So it's fairly common that when I'm on vacation, I'm the most experienced diver second to the guide. Even if someone is there who has more dives, they usually let me fall into the pit due to my instructor level.
This means I'm last in line through caverns, I'm last in the water, last onto the boat, and occasionally am asked to surface with other divers who are low on air when I'm planning on surfacing with more than the guide.
I don't mind any of this 99.99% of the time.
I also shoot photos and videos and know that we have a bad reputation for getting in the way of all the cool marine life. But since I'm the most experienced diver and am last in line, I can't really dominate the marine life.
In fact, since I'm last in line, silt is kicked up more, the halocline is stirred up more, and the marine life has been scared away.
I get to dive enough that this doesn't really bother me, but some times being last gets old.
What does anybody else do? Do you just deal with being last or do you lie about experience so you're not the most experienced?
As a dive professional, I don't mind being the courteous guy who says, "Oh no, after you" and I understand the logistics of having the most experienced person bring up the rear, but I'd like to see the cool stuff too
This means I'm last in line through caverns, I'm last in the water, last onto the boat, and occasionally am asked to surface with other divers who are low on air when I'm planning on surfacing with more than the guide.
I don't mind any of this 99.99% of the time.
I also shoot photos and videos and know that we have a bad reputation for getting in the way of all the cool marine life. But since I'm the most experienced diver and am last in line, I can't really dominate the marine life.
In fact, since I'm last in line, silt is kicked up more, the halocline is stirred up more, and the marine life has been scared away.
I get to dive enough that this doesn't really bother me, but some times being last gets old.
What does anybody else do? Do you just deal with being last or do you lie about experience so you're not the most experienced?
As a dive professional, I don't mind being the courteous guy who says, "Oh no, after you" and I understand the logistics of having the most experienced person bring up the rear, but I'd like to see the cool stuff too