Another opinion: To buddy or not to buddy

[MaxBottomtime]

I would try not to alienate him, because you should probably dive with others for awhile. After a number of dives you will likely come to the conclusion that your LDS ripped you off for expensive gear you don't need. You will sell your BC, computer and Airsource on Ebay, buy a backplate and wing and then call up your old buddy. You can then give him grief over his console.

 

[Steve_C]

This guy is illogical, dogmatic, and pompous.

"Should dive AL80 instead of steel because that is what you do on vacation"

By his reasoning you should "Dive a 3mm instead of a 7mm since that is what you do on vacation."

At this point I have dove at least 3 different tanks on vacations in warm areas (Florida Keys) including ALs, High density aluminums, Low pressure steels depending on the operator.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The only thing I'd have an issue with is the integrated inflator. But once I pulled 5 or 6 OOA's on you with zero notice and you responded ok we'd be good. Would not be acceptable in my Advanced classes though. Some of the drills would require a standard octo.

 

[Skittl1321]

Would not be acceptable in my Advanced classes though. Some of the drills would require a standard octo.

Does this mean you also wouldn't accept back-up on necklace/primary donate with long hose? (Just looking into gear, so wondering what opinions are out there. I'm probably going to stick with rental for awhile, but this seems to be the set up all the DMs and Instructors at our shop dive)

 

[crosshairs]

The only thing I'd have an issue with is the integrated inflator. But once I pulled 5 or 6 OOA's on you with zero notice and you responded ok we'd be good. Would not be acceptable in my Advanced classes though. Some of the drills would require a standard octo.

Why would you want to train someone with a standard octo, if you know they are going to be diving an air 2?

would it not be more prudent to train them with the gear you know they are going to dive with?

 

[3D diver]

You have to be comfortable with your equipment...and your buddy. I, personally, would look for someone else to dive with under the circumstances you describe.

 

[drrich2]

So if I understand correctly, you're pretty new to diving with 15 dives, you're in California and I'm guessing interested in (shore?) diving locally, and you've got a dry suit & some sort of Air2.

I've never shore dove in California. I do use an Air2, and I prefer steel tanks for offering me more air. If I were in California talking with you guys about going on a shore dive as a trio, and hearing what you've said to each other, I think I'd comment like this:

1.) I use an Air2, but my primary reg. (an Atomic B2, hoses as they came from the factory) has a fairly short hose between 1'rst & 2'nd stage. So if I donate you my primary in an OOA, we're going to face-to-face, real close. If we were planning to shore dive somewhere with substantial waves & surge that make exiting something of a challenge, a traditional octo. might offer an edge (of course, the tec. inspired people with long hose setups, donate your primary, would have it even better, but I have no experience with that).

2.) I've never even worn a dry suit. I know they introduce a 'new' airspace to deal with and can complicate buoyancy management and until you get it down. Adds a bit of task loading, I'm thinking. You've only got 15 dives. You might be quite proficient with a dry suit, please take no offense, but I'd at least be somewhat worried.

I could argue with some of his other input, but others here have already done that effectively, so why beat a dead horse?

Is this guy really trying to dictate terms, or is he just a Type A personality who's unconsciously more forceful/overbearing with his opinions than he ought to be, and trying to 'help you for your own good?'

The former I'd probably avoid, but the latter you might could work with. But you may have to exercise polite assertiveness, since it sounds like he'll tell you what to do if you let him.

Richard.

 

[WVRICK]

I have thought about your question and I have to say I would not alienate your friend but I also would not dive with him. You are looking for a relaxing time, not drama so find someone who is more of a match to your personality. Control freaks are too hard to deal with on a regular basis and I really wouldn't want to depend on one as my back up for safety.

 

[TSandM]

I read the original post and thought, "My goodness, and people think the DIR folks are dogmatic . . . !"

I looked at your list of gear. Most of it is stuff I wouldn't have bought, but it's all functional, as long as you know how to use it. There's nothing there that screams "unsafe" or "totally inappropriate for diving conditions". In fact, I personally wouldn't EVER advise someone out of a dry suit or steel tanks in Southern California. Total weight to take into the water is always an issue in the eastern Pacific, and aluminum tanks are pernicious. (I believe it's Spectrum on this board who has an essay on the evils of the Al80.) And although you can certainly dive wet in SoCal, I've noticed, on the boat trips I've done down there, that the wetsuit divers get shorter dives and do fewer of them than those of us who are dry.

But whether or not his advice is good, the real question is whether he is right to take the stand he does. If you were to dive with me, I'd be fine with you in your own gear. I'd make sure I understood how you had it set up and how everything worked. Once we got to know each other a bit, I might ask you some questions about the "whys" of what you bought and how you put it together. I'd show you how my stuff worked, and explain why I have what I have. But I would never tell you you had to change something to dive with me, unless I felt it was really completely unsafe (can't, off the top of my head, come up with an example). I have done a lot of dives with newer divers who have appeared in all kinds of gear, and I never really say much about it unless they're using it incorrectly or it totally doesn't fit.

Funny thing is, a couple of years later, they almost always look like my regular dive buddies.

 

[MalibuJerry]

A couple of thoughts in his defense. If you are shore diving the AirSource is a POS. In CA you are going to get rolled in the sand now and again and invariably it will cause a problem. Sometimes with an octo as well, but they are more reliable in my experience. If you are new to your equipment, then he may just think you are going to be too task loaded. I have been out with divers who have had too much going on and once they get in the surf zone it can be a huge problem for their buddy. So if that is all there is to it, put on the 7mm, get an octo and an spg and go have fun. Once you have a little more experience, try out your AirSource or your drysuit on the beach dives and see if you like them. I dive a dry suit all the time in CA but I almost never use it for a shore dive.

But if he just wants you to be his bitch to his alpha male, he will not be a good buddy and you should find someone else.