Thanks for the support and advice.
To be honest, I made a mistake that dive, too. It was my first time using a 15L tank (this was due to a terrible dive operation) and I didn't get a chance to do a bouyancy check with it, yet. I was grossly overweighted and ended up fin blasting the coral once to prevent from landing on it. However, the extra weight made it easier for me to grab and hold down the guy when he started to rocket up.
I also use way too much air. I have large lungs because I am a big guy (6'4") and have played the saxophone for the past 11 years. So, I still need to get some of my basic skills further undercontrol.
I have always been an avid naturalist (someone interested in nature, not someone who runs around a special community naked) and extremely concerned with safety (I go over emergency procedures and equipment checks on almost an OCD level. I was the only one in the group besides the DM with a sausage, whistle, mirror, and strobe), so the reckless and disregard for the enviroment just really really got to me. Also, I didn't mention before, the two guys were also swimming out of sight of the group and i got kicked in the face several times (had my mask flooded and my reg knocked out one time). I was furious. I was also upset that I paid $100 to watch these people destroy coral and do dangerous stuff (I realize I'm not a babysitter, but I can't stand by when someone has the potential of getting seriously injured.) It not only ruined my dive, but also put a damper on the rest of my day.
As for my training, I think my instructor was very, very good considering I got the license in 4 days (and comparing it to the other people I dived with). She very concerned with safetly and "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!". While it would have been nice to do our open water dives by swimming around looking at the fishies, we spent the entire first two dives, most of the third, and about half of the fourth doing drills and skills practice.
As for solo, I think I will start as soon as the water gets warm enough. There is a nice beach (no waves) with a nice little bay (about 100m wide at the mouth) and a steep dropoff that bottoms out at 8m. I know it very well because I spearfish in it. The area around has tons of fishing boats around if somehow I drift out, and it has a nice little post about shoulder deep that I can attach my reel to. My super tolerant girlfriend who will sit on the beach and relax while I putter around in the water. I think it will be a nice place to practice my skills and become adept in the water. While I would prefer to have a buddy, I can't find one in my area.
