You know, I think part of the differences in the opinions on topics like this lies in the vast spectrum of experience represented by the posters.
I remember going to Hawaii when I had about 14 dives. We booked a "boat diving" specialty, figuring it would be a good way to get another specialty under our belts, since we were going out on a boat anyway. Because of this, we had our own guide, and he was an instructor. He took me to 130 feet to see the shark condos, and I followed him, because at that point, all but one or two of my lifetime dives had been obediently following an instructor and doing as I was told. I would not do that dive today, but I didn't know enough not to do it then, and I do shake my head NOW at the instructor who thought that was a good idea. As a 14-dive diver, I would have been angry if someone had told me the instructor did something unwise or unsafe -- angry at HIM, because at that point in my career, I thought professionals were there to "take care" of me. After all, they took me underwater when I knew nothing!
In the middle ground, once I learned a bit more, I would be upset with the diver who blamed the guide, because we should all be responsible for our own diving. Although some things are learned with time, certainly we WERE told as open water students not to go into overhead environments, although certainly very little time was spent on that. So the diver should know not to do that, even if a pro is telling him it's okay. It's still hard to relinquish the sense that the DM, instructor or guide is operating to some extent in a "guardian" capacity.
Nowadays, with professional training and experience of my own, I blame both. The diver should know not to exceed his limits, and the professional should know better than to encourage him to do it -- especially knowing how novices are likely to cede decision-making responsibility to their leaders.
I remember going to Hawaii when I had about 14 dives. We booked a "boat diving" specialty, figuring it would be a good way to get another specialty under our belts, since we were going out on a boat anyway. Because of this, we had our own guide, and he was an instructor. He took me to 130 feet to see the shark condos, and I followed him, because at that point, all but one or two of my lifetime dives had been obediently following an instructor and doing as I was told. I would not do that dive today, but I didn't know enough not to do it then, and I do shake my head NOW at the instructor who thought that was a good idea. As a 14-dive diver, I would have been angry if someone had told me the instructor did something unwise or unsafe -- angry at HIM, because at that point in my career, I thought professionals were there to "take care" of me. After all, they took me underwater when I knew nothing!
In the middle ground, once I learned a bit more, I would be upset with the diver who blamed the guide, because we should all be responsible for our own diving. Although some things are learned with time, certainly we WERE told as open water students not to go into overhead environments, although certainly very little time was spent on that. So the diver should know not to do that, even if a pro is telling him it's okay. It's still hard to relinquish the sense that the DM, instructor or guide is operating to some extent in a "guardian" capacity.
Nowadays, with professional training and experience of my own, I blame both. The diver should know not to exceed his limits, and the professional should know better than to encourage him to do it -- especially knowing how novices are likely to cede decision-making responsibility to their leaders.
