New to Diving...Dumb question but i'd like to know the answer =-)

[Alex1524]

Hi everyone, Im new to diving along with the forums. I love diving, it is one of those things i can do the rest of my life and never get tired of it!! I love it so much im looking into careers that include diving. Anyways, Im going to John PennyKamp in Key Largo tommrow morning and want to go diving on one of their charter boats. The only problem is that i will be alone and do not have a dive buddy going with me. How will I go about this? Do i meet people on the boat and kindly ask if i can join them and be their buddy or what? Thanks in advanced for the answers!!

 

[Guba]

Talk to the charter operator in advance. Most of the time, they have methods of assisting divers who are in your position. However, it's absolutely essential that you are upfront and honest about your experience level, your needs, and your comfort level. This is no time to play "macho" or try to impress them with your abilities. Most likely, they will be able to pair you with an appropriate partner. If that is not the case, many charters have divemasters that will either accompany you on your dive, though some only offer this service for a fee.

Once you meet your new buddy, it's extremely important that the two of you talk and share info. Discuss your dive plan in depth, review procedures, talk about how you'll terminate the dive whether there's an emergency or not (turn around pressures, etc..), and gear configurations. In short, do a thorough pre-dive check, and then listen together to the dive briefing. Make any adjustments to the plan that might be necessary.

Above all, if you are uncomfortable with the pairing for ANY reason, be brave enough to thumb the dive. Again, this is no time to play macho. If you can arrange for a different partner, do so. If not, forget it. You should NEVER dive outside your training or skill level, especially with an unfamiliar buddy and at a new place, particularly early in one's diving experience.

And by the way...there are very few "dumb" questions, and the one you posted is perfectly legitimate and one most of us have asked at some point in our diving experience. It would be much dumber NOT to submit the question, and SB is a pretty dang good place to ask. There is a wealth of very accomplished divers here (I don't count myself one of them, by the way--I've just been in your shoes a few times regarding what you asked). Hope you find a good buddy. Have fun and stay safe.

 

[Alex1524]

Thank you. Yeah i dont mind pairing up with someone at all. As long as i can dive with a buddy and enjoy it ill be happy =-) Thanks again Guba!

 

[Red_5]

I concur with Guba.. be upfront about it well in advance.

I've dove JP many times, it's a great place with lots to see. You will have a good time

 

[trucker girl]

If you're new to diving- depending on just how new- I strongly suggest paying for a DM guide. I did the insta-buddy thing on a charter out of West Palm Beach and, looking back, I'm shocked that nobody got hurt. I was on my first OW dive after class as was my insta-buddy. Plus, we were hooked up with a third- he was really experienced with 15 whole dives (please note the sarcasm). It was, to keep it short, a really bad experience. Really good in that I learned that I needed to dive more and learn more and be careful about who I buddy with. But bad in that someone could have gotten hurt. Thank God it was only to 20 feet and short (timing-wise).

You never know who you are going to be paired with when you go alone.

I also strongly suggest hooking up with people from this board. I doubled my number of dives in one year (having been certified since 2002) just by meeting up with folks here. You can feel them out and look through their posts. You can also check up on people if you find a mod or someone with a reputation on the board who knows your prospective buddy.

This is really a great place to meet dive buddies if you don't have one!

 

[Garrobo]

After I got my OW cert I hired an instructor in Ft. Laud to dive with me for a few days to familiarize myself with the procedures of ocean reef diving. Helped me out a lot.

 

[Rockhound76]

My wife has never gotten the diving bug in over 25yrs. of marriage. Hence, until my son started diving this summer, I mostly went solo or with an "insta-buddy".

While I've had some pretty bad experiences with insta-buddies, for the most part it was because I 1) Didn't tell the DM/Cap'n what my needs were or 2) I was participating in something (like photography) that my new buddy did not have an interest in doing/watching (there's nothing like hanging around ONE coral head for the entire dive if you have no interest in the critters there.)

On the other hand, it's been a rewarding experience more often than not. On one trip, I found a dive buddy who traveled with me on dive trips for several years (Cayman, Cozumel, Roatan). On others, I got to see the joy of a new diver as he saw the ocean from underneath for the very first time.

Don't be afraid to hook up with an insta-buddy, but take the good advice offered here earlier: Let the DM know you are new, then ask if he can find an EXPERIENCED diver he knows or would recommend to you (in most places I go to in Florida, the DM's know several of the divers on the boat and they usually know the trip leader, if he/she is from out of town.) If he hooks you up with an insta buddy, TALK to him. Look at his gear and his setup and ask about his dive plan. Make sure if he's on a computer, you are too. If he's on the tables, you must be willing to dive tables, too. (I made this mistake once. After a really long, deep dive, I asked my buddy how close he came on his computer, since mine used an old algorithm. "What computer?" . His "computer" was dive timer. He was so far off the tables at this point I refused to make the next dive with him.) My BAD, a big OOPS. From that moment, I always asked.

If, after your insta-buddy review you aren't comfortable, go back to the DM.

If no experienced diver is willing to help a neophyte, or you get the willies after talking to them, be prepared to ask for a guided dive with the DM (pay/tip him well for this). If you demonstrate some good skills, the next time out, you'll find the DM will be more helpful in finding you a good insta-buddy, as he has assessed your level of skill--or then again NOT, if you tip too well.

 

[Alex1524]

Hey guys thanks for all the advice =-) Im actually not going to go diving tommrow because the weather is horrible along with the fact that i do not have a dive buddy.(Safety First) Going back to what one of you said about paying a dive master to go down with me or something along that nature, I have actually kept in touch with both of my instructors from class. I do not want to seem concieded or anything like that but they actually pulled me aside after class and told me my skills are "Golden" and i was a natural at it. They both gave me their phone numbers and email addresses. I get emails occasionally from them telling me when they go on dives so i can tag along. My one instructor always kept getting mad at me because i ALWAYS come up with more air then him. On our wreck dive which was 73 feet the other instructor said "yea we'll see how good he is on the deep dive" as if saying on the deep dive he'll consume a lot of oxygen. Once again i came up with more then anyone Like i said i absolutely love the sport and wish i can get more friends into it. Again, Thank you guys for helping me out. I will be sure to browse and post in the forums. See all of you soon!!!

 

[Dutchman]

I also concur with everyone else. I would also add, if you are not comfortable with your insta buddy, get another one or don't dive. I was recently teamed up with an experienced diver. He had 200 plus dive. I felt like an instructor training him how to turn on his air, how to inflate his BC and other things just to numerous to mention. We agreed to disagree and I did not dive that trip.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Anyways, Im going to John PennyKamp in Key Largo tommrow morning and want to go diving on one of their charter boats.

Just a little nitpicking: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (JPCRSP) only extends 3 miles off-shore (State waters). There are very few dive sites that close to shore as there is hardly any water deeper than 25' in JPCRSP. I would go with one of the Key Largo dive shop charters; if JPCRSP has any charters they would be mainly snorklers IIRC.

Most, if not all popular dive sites off Key Largo are actually in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Not all Key Largo dive shops know or care about these details, but facts is facts.