Okay I have been lurking here for a while and have a question for some of the experienced divers on the board.
Little background. I am an AOW certified diver, the only other certifications I have are nitrox cert. I have logged about 50 dives mostly in the carribean.
Here is the question, I do not have a regular diving buddy as most of my friends do not dive. The problem is I have never really dove with a buddy that I have felt 100% comfortable with. I consider myself a reasonable conservative diver. I always plan my dive, discuss it with whomever I am diving with and stick to the plan. My deepest dive to date is 95'. I guess my question is is this unusual for someone in my situation. I have dove with some very experienced divers and I have dove with people who once we hit the water I could barely call a buddy.
I plan to significantly increase my diving over the next 6 months by spending some quality time in local quarries gaining experience, becoming rescue diver certified and taking a few extra dive trips. I consider myself a very alert diver. I have had some minor situations occur with people I have dove with and I have always remained calm, remembered my training and kept the situation under control. I guess the problem is I am comfortable with my abilities but have never been 100% at ease with the people I dive with. I always seem to find myself spending time on my dives keeping track of the buddy I am diving with even though that buddy may have significantly more logged dives than myself
An important note, I am excluding the dive master that certified me. I would consider him to be a very competent and experienced diver, problem is I have only buddied with him on 2 dives (not counting my certification dives).
Little background. I am an AOW certified diver, the only other certifications I have are nitrox cert. I have logged about 50 dives mostly in the carribean.
Here is the question, I do not have a regular diving buddy as most of my friends do not dive. The problem is I have never really dove with a buddy that I have felt 100% comfortable with. I consider myself a reasonable conservative diver. I always plan my dive, discuss it with whomever I am diving with and stick to the plan. My deepest dive to date is 95'. I guess my question is is this unusual for someone in my situation. I have dove with some very experienced divers and I have dove with people who once we hit the water I could barely call a buddy.
I plan to significantly increase my diving over the next 6 months by spending some quality time in local quarries gaining experience, becoming rescue diver certified and taking a few extra dive trips. I consider myself a very alert diver. I have had some minor situations occur with people I have dove with and I have always remained calm, remembered my training and kept the situation under control. I guess the problem is I am comfortable with my abilities but have never been 100% at ease with the people I dive with. I always seem to find myself spending time on my dives keeping track of the buddy I am diving with even though that buddy may have significantly more logged dives than myself
An important note, I am excluding the dive master that certified me. I would consider him to be a very competent and experienced diver, problem is I have only buddied with him on 2 dives (not counting my certification dives).