When my students leave my class they are fully capable of planning a dive with a buddy of equal or greater skill and following that plan. Part of that planning includes knowing when not to make a dive due to conditions, personal comfort level, available air supply, and training and experience. There is no reason for anyone to do trust me dives.
There are enough dive locations that anyone with any real training can pick a place that is within their skill level and dive. Too often new divers are not told that not doing a dive can be a more valuable learning experience than blindly following a DM or Guide.
I want to know depth, temp, current ,and compass direction to a few key spots. After that I'll decide what interests me and dive MY plan. This is what I teach my students to be prepared for. And why I love diving in the Keys where there is no DM in the water.
Turning an OW diver loose who cannot follow a basic compass direction, decide that the spot is too deep or current too strong, or know that they have enough air for the dive is not acceptable to me. There is no excuse for a person with a C card to need a DM to tell them how much weight they need, find the way back to the boat or shore, or know when it's time to head back.
This all covered in my dive planning lecture, tables lecture, and environment lecture. Whether it is laziness, incompetence, greed, so-called time constraints, or other excuse given makes no difference. If an OW diver cannot plan and execute a dive with a buddy independent of a DM they are not ready to be certified. If one recognizes that due to a new spot, different yet still safe conditions, or specifically looking for an item or critter then by all means hire a DM. But do not expect that it is a given. New divers need to be made fully aware that ultimately they and they alone are responsible for their safety, comfort, and success at this sport.
There are enough dive locations that anyone with any real training can pick a place that is within their skill level and dive. Too often new divers are not told that not doing a dive can be a more valuable learning experience than blindly following a DM or Guide.
I want to know depth, temp, current ,and compass direction to a few key spots. After that I'll decide what interests me and dive MY plan. This is what I teach my students to be prepared for. And why I love diving in the Keys where there is no DM in the water.
Turning an OW diver loose who cannot follow a basic compass direction, decide that the spot is too deep or current too strong, or know that they have enough air for the dive is not acceptable to me. There is no excuse for a person with a C card to need a DM to tell them how much weight they need, find the way back to the boat or shore, or know when it's time to head back.
This all covered in my dive planning lecture, tables lecture, and environment lecture. Whether it is laziness, incompetence, greed, so-called time constraints, or other excuse given makes no difference. If an OW diver cannot plan and execute a dive with a buddy independent of a DM they are not ready to be certified. If one recognizes that due to a new spot, different yet still safe conditions, or specifically looking for an item or critter then by all means hire a DM. But do not expect that it is a given. New divers need to be made fully aware that ultimately they and they alone are responsible for their safety, comfort, and success at this sport.