markmud
Self Reliant Diver--On All Dives.
Hi @markmud
I'm very glad you had a good time at the SB Surge in Curacao, a very, very easy place to dive. DMs or guides do not dive for you, they dive for the entire group. The well being of the entire group easily overrides the desires of a single or buddy team of divers. On easy dives, it is almost always possible to dive as an independent diver or buddy team. In more challenging environments. it may be required that you dive as a group. Try diving in the Red Sea, Cocos, Galapagos, you will get what I mean. Sorry, I get this demand as very prima donnaish.
Hi Scubadada,
Context please. We are not talking about a dive in an area with demanding conditions. You are correct, in those situations a diver is part of a coordinated team and must perform and conform to the group standard.
If you would read some of the other posts and my posts, we are talking about a discussion before the dive to form a consensus on what takes place during the dive. The OP never made any demands nor did any of the posters, I believe.
We are not SEALs on a dangerous mission. We are ALL vacation or avocational divers, out to have fun and spending a boat-load to do it.
Why should I assume that I must conform to your or anyone else's standard on a benign dive?
I am from an area where DMs are not in the water leading dives. You would not believe how responsible the vast majority of divers are. They dive to their comfort level and return to the boat safely.
Maybe this guided dive thing is to keep people employed?
It is OK for us to talk about it before we splash.
m