FPDocMatt
Contributor
I use a DM at least for the first couple of dives when diving in an area that I am not familiar with so that I can get a better knowledge base of the local diving environment. A guided dive or two should give you some good tips as to where to dive, and more important, where not to dive.
Well that's reassuring to a newby like me, that someone who has more experience would use a dive guide.
I have friends that have dived for more than 5 years and still use a DM on every dive.
I think this makes sense if they only go on one or 2 dive trips a year. It's easy to forget anything without regular practice.