Shore dive with new diver: Do you mind short and shallow?

[TSandM]

I did a lovely dive with a somewhat novice diver tonight. Max depth was 60 feet, and the dive was 30 minutes long (and I knew those parameters ahead of time). We found all kinds of cool stuff, and best of all, I wasn't cold when I got out of the water!

My buddy was profusely apologetic, before and after, about the short and shallow dive. He was very concerned that I would feel the dive was "wasted". I remember feeling exactly the same way when I was new. I tried to reassure him that I didn't mind at all. This wasn't an expensive charter or a dive using expensive gas . . . it was an evening shore dive in a familiar site not a long drive from home, and it didn't matter to me if it was 30 minutes or 60, as long as I got to get wet and see some fun things, which I did.

It got me to wondering . . . for those of you who are no longer "new divers", would you mind doing a shorter and shallower dive than usual, to accomodate a new diver?

(Part of the reason I don't mind is that my LDS sells a membership where you buy all your fills for the year for one price in December. So using a third of a tank doesn't offend me at all, because I don't pay a full fill price for doing it.)

 

[fnfalman]

60-ft is plenty deep. I thought that shallow would be like 10-ft or something.

 

[sydney-diver]

I did the same the weekend, I've got no issues with helping a new diver on a local weekend shore dive - it wasn't that long ago I was the one being called "air pig" and cutting the dive short so it's the least I can do

 

[mselenaous]

It got me to wondering . . . for those of you who are no longer "new divers", would you mind doing a shorter and shallower dive than usual, to accomodate a new diver?

Absolutely! Many have done it for me and I don't hesitate to pay-it-forward. Even on a charter, as long as I know ahead of time, I will volunteer to buddy with a known newish diver on a shorter &/or shallower diver.

 

[Gombessa]

It got me to wondering . . . for those of you who are no longer "new divers", would you mind doing a shorter and shallower dive than usual, to accomodate a new diver?

While I'm far from an old hand at this hobby, I have a dive day scheduled with a newish diver later this month. We expect the dives will be shorter than the 2.75hr marathons my buddies have been doing lately, and we'll be spending a good deal of effort making sure that the new diver feels comfortable and unburdened with us.

Shorter surface swim to prevent fatigue (at the expense of viz)? Check.
20 minute bottom time if he gets cold in a wetsuit? Check.
Decline to do dive 2 due to cold or discomfort or weariness? Check.

It's all good, we just want to do what we can to get him even more hooked on scuba

 

[annasea]

Absolutely! Many have done it for me and I don't hesitate to pay-it-forward. Even on a charter, as long as I know ahead of time, I will volunteer to buddy with a known newish diver on a shorter &/or shallower diver.

Really?? Can I hold you to that once you're back in FL next week? Assuming you're interested in shore dives in LBTS or BHB.

 

[heavyjeffd]

60-ft is plenty deep. I thought that shallow would be like 10-ft or something.

Exactly, I've done dives at 12' with friends because they were still new and getting used to it. I don't mind shallow dives at all, going deep just to go never made sense to me.

I go as deep as the area dictates.

I guess the long and short is, I have no problem doing short/shallow dives with new divers or friends. It's the right thing to do.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

Having a short dive with a new diver doesn't sound like a problem. 60 feet max for a total of 30 minutes is a nice dive for a new diver. You both saw cool stuff, your airfill is covered, beach diving is free, and the guy/girl got another good experience to log. We were all new once, and it's good to help a new diver get some bottom time.

 

[pafindr]

I don't mind it at all.
I frequently do beach dives with new divers that are about max 20' for about a hour.
Sometimes I do the dives on my own to just to get in the water.

 

[Peter_C]

I did one last year with a newbie that lasted 17 minutes on an AL80 before they hit 500 psi in 25' of water. Most of my dive was spent hoovering, and working on back kicks to stay facing them as they floundered around. *shrug*

The next dive with them lasted almost 30 minutes on an HP130. They forgot to keep track of the turn pressure and we turned the dive in 38' of water a little later than discussed on the surface, and headed into shallower water of around 20'. There we performed drills until I noticed they were staring at their gauge. I grabbed it and noticed it said 0000. We performed a very relaxed air share, and headed to the surface. Turns out the computer held back 500 psi.

I could care less how much of a tank I use, as long as I have enough tanks with me for the weekend.