Almost certified...

[Nosnhoj]

I'll be completing my certification this month, just wondering how finding a 'buddy' works. If I go on vacation with the wife (who doesn't dive) do i have to hang around the scuba shop until someone of my 'level' shows up? I'll certainly be taking advantage of the dive trips offered at the LDS - but same thing, do i need to find a 'buddy' before hand?

Thanks

[rhwestfall]

likely options:

If you sign up for a charter - then you may have someone else who is single sign up with you, or you may be assigned another person, or you may end up with a DM.....

As to shore diving - you are likely needing to put the effort in, or through the LDS, there may be opportunities to find buddies.

A word of caution - remember your training when you are diving with someone new (or for that matter, any dive). Talk with them about the dive plan, and the necessary components of a good dive plan.... come to an agreement, and then execute.

[TSandM]

If you're signing up for trips through your LDS, there should be someone who is the organizer. Talk to that person, and tell him or her your level of experience and that you won't be bringing your own buddy. Most such trips will have a number of people "on their own" who are looking to pair up.

If you are a brand new diver and sign up for a charter boat trip without a buddy, you may run into resistance from others on the boat if they are asked to buddy with you. Although a lot of people are very generous about diving with new folks from shore, they may not be as happy about buddying up with someone whose dive is likely to be short, if they have paid a lot of money for the boat ride. In that case, you might be better off hiring a DM to dive with you -- again, this is often easy to do if you talk to the dive operator ahead of time.

[beaverdivers]

No, you don't need a buddy before hand. Go for it!

[Nosnhoj]

Thanks for the replies!

I will continue reading the threads here, and i'm sure i will find an answer to this question:

What is the best way to gain experience as a new diver without being an inconvenience...

But any advice is welcome!

[rhwestfall]

find a mentor...... that person is willing to "suffer' with you learning the ropes..... (actually will take satisfaction in your learning). Outside of that, the DM for hire is an option. sometimes its finding a buddy of similar status/experience, and proceeding (within your training) to expand your experiences.

[DivemasterDennis]

And remember, Nosnhoj, EVERY DIVER, including those who write here on scubaboard, was once a new diver. New divers are not an inconvenience on a recreational dive. Follow the suggestions above. You will find a buddy and by the end of a single day's diving you will have found a friend.
DivemasterDennis

[beaverdivers]

What is the best way to gain experience as a new diver without being an inconvenience...

Continuing Education and more time underwater with divers that are better than you!

[nolatom]

On a boat, tell the capt or Divemaster your situation, and experience level, typically they'll find you someone who is reasonably compatible, that was my experience.

Also, don't be a newbie-seeks-instabuddy on a difficult, exotic, or expensive dive, since the more experienced divers want the full "Cadillac" experience without air time or attention limits from a new diver. Choose instead a nice ordinary "Chevy" dive where their level of "pay-it-forward, it's-good-for-the-sport, hell I was a newbie once and kind people helped me"-type charity will be much higher. This will pretty much happen naturally since as a newbie you won't tend go be on those rare, expensive dive locations anyway, nor do you need that much challenge and thrill yet anyway.

Be honest, that's the main thing. Divers are more than willing to help someone who asks, but distrust someone who bull****s them.

[soltari675]

My best tactic so far is to go to a dive shop in the area, or call ahead if it is a vacation and just introduce myself. I tell them I am traveling to their area by myself, my experience in diving, and that I am looking to do some diving there. Ask them if they have suggestions or any organized trips. More often than not, they will give you a list of trips that they have get you a buddy for.

For your local LDS, tell them you just certified and are looking to do some diving, but you don't have a buddy. They will likely be happy to invite you to one of their local trips and highly likely that if you are polite and honest, divers will invite you to dive with them. If possible, try to get in with more experienced divers. Nothing wrong with new divers at all, but you will learn a ton diving with more experienced divers. My first diving weekend was with mostly dive masters and instructors and I learned so much not in the OW class. I loved it. I didn't go with them to be led, and they didn't treat me that way. But just watching them dive and asking occasional questions, I learned a lot.

Don't forget here on Scubaboard! Check out the boards for the area you will be diving in. Make a post introducing yourself, where you will be diving and ask nicely if anyone feels like joining you. I did that when I went to Florida and met some people that I consider good friends now. Looking forward to diving with them again. Scubaboard is a great resource for dive buddies.

Just be friendly and honest and you will have regular dive buddies pretty fast.