How to improve when hard to find dive buddies?

[Seastardiver625]

Hey guys,

I'm a new diver in FL with only about 9 dives under my belt. I am a little nervous still and want to build my skills and comfort level slowly (it's been 6mos since my last dive) but it's hard to find local dive buddies who want to do shallow diving with me. All the dive trips through local dive shops have been 80-120ft dives and I am not ready for that.

Pretty much all the folks I have met through my local dive shop are all advanced divers. It's been hard to meet fellow divers to buddy up with who are willing to do some shallow dives (40-50ft). How do you improve and get more comfortable diving when you can't find buddies to dive with. Feeling out of practice because I haven't been able to find someone to buddy up with. I have a friend who lives several hours away who is going through the same thing. We are going to try and dive together sometime but it most likely won't be often because of the distance and or schedules.

Any advice is helpful!

 

[oly5050user]

Take an advance class, speciality class. Network with people in class.

 

[Marie13]

Look for dive buddies here on SB. Hire a DM to go with you on a dive. Ask for dive buddies at your dive shop. Can your instructors put you in touch with other newbies? Try to do some pool work, too. Piggyback on an OW or something. Check with your LDS. I've only got 9 dives myself and still somewhat nervous. I'm spending a lot of time on pool dives this winter and it's making a difference already (some with buddies, some with instructor).

 

[Seastardiver625]

Look for dive buddies here on SB. Hire a DM to go with you on a dive. Ask for dive buddies at your dive shop. Can your instructors put you in touch with other newbies? Try to do some pool work, too. Piggyback on an OW or something. Check with your LDS. I've only got 9 dives myself and still somewhat nervous. I'm spending a lot of time on pool dives this winter and it's making a difference already (some with buddies, some with instructor).

Love these ideas! Thank you!!!!!

 

[Seastardiver625]

Take an advance class, speciality class. Network with people in class.

I am going to see if there are any advanced classes with instructors that will go slower with me. I might even retake the OW class at another dive center and see if my comfort level will improve.

 

[KevinNM]

Peak Perfomance Boyancy is a great class when taught by someone who has great boyancy and trim themselves. If they don't it's a terrible waste of your time.

 

[TMHeimer]

I've found 2-3 buddies from using the subforums for the areas. But it can be hard. I don't like solo diving below 30' and don't recommend it to anyone, much less new divers. But you can work on skills in a pool or in very shallow water by yourself--hey, you're "not supposed" to swim or snorkel alone either. Taking courses is another good idea mentioned. It is IMO a good idea to re-study the material from OW course and any course you may take, as I continue to do this.

 

[diversteve]

Specifically (city) where do you live? Someone on the board probably has local options to share.

If you're anywhere near West Palm/Riviera Beach - here's a good option to start - it's shallow, more interesting than you'd believe and they teach a lot of classes there since it's protected. Also a lot of divers go there regularly. I believe - but do not know for certain - that it's too shallow to teach Advanced there so might be the shallow spot you're looking for to practice at. Also @Scuba_Jenny finds the most interesting stuff there and posts photos here. She guides in that area as well.

Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III
Blue Heron Bridge Dive Club | Facebook

Also post in our Florida forum instead of here in Basic. Florida Diving

Some of these groups are more active than others so look for one in your area:
Florida Dive Clubs and Groups

 

[Diver0001]

A lot of dive shops organize dive days for customers. Some of them will have an agenda on line. It's usually not free but it's a great way to get to know new people and there's a good chance that other people going to such events will be looking for buddies too. That's what I've done in the past to get connected to new buddies when I've moved somewhere new.

R..

 

[GreggS]

Join Dive Buddy. There are a lot of divers in Florida and I'm sure you could find a few close to you. There is a Scuba Earth feature that will show you all the members, dive shops, dive sites, etc. within a specified distance of you. I've met and dove with several divers here in NC using that site.