I'm hoping for some collective wisdom re what is the appropriate course of action in this situation:
I'm an inexperienced AOW certified diver ("advanced" doesn't really mean advanced does it!). On a recent dive trip, travelling solo, I'm buddied up with a woman who is obviously a very experienced diver with her own fancy equipment. The dive is done as a group of 4 divers (2 buddy pairs), led by a DM, with a TDM at the rear of the group. There is a thorough dive briefing in advance, including review of hand signals and responding to them, sticking close to your buddy, buddy separation procedures, following the group, all go up together etc. It is a fairly deep site (over 25m) and there is a bit of current.
Prior to the dive I try to communicate with my buddy and tell her that I'm not very fast underwater and also that I descend fairly slowly as otherwise I tend to have equalisation problems. That is acknowledged (or so I think). We do a buddy check, although she's determined to rush through it and then complain that people are taking too long to get in the water.
We go in and descend. My buddy shoots for the bottom like she's emulating an anchor. The rest of the group, including myself, are descending slowly, especially as one person (not me) is having equalisation issues. Once we reach designated depth, the DM signals for me and my buddy to get together and we do... for about 10 seconds after which she swims off. Throughout the dive, she is intent on getting as far away from the dive group as possible (although within sight - the vis was very good). When I try to swim up closer to her, she takes off again. She's a lot faster than me, I can't keep up with her and she seems intent on being by herself. She's not responding to hand signals either from me or from DM, including instructions to get back with her buddy.
There's a a current and I don't feel safe playing chasey with my buddy 25m underwater when she's determined to get away. I get the DM's attention to let him know that my buddy is swimming off (again) and I can't keep following her and then I stick with the group. She ignores the DM's instructions to get back to the group. Personally I'm feeling quite safe with the group - it is very well supervised, my air is good (I check air every couple of minutes and tend to use less air than most people anyway), so I'm not concerned for myself, but am a bit frustrated and unsure of what to do re my buddy. I do try to keep an eye on her and she looks perfectly comfortable, but she is deliberately keeping her distance. Within sight (the vis is very good), but probably not within the "get some air NOW" distance (taking into account the current).
What are my obligations as a buddy in a situation like this? Do I keep trying to chase the buddy? Do I bring it to the DM's attention and then follow the course I think is safest for me (which was to stay with a well supervised group) but which means my buddy is swimming off by herself and may be too far if she has a problem? Does that depend on how much experience/skill I have? (not much at the moment, but am working on it).
I'm an inexperienced AOW certified diver ("advanced" doesn't really mean advanced does it!). On a recent dive trip, travelling solo, I'm buddied up with a woman who is obviously a very experienced diver with her own fancy equipment. The dive is done as a group of 4 divers (2 buddy pairs), led by a DM, with a TDM at the rear of the group. There is a thorough dive briefing in advance, including review of hand signals and responding to them, sticking close to your buddy, buddy separation procedures, following the group, all go up together etc. It is a fairly deep site (over 25m) and there is a bit of current.
Prior to the dive I try to communicate with my buddy and tell her that I'm not very fast underwater and also that I descend fairly slowly as otherwise I tend to have equalisation problems. That is acknowledged (or so I think). We do a buddy check, although she's determined to rush through it and then complain that people are taking too long to get in the water.
We go in and descend. My buddy shoots for the bottom like she's emulating an anchor. The rest of the group, including myself, are descending slowly, especially as one person (not me) is having equalisation issues. Once we reach designated depth, the DM signals for me and my buddy to get together and we do... for about 10 seconds after which she swims off. Throughout the dive, she is intent on getting as far away from the dive group as possible (although within sight - the vis was very good). When I try to swim up closer to her, she takes off again. She's a lot faster than me, I can't keep up with her and she seems intent on being by herself. She's not responding to hand signals either from me or from DM, including instructions to get back with her buddy.
There's a a current and I don't feel safe playing chasey with my buddy 25m underwater when she's determined to get away. I get the DM's attention to let him know that my buddy is swimming off (again) and I can't keep following her and then I stick with the group. She ignores the DM's instructions to get back to the group. Personally I'm feeling quite safe with the group - it is very well supervised, my air is good (I check air every couple of minutes and tend to use less air than most people anyway), so I'm not concerned for myself, but am a bit frustrated and unsure of what to do re my buddy. I do try to keep an eye on her and she looks perfectly comfortable, but she is deliberately keeping her distance. Within sight (the vis is very good), but probably not within the "get some air NOW" distance (taking into account the current).
What are my obligations as a buddy in a situation like this? Do I keep trying to chase the buddy? Do I bring it to the DM's attention and then follow the course I think is safest for me (which was to stay with a well supervised group) but which means my buddy is swimming off by herself and may be too far if she has a problem? Does that depend on how much experience/skill I have? (not much at the moment, but am working on it).