I prefer unguided dives. Unlike most photographers, probably, I am not focused on getting the best pictures I can. I want to take the best pictures I can of
my dive. Enthusiastic divemasters can make you feel like you're being led by a leash as they take you from one attraction to another. The better the dive site, the less I enjoy it. Part of the pleasure of seeing harlequin shrimp is in the discovery itself—after all, it's easy enough to have a pair in an aquarium at home, if you just want to see the shrimp, or take advantage of the many excellent pictures. I found these myself, diving solo, but I wonder if a divemaster was feeding them, which ruins it a little bit for me. The starfish leg is a little bit too convenient:
---------- Post added May 1st, 2012 at 01:54 PM ----------
Dive sites often have a unique feature(s) or animals which make it special. In NZ for example, diving in the southern fiords, most divers would swim right past the spiny sea-dragon- not because they're that hard to spot but because they don't know why they're special. (you can't see them anywhere else).
Which is exactly why I value a detailed pre-dive briefing from a knowledgeable dive guide.
Guided diving is not for eneryone- some people just like being underwater. I have no problems with that as long as they're safe but it does seem strange to dive some incredible locations and then blame the guide for pointing out too much stuff.
Perhaps, but that's exactly how I feel. I want to roam around a city with a map and a Lonely Planet Guide, I don't want to be following a guide who's holding up a pennant so I can keep him in sight. The pennant guy will probably show me more, but I'll enjoy it a lot less. The fact that he has a horde trailing him makes it far worse, but even a private guide undoes the pace and meditative aspect of my dive.
I don't use bangers but point stuff out- if people want to see what I'm showing them, they need to look around from time to time.
Yes, that's a far better way to do it. If I'm stuck with a guide, I want him to do it that way.