What do you do when your inexperienced insta buddy is set up for Air2.

[happy-diver]

Funnily, as you all know I am, the exact opposite applies to me, with sometimes a queue forming, due to
my ability to make people relaxed also leaving our interaction, with them feeling good about themselves

My aim for every interaction I have in life

Like on here

 

[Cthippo]

I know some people that dive solo because nobody will dive with them.

I usually just shorten that to "Winning"

 

[mockney]

Well considering the dozens of dives I've done with Sunreef and 99% with Scubaworld have been solo
Usually must not be my category
I've even had customers on the boat on the way out to the site tell me I won't be permitted to go solo

The usual funny ideas from usual people

ok cool i will have to double check if they are happy to do solo then that's 100% my preferred option. Anyway if you do want to dive at some point feel free to send me a PM with your details and we can connect.

Cheers Paul

 

[johndiver999]

ok cool i will have to double check if they are happy to do solo then that's 100% my preferred option. Anyway if you do want to dive at some point feel free to send me a PM with your details and we can connect.

Cheers Paul

so you want to hook up and dive solo on a charter boat - together?

 

[mockney]

so you want to hook up and dive solo on a charter boat - together?

We are in Australia.

 

[lizardland]

It's pretty normal in the UK too. Most of the boats I use let you dive solo and pretty much all technical boats. Boat skippers are maritime taxi drivers, what you do underwater is your business. Another plus point for living in the communist Rest Of The World.

 

[NauticalNick]

It is VERY different. Divers who are trained with a traditional octopus are taught that they donate this "EXTRA" second stage. There is no need to remove THEIR second stage from their mouth in a life or death emergency.

Failure to understand this distinction is a big F'n deal. It could definitely cause the situation to spiral into panic if the diver were unprepared for regulator removal.

Everything is a big f'n deal if you have no idea what you're doing.

 

[johndiver999]

[

Everything is a big f'n deal if you have no idea what you're doing.

Is that a mark Twain quote?

 

[DreadnoughtNH]

Hey All,

Just a quick topic for you. I had a dive recently and needed a buddy. On the boat they allocated me to a chap nice guy don't get me wrong but a couple of questions later I discover he's under 20 dives and I notice his set up is Air2.

His equipment, his choice.

Now I personally consider Air2 to be a very dangerous set up attempts to fix a problem that doesn't need fixing whereby if I need his help in an out of air situation I take his primary reg and he goes onto this short hose badly breathing Air2 and then he's also supposed to control his buoyancy on ascent etc etc. Its a horrible solution.

100% correct: that is your PERSONAL opinion.

Anyway, I am concerned when I see his set up I know its not likely to happen but should I need his support I can see someone with little experience could easily panic where I am needing him to provide me with air. I said nothing other than agreeing that if this situation does arise he's expected to hand me his primary and go to his Air2 to which he agrees.

You discussed the situation that would concern you the most -- OOA -- and agreed on a solution. Good.

The dive went ahead without issue, was good fun actually he was a good insta buddy in the end but I did consider later whether I should have said I was not comfortable diving with someone in that configuration and requested an alternate insta buddy with a proper occy.

What's your thoughts?

You (and your insta buddy) did everything correctly, so I don't see a problem other than your opinions. Divers should always -- repeat always -- speak up when they are not comfortable or have any concerns with the insta-buddy, or with anything related to the dive. That being said, you ALSO need to accept that voicing those concerns/opinions may result in your not diving (for better or worse).

There are very good reasons to not dive with someone, but I don't believe the opinions you are alluding to are valid: that Air2s are dangerous, and that someone with <20 dives could panic. We've all seen divers boasting their dive numbers and depths like they are comparing their s, only to race to the surface when their mask floods.

If you're a good diver, be an even better teacher and coach.

 

[elvenhome21]

For your situation dive normally and enjoy the dive. I have a unique setup that I feel an air2 is the correct solution for. Full face mask, but I also have a long hose reg. So essentially I have 3 regs. I actually prefer my air2 for OOA Drill simply for ease of being right there and not getting tangled in my long hose if I have to grab someone else's reg if there's a problem