Any other photographers out there feel rushed and left behind on dives?

[drbill]

Since I'm heading to Bonaire next month, I thought I'd reply to AggieDiver's comment about shore diving via trucks. Amazingly enough, this is my first trip there (I prefer Asia to the Caribbean). I'm not renting a vehicle (but will probably do some truck-based shore dives with a few other SB members). I chose Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. I plan to do at least 12 boat dives, with the rest being shore dives mostly there. I've done thousands of dives in one spot (Casino Point here on Catalina) and still haven't seen it all, so I think it is safe to say that if I do 10-20 dives on the house reef I won't be disappointed. And they let experienced divers dive solo.

As an imager, I've never had a strong desire to go to Cozumel due to the predominance of guided drift dives. Of course I probably shouldn't knock it until I've tried it at least once.

 

[AggieDiver]

I agree...I shouldn't (and wasn't trying" to} knock Bonaire before I have tried it. I am just a creature of habits to some degree and once I find something I really like (food, vacation spot, etc) it is hard for me to want to pass up the known for the unknown. Without a strong indication that the new will be better than what I am used to, I have a hard time pulling the trigger on trying something new. When it is a once a month meal at a favorite restaurant that costs $30, it is much easier to try something new than when it is a once a year (or less) $4K vacation for two.

 

[cudachaser]

All of the time

 

[dhaas]

Amigos,

Other than Cozumel or other drift dives I don't have a problem........I simply stop...........99% of the time if anchored you're going down the reef and coming back to the mooring......The dive guide will be turning the dive at a certain time / pressure anyway........

If hassled afterwards (it's easy to play dumb underwater) I explain I'm not covering 500 yards every dive like a California sea lion and likely have more dives than the guide......I politely explain I'm not interested in being in a cluster of new divers as that won't be conducive to me getting good photos and my happiness (and tip) is a direct influence on such.......

That said in the Philippines at Atlantis Resorts where I've gone several times I stick to the guide's hip like glue He lives there and knows where to find certain creatures, what they've seen lately, etc. So I defer to THEIR expertise........

On Bonaire 2 weeks ago most of the guides were also great at going slow (I explained my group of divers and photographers like to go slow) and found us lots of cool things.......

I think it comes down to:

* How experienced is the guide.......

* How experienced is the boat load of divers

* Experienced divers knowing how to express their needs without being a pushy SOB..........

Safe diving!

David Haas
www.haasimages.com

 

[James R]

Good point. Last time in Bonaire, on boat dives (SB Invasion), I told our DM that I was going to take my time and we would meet him on his way back at whatever depth he planned to be at. Usually 30' or so. It worked great. He took the "fast-movers" 30min down and on his way back they met up with us every time. His tip reflected my thanks.