No, I say that surfacing with a minimum reserve of air is being a safe and conscientious diver. The reserve is there for a purpose. That reserve may save your life or mine.
200psi?!!
I fart more than that after a decent curry.
No again, but I follow the local laws in this country which states clearly that solo diving is not allowed.
Somehow I doubt that you'd be happy diving here with me. If you sign up for a normal 2-tank dive with me, the schedule is there for crew and me to return to the island to have lunch before going out again in the afternoon. If you were to rent your own boat, then you're free to make your own schedule as long as you abide by local law.
There are a few dedicated diving islands in the Maldives but the majority are Spa Resorts with the option for diving. I would suggest you would have a better time on a safari boat, however unfortunately they also run to a schedule. With a decent group of like-minded friends, you could probably get a good deal on a charter in low season and have a blast.
If you were looking to be island based, in the long run it'd be better to rent your own boat, and have a dry DM (another Maldivian law)
http://www.agoffice.gov.mv/pdf/subrege/Diving.pdf
Section 2: Supervision of Diving Activities
(1) All diving activities, both land and boat based, must be supervised by Dive Centre Staff either
directly or indirectly. If a Dive Centre Staff is found to be negligent in supervision, the Dive
Centre Staff and the Dive Centre will be subject to appropriate action as deemed fit by the
government authorities.
My friend a few months ago got a free ride to the chamber and then to Sri Lanka for a PFO check (negative) after 2 dives with an ultra-conservative computer. Another last year couldn't walk properly and found out he was bent in his ear- again nothing wrong on his computer.
Dive operators are conservative by nature as people do have accidents. I have been a diving instructor for 6 years or so. In that time I have been subjected to tens of thousands of dives. That number consists not only of my dives but those of my co-workers. We see accidents and we see 'unjustified' DCS.
FYI, the typical diving workday for DMs/Instrs 'livin the dream' is between 10 and 12 hrs. I expect my staff to have time for a decent lunch for their own safety and sanity, and of course to keep a smile on their face while they are trying their hardest to be "customer experience orientated".
For those divers- and there seems to be a large number of them in this thread- who do not want to dive with groups and thus be confined in to schedules etc., go private. Hire a boat, crew, tank and weights and have fun. Frankly for experienced divers I think this is the way to go.