Mike, it's not all operators that run their operation that way. I am IN NO WAY putting down any operators when I say this.......as Brian states, it is what it is.....but typically hunters basically go solo when they dive. Certain charters cater to these types of experienced divers, and they know the risks involved. So it's GOOD that these charters exist for people that want to dive their own dive and feel comfortable taking those risks. The charter you will be on when you're here, however, drops hunters off at a different spot on the reef where the hunting is better for them (and there's really not that many hunters), and drops the photo hounds and drift divers in with a dive master who carries a float ball on every dive. Not everyone stays with the DM, but they all come up fairly close, where they are within the legal distance away from the flag and/or boat. The boat follows the flag, but notices the bubbles of other divers and picks them up first if they ascend before the DM and his/her group or whoever is closer to the boat. The DM is the last one to be picked up. I will be your buddy on the dives, I have a SMB that will be shot up with a reel during our safety stop, and we will be picked up shortly after surfacing. Rest assured, you can take your time taking all the photos you want without worry that we'll end up being dangerously far away from the boat. In fact, taking pictures will slow us down and we'll be closer to the boat than the DM will be when he/she surfaces. The boat picks up all other divers before the DM.
