Photo and buddy system

[TSandM]

I actually really LIKE diving with a photographer in a target-rich zone. Almost nobody dives slowly enough to suit me -- everybody wants to rush along to find the next cool thing, when it's often right under your nose. I've always figured that, during the shooting process, it's simply incumbent upon me to remain close enough to the photographer to be able to solve any dire issues in spite of their distraction. I've actually done the drill (exhale, decide I'm OOA, swim to photographing buddy, get his attention, get gas) and it set very clear limits for me on how far away I'll wander. But in a lot of places, while the photographer is getting "that shot", you can find a whole bunch of other interesting things to look at, or to feed to the photographer for the next picture. For me, that's a very fun way to dive.

Where it doesn't work is where targets are sparse, and I sit and hover and work on my back kick while the photographer takes umpteen pictures, and then swims vigorously off before I've even had a chance to see WHAT he was recording with such enthusiasm

I have to admit, though, I've never dived as a buddy with the kind of photographer who goes down with a specific shot in mind as the purpose of the whole dive, and spends 20 minutes sitting in front of a hole, waiting for the critter to do whatever he wants to get a picture of. I don't think I'd like that; those people either need to hire escorts or dive solo

 

[jcscuba]

Hi: Good question! I would suggest your buddy dive beside you rather than 6 feet above, seems she would be getting blasted with your bubbles. You might suggest that she become your fish finder and be a little in front of you looking for a possible next shot. I've seen many that do that and they become quite good at it. As you get more experience as buddies she won't want you to leave your camera behind. You wouldn't ask her to leave her regulator on the boat

 

[Darnold9999]

Have to agree with Lynn and Alcina here. I can be a good buddy with someone who is willing to dive slowly. By that I mean spend 5 - 10 minutes perhaps more on a single coral head or 10 metre square piece of ground. I am prepared to split my attention, point out things I find, take pictures of things you find, give up and move on if there is nothing to see, rescue you if you screw up, monitor your air, monitor your behaviour - all the things a good buddy will do.

However I just have gotten fed up with those who say they dive slowly, but when you get in the water want to rocket from one coral head to another, or swim continuously without pausing to really look for the cool small critters hidden under and behind things. I'm sure they think that just possibly the most cool thing in the water might be on the very next coral, or the next, or the next, or the next .....

Carrying a camera has taught me that the most cool thing in the water is hiding from you and sticking around long enough for them to get used to you is the best way of getting a peek. It also lets your eyes start to work past the camouflage and start to see the creatures that are right in front of you but you never notice as you swim by because they blend in so well. If you stop and hover they start to move and your eyes pick them up. If you are swimming they are frozen and you will never see them.

I used to try and keep up, snapping off a picture or two and then swim like crazy to catch up. Ended many a dive annoyed. Now, if I am diving with someone who says they dive slow and they end up being a reef rocket I wave goodbye and don't worry too much about it and mostly surface happy. (I also tell them up front that that is what's going to happen.)

 

[Teamcasa]

...Carrying a camera has taught me that the most cool thing in the water is hiding from you and sticking around long enough for them to get used to you is the best way of getting a peek. It also lets your eyes start to work past the camouflage and start to see the creatures that are right in front of you but you never notice as you swim by because they blend in so well. If you stop and hover they start to move and your eyes pick them up. If you are swimming they are frozen and you will never see them....

This is true on so many levels. Diving with a camera or video camera will make you a better diver. I dive to relax, have fun and capture images to share with my family and friends. I dive to spend time with my wife who also loves to dive! (Lucky me!!) Trying to communicate this feeling to a new buddy that is not a photographer is sometimes like telling a great joke to someone who does not understand your language.

 

[fairybasslet]

My most frustrating buddy was my son. When he first learned to dive and we took our first big trip to Roatan, I had to tell him that the object of a dive is not to see who can get back to the boat the first. Back then I still had a film camera so 36 shots and that was it. I rarely took more than 3 frames of one subject. However, as he got more experienced he became a better buddy and an excellent spotter. He found this scorpion fish in Bonaire. Then sometimes we have arguments underwater when I can't see what he's pointing at.

 

[TSandM]

Yes, it's a great thrill to resolve a well-camouflaged critter from its surroundings!