Spin Off: Do you refuse to dive with a DM/quide in a new location?

[Walter]

Dive guides have their value ... they know the site, and know how to find the cool stuff that, often, a casual visitor will overlook.

On every dive there are things you see and things you miss. You cannot see it all. When the rest of the group follows the guide, they often say something like, "You should have gone with us, the DM showed us a Seahorse." My reply, "Very nice, did you see the Caribbean Reef Shark?" On every dive, I'll see things you miss and you'll see things I miss, even when we are diving together. I'm not as keen to see the things the DM wants to point out as he is to point them out. A French Angel is beautiful, but I don't need a guide to point them out, I've seen thousands. I'd much rather relax and enjoy the dive with my buddy at our pace, go where we want to go, follow up on what catches our attention than to follow a baby sitter who want to show me Sanddivers, Seahorses and Angelfish while missing the cool Hamlets and Brittlestars.

 

[Boxcar Overkill]

That's what the recall system is for. It's not like you are diving 1/2 a mile away. You are still on the same dive site. A diver recall would be heard by everyone in the area assuming they know what they are hearing.

This is the way we dive in many places in the US, to include Alaska, Florida, and Hawaii. It's not dangerous. It's common practice. I'm shocked that you only seem to be familiar with hand holding dives.

Sorry, I've never dived outside of these little islands. That means guided dives out on the reefs, and guide-less when my friends and I do the wrecks.

There's no recall system used here, that I'm aware of. Nor would a helicopter come get anyone out on the reefs. I don't think another boat in the area could be contacted to come and get floating divers because the only other boats in the area would be waiting on their divers who are also underwater.

So maybe things are different in the U.S., I've never dived there. Is the recall system any good? Have you personally experienced it, such that you know how far from the boat you can be and still get the signal?

 

[Walter]

A recall signal can be underwater speakers connected to a mike through which the captain tells the divers to return to the boat or it can simply be revving the engine or hitting the ladder with a lead weight. As long as the divers understand the system it will work. Sound travels very nicely underwater. I've heard simple sytems in use as well as fancy ones, they are all very effective.

 

[String]

Found revving engine particularly useless if wearing a hood and deep. Plus in areas with lots of other boat traffic.
Here as well 100% of dive boats are "live" so the engines are running all the time and its impossible to pick out an engine rev from someone simply accelerating, trying to start and so on.

Ladder banging again, depth, hood and distance makes it very hard move than 50m away.

Thunderflash DO work but they're rare to see (as long as you're careful where you drop them).

 

[Gilldiver]

Just remember, the Dive Master may be evaluating you, but you should also be evaluating them as well.

 

[sea nmf]

I try to follow the rules. That being said, my buddy team lags behind the group quite a bit, as we go slow.

Many charters have schedules to keep. That is why they set time limits. They also don't want to have to corral everyone. I see their point from a business point of view. I don't like it, but I'll stay within sight, usually. But I will be waaayyy behind the group.

 

[BabyDuck]

i didn't vote, so here's my reply -

i'd be thrilled to dive with a dm/guide who was showing me stuff while letting me do my thing in a new place.

i'd be insulted if i felt they were insisting on running my dive for me or making me hold their hand, and that would be reeeeeally hard for me to take - i'd be very angry.

 

[RJP]

Ladder banging again, depth, hood and distance makes it very hard move than 50m away.

Also problematic in anyplace other than nice, calm water, since the ladder is typically banging most of the time!

 

[RikRaeder]

I've noticed that most guides don't exactly attach a three meter tether to the divers in their group. If you stay in the vicinity for a couple of dives and let them see that you are able (if indeed you are), you don't have to put your nose up their bum on the subsequent dives (I mean follow too closely). I find that as long as I'm within sight, with my buddy, and can see them if they signal me I get plenty of leeway. Of course I usually dive in 40m, 50m, or sometimes even greater visability, so that's a pretty long "leash." As others have stated, not my boat...not my rules.
If I swim off and get myself killed, it's the charter company that is going to be attacked by a pack of lawyers. Also, a good DM who takes their job seriously will accept responsibility for the divers in their charge, so why stress the DM out by disappearing. Seems rather juvenile to me. You're off enjoying your dive, and the DM is freaked because some of their group has disappeared. If you can make arrangements with the guide or company before, why not? Just to disappear on the dive; very selfish.
Were I to come to your place of business, or to your home and simply do things my way which possibly opened you up to legal liability, stress, and was just contrary to what you wanted would that be cool?

 

[Alex777]

I realize that this makes me a selfish a**hole, but I expect to just hop in the water and do my dive, my way. A big part of diving a site is the fun of going new places, finding a new swim-thru, etc. The last thing I want to do is follow someone else around. Hopefully, I will have acquired a buddy who shares my attitude but, if not, there's always my trusty pony bottle ...

I would never "just disappear" on the dive. I only go with dive ops who let you do your own thing, and I make that clear in advance.