I was thinking about any number of places we have been recently that have currents that are extreme.
I'm not just talking about drifting along in Cozumel. These are usually drift dives, but that's the only similarity....
The Philippines would be a good example. Two extreme sites were Isla Verde and Batangas Channel off of Puerto Galera. On
Isla Verde (the far SE end with its virtual underwater waterfall), if you weren't led through it, you would miss crazy dangerous stuff- some to be savored and chased after, some to be skirted around and avoided. Knowing where the current paths were hidden to zoom you back to the boat were handy-
on my second trip there, no- I did not need a DM. The SW tip is doable alone by advanced divers, but it presents a lot of challenges for anyone.
It made Blue Corner seem tame.
Batangas Channel was another example. Our dive might have covered 2.5 miles, literally zig zagging and then reversing direction with the current. All quite unintentional and to us- unpredictable. Our DM said he was always amazed as well, but he knew and expected certain patterns to develop as they did. The viz and depth were about 35 feet, and the group became quite separated. We had one superb diver with twins get picked up by a different dive boat about 3 miles from where we got picked up.
Right in the seemingly tranquil
Puerto Galera inlet, a wreck dive. Listened to the dive plan, but in mid dive, the current
instantly changed dramatically, now pumping at a screaming 4 to 4.5 and the entire dive got turned around about to make it even possible for the boat to get near us on the surface. We hung off of a line like flags and absolutely had to hold our regs and masks in place. It happened within seconds and the DM was able to alert all 6 divers to an unfortunate but necessary abort.
On a more relatable note, how about
Tobago? Off of Speyside, there is a dive site called "
African Express". You zip along a wall for about 40 minutes and then the DM reminds you to
watch for him turn a hard right through an all but invisible slot in the wall. If you miss that slot, you learn why it's called African Express. You are heading towards that other Continent. Any doubters should research the local expert "Man Friday" who disappeared due to currents off this seeming tranquil island.
Any takers for the
Red Sea? Most of the dives there, you listen to the briefing and flop in. The coolest dive I did off of
Sharm was three trips down to the
Thistlegorm wreck. I stuck with the guide like glue- he took us deep into the bowels of this WW II era freighter. She sits upright, mostly intact in 85-100fsw, filled with motorcycles, grenades, jeeps and locomotives. Could I have survived it myself? Sure- but I wouldn't have made it to 1/2 the cool spots. Given that 90% of divers today are blinded by their camera viewfinders, someone who knows where the cool stuff is would be a real plus.
Night diving, once again in the harborage around Puerto Galera- Lots of small boats anchored, some movement. We couldn't understand why we couldn't shore dive (to save money) until we did the first dive. It is very cool muck diving, and by that I mean there are few landmarks and the slope of the sea floor is about impossible to discern. Combine that with a little current, maybe .5, one or two other dive groups that ghost by, and the constant directional changing caused by the frantic "ooh, look at this odd critter" flashlight signals. And odd critters there were! If but nothing else, our DM knew how to reconnect with our pick up boat amid the 25 or so other small boats that were anchored there and spending the night. No way would I go without a guide- this time not a safety issue as much as it was an issue of
ease.
I have done, who knows, maybe 250+ night dives off of CoCoView's
Prince Albert Wreck and another 500 during the daylight. It is dead simple, easy to navigate- but still, people screw up. How hard can it be? 50 feet away from your room, an anchor chain starts in 4 feet of water and leads through the reef and is attached to the side of a 140 foot ship. It is marked with reflective flags all the way out. The ship is upright and intact- there should be no confusion as to where what is, yet people still get very mixed up and turned around.
Do you need a DM for this dive? Not really. But I will tell you... I offer to lead night dives for a $25 charity donation to the families who have lost their DM fathers. I am booked every night, sometimes two night dives. Almost universally the reason they decide to go along on my guided tour is that they are fearful of becoming disoriented (on a dive they have seen a few times during the day) and that they want to see the cool stuff. You have to drag them away from their fascination over that Caribbean Lobster, but after my wife gets her "pet" Octopus to come out and wrap around her arm and face, they begin to get the idea. Their air consumption, anectdotally, is lower in most cases- I would assume that this is due to being more at ease without the inherent fear of being lost in the dark.
Most people are so busy diving they can't see what's in front of them. Most-
from the moment they jump in- are so busy trying to figure out where the boat (or exit) is, they get lost.
I agree, in many instances, guided dives are
not necessary, and I understand the resistance to being "dictated to" as espoused in the Cayman Soto/Red Sail day care centers.
But not only do you have to look at the environment, you must seriously consider what style and ability of diver that they attract at any given dive op/island/locale.
Dive Ops react in relation to the ability of visiting divers that they historically attract and have the greatest experience in observing. Want proof? Go to Club Dread or on a Pod People Paddle.
Did you know that 93% of SCUBA divers consider themselves Above Average ?
I hear even mild grumping about a DM's mothering instinct ~ I remind that fellow from the big city... If the DM came to visit you in Metropolis- how many times would you be steering him away from things (like that bus as he steps off the curb) or pointing out where the best hot dog might be acquired? We each are experts in our own back yards.
