Zept
Contributor
Wijbrandus said...
Are you saying that as a rookie diver, I shouldn't go out on a trip? I should just stay on the cruise boat, and not get wet?
Seems to me this is the only way I'll get the experience I need to meet the standard you want in a dive buddy.
Wijbrandus, I have done loads of dives with strangers. Some of them were great to dive with and became regular buddies. Some of them weren't so great, but that's the way it goes. Overall I've learnt a lot from being exposed to all sorts of different ideas and diving styles. I used to envy people who learnt to dive with their SO and always had a buddy standing by, but now I wouldn't trade my experiences for theirs.
One tip: if you are buddied with a diver who has more experience, don't keep apologising for being a newbie. Once or twice is fine... after that, bite your tongue and enjoy the dive!
Z