OP. It seemed that he was complaining because he couldn't have a free guide for every dive to care of him. Then he wanted to know how to deal with it if he couldn't get said guide for free.

I was amazed that he asked if he should get a compass..... I had to wonder then how real a request for help this was at that statement. 24-49 dives plus the original training and he never had a compass? I wonder who certified a diver and went through compass use and navigation? It is standard for all agencies and I would be amazed if it wasn't taught. And let's not just point at the instructor. Some get the instruction and promptly throw it out the window and let others take care of them. I have no idea if this fellow got it or didn't. So, this lead me to think that maybe he is one of the princess divers....

I would love to be wrong. Because overly dependent divers can't problem solve or navigate and often get killed. I would hate for that to happen. I hope he trains more and learns to take care of himself. But his starting complaint was against DM's. Not the best way to ask for help.