Looking for a Dive Buddy in Guam

[Lyndon C]

Greetings from the Philippines.

My name is Lyndon and i'm the president of Surigao Dive Club. i'll be in Guam this July 24th and 25th and i'm thinking of doing some boat dives. anybody here who will be kind enough to be my dive buddy.

looking forward to meeting you guys.

Lyndon

 

[bill22]

Hi Lyndon,
As I mentioned in my PM since you're diving on a weekend, MDA should buddy you up with someone on the boat. This is what they did with me when I went there in December 2007. If for some reason they don't want to, I would be really interested (as would everyone else here) on the reason why.

You can also check out Guam Tropical Dive Station at: WELCOME TO GUAM TROPICAL DIVE STATION

On facebook you can check out the MDA page at: Micronesian Divers Assoc | Facebook and Guam SCUBA Divers page at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12457190413&ref=ts

Good luck. Please let us know how it worked out

 

[Lyndon C]

thank you bill for the information. as for their requirement on having a buddy, i guess its business and at the same time classifying divers. novice divers would usually go for the dm and pay the extra $150 whereas divers like us would insist on just being paired up with some divers in the boat. i hope they will be flexible on me. calling the MDA!!!!

 

[bill22]

thank you bill for the information. i as for their requirement on having a buddy, i guess its business and at the same time classifying divers. novice divers would usually go for the dm and pay the extra $150 whereas divers like us would insist on just being paired up with some divers in boat. i hope they will be flexible on me. calling the MDA!!!!

After responding I ran across another thread here on scubaboard. There was a fatal accident last month. It appears that MDA did everything right, but perhaps they have instituted a more stringent screening process as a result? In my experience MDA did a good job on briefing the dive sites that we went too.

I have no issues with them wanting to ask questions about experience, but would object to them wanting to insist that I bring my own buddy instead of buddying up with someone on the boat.... Even in cases where you bring your own buddy, the buddy may not be experienced, so I don't see the problem (always willing to listen to ideas I haven't thought of though )

Personally I generally don't have a problem buddying with less experienced divers (how else will they gain experience). This is something to be addressed before divers get in the water. Ultimately it's up to each individual buddy team to plan their dive within the limits of their training and experience. It's always a good idea to know something about your buddy's experience, review signals, emergency procedures, and make a dive plan before entering the water.

Like I said before, I think they shouldn't have a problem buddying you up with someone on the boat (as they did for me when I was there and as is common in the US). If they really have changed their policy I would either dive with someone else or check out the local groups I provided links for from facebook and see if anyone would like to buddy up. No way would I pay an extra $150 bucks a day just to have someone hold my hand Good luck!

 

[sanjac]

I have been diving with MDA for quite some time now. Every time I have been on a dive, I have heard MDA ask if anyone needed a buddy and they pair people up.

As for the fatality, I don't have first hand knowledge but from what I heard, the husband came up to the surface, leaving her below. Not sure if he thought she was going to join another group down there or what. I don't dare speculate any further, but you are right - MDA did everything right - and even risked their lives (Boat Captain and DM) while recovering her from a significant depth. I haven't seen any change in the buddy system requirements since then.

Jim

 

[bill22]

.... Every time I have been on a dive, I have heard MDA ask if anyone needed a buddy and they pair people up....

....I haven't seen any change in the buddy system requirements since then. Jim

That was my experience too (except during the week when the number of Japanese on the boat could make it more difficult to buddy a non-Japanese). Happy to hear that the policy hasn't changed. Thanks for the update.

Not sure why they initially told Lyndon he needed to pay for a guide? Possibly a "business" thing for foreign tourists? There's no practical reason in his case I can think of since he's a fluent English speaker and experienced diver. Since he is from a dive club in the Philippines with the potential for repeat and referral business, I don't think it would necessarily be such a good "business" decision for MDA to charge him this "extra" fee (just imho of course)

If I were Lyndon, I would point this out and if they still insist, I would go with GTDS instead.

 

[heathpope]

I live on Guam and I have dove with MDA before and after the mentioned incident, in my experience, there has always been a couple people looking to buddy up on the boat and I have never seen it be a issue.

Lyndon, I would go diving with you but I will be leaving for Palau that week. If your dates change, let me know.

 

[MDA Travel]

Hi Lyndon,

At MDA, if you are diving during the week on the Daily Dive, WITHOUT a buddy then a dive guide is required. If diving during the week on the Daily Dive WITH a buddy, no guide is needed. During the Daily dives, Island Tour operators book boat seats with us. We can not let a individual diver board and join any of the Island Tour operator groups as they are mostly Japanese speaking divers. All divers are welcome on the Daily Dive, if they have a buddy or guide.

If you are booking the Weekend Boat trips either with or with out a buddy, no guide is required. Our weekend boats are for local dives and are not for the Islands Tour companies. We allow any diver to board and before diving ask "does anyone need a buddy", and then we pair them up for diving. This again happens only on the weekend.

I am apologize if there was some confusion. The only time a dive guide is required is during the week w/ no buddy.

After checking the boat schedule and seats available, there is limited room on this weekend dives but for the upcoming weekends space is available. I do hope you let MDA take care of your diving needs.

Thank you

 

[Lyndon C]

Thank you so much MDA. Looking forward to some great dives on the 24th and 25th