Proper Etiquette for a New Diver Concerning Buddies on a Dive Charter
- Thread starter Professor Nemo
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Oh, and be low maintenance. Wandering off and having the buddy have to make an effort to keep track of you is not fun for your buddy especially if they know you are a newer diver. Assuming we have agreed that I lead (which is usually the case) if I can swim along stopping and peering into corners and taking a few pictures and every time I look up you are nearby, maybe even finding something for me, then we are good. If I have to spend half my time trying to keep track of you, then we are not good. I am assuming that we are in the 25-80 ft viz diving. If it is 5 -10 ft unless we are on a wreck I know well then we are running a line and I expect the buddy diver to stay much closer.
DiverDownD3
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I'm a fairly new diver myself and also from NC. We may have dove some charters together, who knows. I typically have a hard time getting a dive buddy because I dive a lot on the weekdays. For the first 10 dives or so I sucked it up and paid the $35 for a guide (I also usually gave them a tip, but that's up to you). Now that my SAC rate is pretty decent I just show up. I typically have to ascend because of NDL than air.
But others are right, if you aren't diving at least 100s, especially for your deeper dives, you should. I'm not sure with your experience level if taking a pony is a good idea, I know I wouldn't feel comfortable about it. You should continue to practice save air consumption practices and using your rules if 1/3s. Just my 2 cents
But others are right, if you aren't diving at least 100s, especially for your deeper dives, you should. I'm not sure with your experience level if taking a pony is a good idea, I know I wouldn't feel comfortable about it. You should continue to practice save air consumption practices and using your rules if 1/3s. Just my 2 cents
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Stoo
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Personally, I enjoy diving with newbies (as long as they aren't dorks). I think I miss teaching at times, so I make up for it by mentoring and sharing time with newer divers.
I think in your situation, you are being up-front with people. I am not crazy on the idea of your insta-buddies abandoning you at the anchor. Like flying, most "excitement" tends to happen on take-off and landing. Typically, I would escort my buddy up to at least 25'-30' and weight until they were on their way to the surface...
The other thing to ponder is "why" you are an air-hog as you call it. Are you over-weighted? Thrashing around in the water? Swimming too hard? If so, try to address these issues and your consumption will plummet. And, as DoctorMike mentioned, consider a larger tank. I often dive with my wife and a girlfriend. Mrs. Stoo sips air. I wear doubles, but also sip. Our friend is not an airhog, but she uses more gas than we do... so she wears a 95... and it all works out perfectly.
Most of all, don't worry about it. The fact that you bring it up here says a lot about your attitude, and I think you will find (and it sounds like you are experiencing this already) that divers are an empathetic bunch. We have all "been there"...
I think in your situation, you are being up-front with people. I am not crazy on the idea of your insta-buddies abandoning you at the anchor. Like flying, most "excitement" tends to happen on take-off and landing. Typically, I would escort my buddy up to at least 25'-30' and weight until they were on their way to the surface...
The other thing to ponder is "why" you are an air-hog as you call it. Are you over-weighted? Thrashing around in the water? Swimming too hard? If so, try to address these issues and your consumption will plummet. And, as DoctorMike mentioned, consider a larger tank. I often dive with my wife and a girlfriend. Mrs. Stoo sips air. I wear doubles, but also sip. Our friend is not an airhog, but she uses more gas than we do... so she wears a 95... and it all works out perfectly.
Most of all, don't worry about it. The fact that you bring it up here says a lot about your attitude, and I think you will find (and it sounds like you are experiencing this already) that divers are an empathetic bunch. We have all "been there"...
2airishuman
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Then bring more air than the other divers. If they're bringing 80s, then you bring a 100 or a 120.
If you're using cylinders from the dive op, then ask them what they can provide that's larger. Most dive ops can provide 100s on request, usually for a few dollars more. Check in advance, I've run into one place where the 100s were all nitrox and DIN, package deal. If the operator you're using only offers AL80s, consider changing operators.
If you use your own cylinders, well, that's easy, just get some larger ones. My air consumption rate is high, and I now typically dive an HP120 with a pony, or twin HP100s. I have some smaller cylinders for short, shallow dives.
Over time and with experience, you may find that your air consumption moderates to some degree. On the other hand, physiology plays a role, especially for people with more muscle mass.
Based on that, switching from an 80 to a 100 should get you close enough that there isn't really a problem any more.
I switched to solo diving early on and haven't looked back.
There are many ways to approach the use of a pony tank, whether diving solo or not. Yes, you can treat it as a piece of safety gear that is only for emergency use. You can also treat it as a stage, and as described upthread, use it first then switch to your back gas, so that you can make a longer dive. A fact to consider, though, is that some (many?) dive ops discourage or disallow the use of more than one tank on a typical "one tank" recreational dive, and only make an exception for pony bottles that are intended for emergency use only.
Can you carry a AL30 or AL40 pony bottle on these dives? No harm in using it as a stage bottle to buy a little more time.
Assuming your're flying and renting tanks and can't just take along your personally owned Hp100's or something.
Assuming your're flying and renting tanks and can't just take along your personally owned Hp100's or something.
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Hi Professor Nemo,
Out of interest, have you calculated your RMV to see where you fall? There are some simple calculators to help you DiveNerd It may also help you to follow your RMV as you get more experience, improve your buoyancy and trim, and make other adjustments.
Personally, I think it is fine to follow a prearranged plan such separating at the ascent line. You do have your AOW and increasing experience. A pony might make you feel more confident in this situation. This type of activity is frequently done. This plan should be acceptable to captain of the boat you are using.
Most of my diving is in SE Florida and is drift diving. Very frequently, divers ascend whenever dictated by gas or NDL as needed. This allows me to dive with others of varying experience and gas consumption without anyone worried about disrupting the dive. I enjoy taking newer divers and contributing to their enjoyment of dives on reefs I know very well.
Good diving, Craig
Out of interest, have you calculated your RMV to see where you fall? There are some simple calculators to help you DiveNerd It may also help you to follow your RMV as you get more experience, improve your buoyancy and trim, and make other adjustments.
Personally, I think it is fine to follow a prearranged plan such separating at the ascent line. You do have your AOW and increasing experience. A pony might make you feel more confident in this situation. This type of activity is frequently done. This plan should be acceptable to captain of the boat you are using.
Most of my diving is in SE Florida and is drift diving. Very frequently, divers ascend whenever dictated by gas or NDL as needed. This allows me to dive with others of varying experience and gas consumption without anyone worried about disrupting the dive. I enjoy taking newer divers and contributing to their enjoyment of dives on reefs I know very well.
Good diving, Craig
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motorref
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As a fellow air hog I feel your pain; for the past several years my dive buddy was my wife's best friend, who is less than 1/2 my size: she can use a 63 to my 100 and still have air left over when I need to ascend!
Physiology does play a big role, as does experience; a perfect example is when my daughters both got certified, about 5 years ago: I was 54 at the time, and had only been diving for about 5- 6 years, and only on vacations. My daughters were 20 and 21, both fairly athletic, having played soccer, etc., and were 5'7" & 115#, and 5'8", 135#, yet my air consumption was 1/2 of theirs - I routinely came up with 1200 -1500 to their 500#. Now, I can't match them!
In the past year my wife, my best friend and my wife's best friend's husband have all started diving, and at 6'1", 255#, I'm the smallest of the guys - I can't wait to get out with all of them to see how we compare.
Practice, practice and more practice are the key - get out and dive! And don't stop introducing yourself as a new diver, and expressing your concerns: I'm sure everyone here had the same issues when they started - if you get a curmudgeonly insta-buddy, just chalk it up to experience, and use that experience to build on.
Good luck!
KevinL
Physiology does play a big role, as does experience; a perfect example is when my daughters both got certified, about 5 years ago: I was 54 at the time, and had only been diving for about 5- 6 years, and only on vacations. My daughters were 20 and 21, both fairly athletic, having played soccer, etc., and were 5'7" & 115#, and 5'8", 135#, yet my air consumption was 1/2 of theirs - I routinely came up with 1200 -1500 to their 500#. Now, I can't match them!
In the past year my wife, my best friend and my wife's best friend's husband have all started diving, and at 6'1", 255#, I'm the smallest of the guys - I can't wait to get out with all of them to see how we compare.
Practice, practice and more practice are the key - get out and dive! And don't stop introducing yourself as a new diver, and expressing your concerns: I'm sure everyone here had the same issues when they started - if you get a curmudgeonly insta-buddy, just chalk it up to experience, and use that experience to build on.
Good luck!
KevinL
Stoo
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Now that's an understanding wife! If I tried that with Mrs. TulsaTime, running out of air would be the least of my worries!
LOL.. Ya, she's actually a colleague of my wife's. We refer to her as our "rent-a-kid". My own daughter was travelling for the past six years, so I needed a redundant one. Now my original one is back, plus I've added a daughter-in-law, so I'm up to three of them... all of them awesome young ladies.
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