I just want to vent a bit about an experience I had while on a "6-pack" in Florida last week...
It was your basic 2 tank reef dive off a boat. At the divesite I was buddied up with a guy by the captain. The captain also explained that if one in a buddy pair decides to go up its ok for the buddy to stay in the water - Essentially two solo-divers towing a portable up-line. I was ok with that, so was my buddy...anyway:
As we jump in the water the DM and his student (after some trouble) descend. The DM immediatly starts swimming against the current leaving his student struggling to keep up about 9ft behind. My solo-buddy takes about 3mins of this before he aborts to the surface.
The DM looks as if he´s trying to do a workout & diveguide-combo because he wont stop finning. As I´m now solo I decide to stick with the DM/student figuring that a little exercise wont kill me and that I´d better keep an eye on the student (the DM is to busy swimming laps or whatever).
Not long after my "buddy" aborted the dive the student starts slowly floating to the surface. I get the DM´s attention (screaming thru my reg) and he slows to take care of the "problem". He swims up to the student, deflates her BC and seems to make a sign that means "dont touch that inflator until I tell you to". He hangs with her for a second or two, askes her ok? she responds ok (handsignals) but even to me, about 9ft away and below its obvious she´s stressed.
At this point I´m seriously considering stepping in but as he´s a DM and she´s his student, I´m not part of their team and she just signed ok I feel it isnt my place...
After the handsignals the DM seems to be trying to make up for lost time by finning harder...still going against the current for some reason (maybe wants more resistance or wants her to use up her air quickly). Now he´s holding her hand, dragging her along. After a while he lets go of her (trying to get a fullbody workout by using his arms as well). It doesent take long before the student starts floating up again, this time he´s close to her and notices on his own, only now they both float up...all the way to the surface (only from about 50 feet but still).
After a short interaction on the surface (I can´t hear as I´m watching from below) they descend again. This time the DM seems to be determined not to lose her again as hes gripping her elbow while they fin along, a bit slower as well. After a total of 20mins in water they both ascend because they are running low on air. I stay and watch them surface to the safetystop and suddenly my solo-buddy joins me and we spend another 20 mins diving the reef, just floating with the current.
By the time we ascend the DM and student have been on the boat, changed tanks and jumped back in, where they stay during my entire SI (only ½hour but still).
Is it just me or is this DM a real *^¤)=/&?!
It was your basic 2 tank reef dive off a boat. At the divesite I was buddied up with a guy by the captain. The captain also explained that if one in a buddy pair decides to go up its ok for the buddy to stay in the water - Essentially two solo-divers towing a portable up-line. I was ok with that, so was my buddy...anyway:
As we jump in the water the DM and his student (after some trouble) descend. The DM immediatly starts swimming against the current leaving his student struggling to keep up about 9ft behind. My solo-buddy takes about 3mins of this before he aborts to the surface.
The DM looks as if he´s trying to do a workout & diveguide-combo because he wont stop finning. As I´m now solo I decide to stick with the DM/student figuring that a little exercise wont kill me and that I´d better keep an eye on the student (the DM is to busy swimming laps or whatever).
Not long after my "buddy" aborted the dive the student starts slowly floating to the surface. I get the DM´s attention (screaming thru my reg) and he slows to take care of the "problem". He swims up to the student, deflates her BC and seems to make a sign that means "dont touch that inflator until I tell you to". He hangs with her for a second or two, askes her ok? she responds ok (handsignals) but even to me, about 9ft away and below its obvious she´s stressed.
At this point I´m seriously considering stepping in but as he´s a DM and she´s his student, I´m not part of their team and she just signed ok I feel it isnt my place...
After the handsignals the DM seems to be trying to make up for lost time by finning harder...still going against the current for some reason (maybe wants more resistance or wants her to use up her air quickly). Now he´s holding her hand, dragging her along. After a while he lets go of her (trying to get a fullbody workout by using his arms as well). It doesent take long before the student starts floating up again, this time he´s close to her and notices on his own, only now they both float up...all the way to the surface (only from about 50 feet but still).
After a short interaction on the surface (I can´t hear as I´m watching from below) they descend again. This time the DM seems to be determined not to lose her again as hes gripping her elbow while they fin along, a bit slower as well. After a total of 20mins in water they both ascend because they are running low on air. I stay and watch them surface to the safetystop and suddenly my solo-buddy joins me and we spend another 20 mins diving the reef, just floating with the current.
By the time we ascend the DM and student have been on the boat, changed tanks and jumped back in, where they stay during my entire SI (only ½hour but still).
Is it just me or is this DM a real *^¤)=/&?!