How to Avoid "Guided" Dives? I don't need/want my hand held.

[Sam Miller III]

@Dogbowl
posted:
First, you refer to beginners as moronic.

Then, you call those who called you out as having gotten their panties in a wad.

I suspect if you tone down your arrogance your pictures would look a lot prettier.
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Another Canadian (Eh? )
Telling it like it is...
Another new Canadian heroine !

Sam Miller, 111

 

[kelemvor]

I don’t want to have to fin like **** to keep a guide in sight.

This. It's pretty much the only reason I prefer diving without a DM/guide. Inevitably someone will be way ahead, and someone will be way behind. At some point you've got to regroup, and it's always a bit of a hassle and waste of gas.

I do kind of like having a dm show us stuff as I don't notice stuff as well as I'd like. It's not worth the tradeoff of having to swim hard to regroup.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

This. It's pretty much the only reason I prefer diving without a DM/guide. Inevitably someone will be way ahead, and someone will be way behind. At some point you've got to regroup, and it's always a bit of a hassle and waste of gas.

I do kind of like having a dm show us stuff as I don't notice stuff as well as I'd like. It's not worth the tradeoff of having to swim hard to regroup.

I will say this for most of the DMs in Cozumel. They generally tend to know where the critters are.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

I've been on some guided dives where it was quite possible to take good photos. E.g., 5 divers on the boat, one guide, and that guide is guiding specifically for photography. The divers if not experienced at least tend to spread out. (This was in HI, Maui specifically.) I've also been on boats in Maui that were like cattle cars. Eight or ten divers to a guide, follow the leader, don't lag, and the leader was a brand-new DM.)

On the other hand, I dove up in BC with Sea Dragon Charters, got an insta-buddy (who themselves was a SCUBA instructor) and we got tossed in and told to come up when we were low on air. Three other divers on board, another instructor and two relatively experienced students getting drysuit checkouts.

Ask ahead how things go. A guided dive might not be too bad, if the boat has small groups and caters to photographers.

 

[avengedkevinfold]

@boudlerjohn, thanks so much for your advice, I found a couple dive outfits that will meet my needs.

 

[Dogbowl]

@Dogbowl
posted:
First, you refer to beginners as moronic.

Then, you call those who called you out as having gotten their panties in a wad.

I suspect if you tone down your arrogance your pictures would look a lot prettier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another Canadian (Eh? )
Telling it like it is...
Another new Canadian heroine !

Sam Miller, 111

Awww shucks

@Sam Miller III , I see you have a soft spot for Canadian women. I see why you married your lovely wife!

 

[Sam Miller III]

Yep ! A Canadian wife...attractive red head, very intelligent and well educated

I consider my self fortunate
SDM

 

[StefinSB]

First, you refer to beginners as moronic.

Then, you call those who called you out as having gotten their panties in a bunch.

I suspect if you tone down your arrogance your pictures would look a lot prettier.

^ This.

 

[CathyE]

Hey guys, I just updated my profile. It's been too long since I've been on scubaboard... I'm sure many of you think I'm a novice myself but wanted to let you guys decide. Check out my photos, if you think they're junk, please tell me what I can do to improve. Maybe you have some advice for me to learn from because it seems that many of you are experts. http://www.darkroomtreasures.com

Sorry, not wearing panties.
I'm sure your pics are nice. No advice though, I just follow the photographer.

My thoughts are they should be two separate classes. There are beginners....then there are "moronic" beginners. And I'm sure we've all seen them. Those divers who are clumsy, uncoordinated, constantly silting up the vis, crashing into the reef for lack of buoyancy control, looking like they're swimming rather than diving......those divers that you just watch and wonder how in the hell they ever got a c-card in the first place. I can understand a DM/guide groping together for a first dive maybe, but after watching and paying attention, it wouldn't be out of line to pair better divers with better divers and maybe keep the "moronic beginners" right by their side to ensure everyone is having an enjoyable (and environmentally friendly) dive.

This type of diver is not limited to beginners. I have watched and cringed as divers who have made 100's of dives behave this way. I just feel that using a term like 'moronic' to describe anyone is unnecessary.

@avengedkevinfold , I was serious about booking your own boat. It is more expensive, but totally worth it. I have done this, booked with a concierge shop. We choose the sites, dive at our own pace. The dive master generally follows us, looking for stuff and, since we are more focused pretty corals and fishes, navigates us back to the boat. Some dives the mooring line never got out of sight. No one bumps into you or screws up your shots.

 

[avengedkevinfold]

Sorry, not wearing panties.
I'm sure your pics are nice. No advice though, I just follow the photographer.




This type of diver is not limited to beginners. I have watched and cringed as divers who have made 100's of dives behave this way. I just feel that using a term like 'moronic' to describe anyone is unnecessary.

@avengedkevinfold , I was serious about booking your own boat. It is more expensive, but totally worth it. I have done this, booked with a concierge shop. We choose the sites, dive at our own pace. The dive master generally follows us, looking for stuff and, since we are more focused pretty corals and fishes, navigates us back to the boat. Some dives the mooring line never got out of sight. No one bumps into you or screws up your shots.

You're right! It's likely that I'm assuming the moronic divers are in fact beginners. They could very well be seasoned divers. Maybe even one of you in this thread! Maybe me! haha.

I need to adjust my position. I don't like diving with moronic people who destroy the reef and my experience.