How to ensure my safety when there is no guide dive with me?

[TSandM]

Firststep2000, on the unlikely assumption that you are even still reading this thread, I would like to begin by apologizing for the rude and demeaning responses you have gotten from so many people.

It is an unfortunate fact that, in many places, people get certified to dive and NEVER dive without a guide. In some places, like Cozumel, it's actually ILLEGAL to dive without a guide. And if you have never been called upon to manage your own dive and do your own navigation, it can seem quite daunting, I would imagine. In addition, if you come from tropical diving in very clear water, the reduced visibility off the California coast may be unnerving as well.

The suggestion to take some instruction is not a bad one. You can hire a DM for a day to do a "Discover Local Diving" class, which will introduce you to some of the concepts of diving in your new environment. You can also hook up with clubs or groups to do some simple shore diving with buddies who are experienced in your area.

I think ALL divers ought to have compasses, and know how to use them, but in low viz, they become critical. One also learns to use natural navigation, placing oneself with reference to reef or other structures, and depth contours, and current direction, and even sunlight (if the water is getting brighter, you're getting shallower!) It's not a bad idea to keep to simple sites, until you have gained some of these skills. (I myself have been embarrassed when diving off a charter boat in SoCal, because finding the boat isn't a skill I need much in Puget Sound, where all charters are live boat pickup.)

The good news is that you are thinking about this, and that there ARE things you can learn to keep from getting lost, and to be more comfortable on your own. You were (or should have been) taught the rudiments of them in your OW class, but like everything else, if you don't use the skills, they atrophy. But they do come back, and can be further developed.

If you have more questions, please feel free to PM me and I can refer you to some SoCal folks who can at least head you in the right direction.

 

[Dr Neil]

The key to the whole topic is comfort and security.

If you want to remain at that resort level diving only dives where the "tour guide" will lead you around do the research and select only places that only allow follow the leader diving. However, if you want to grow as a diver (and feel comfortable and look good in "big girl" clothes) find someplace to dive where you can work on skills to make you fell comfortable diving without training wheels. My son and I did 90% of our first 50 dives in a quarry where we could practice our skills and not worry about the perils of open ocean diving.

This topic is somewhat of a surprise because I usually see divers that have no business diving unescorted.

 

[Web Monkey]

1) If the boat is going to be anchored, there would be a big shadow on the top of water. I guess look at that shadow would help to relocate myself.

2) Always follow the buddy . But how about if my buddy and me get lost?

3) Should I buy a underwater compass? Or if there's any equipment can help me to find my location?

3) Is there any other tips to help me feel more comfortable to dive with ONLY my buddy?

Thank you very much ... looking forward for your valuable tips. .. :kiss2:

Walter's post pretty much covers it. The only thing I'll add is that even if you dive with a DM and think you're safe, you might not be. At least if you dive on your own, you know that you and your buddy are responsible for yourselves. It might not be as "warm and fuzzy" but at least you know what you're dealing with.

There are several threads currently running on this very subject and many of the participants are professionals. Some think that the DM is responsible to keep you from killing yourself, some think you're on your own even if you hire a DM and some DMs are incapable of saving you even if you hired them.

Terry

 

[mintaka]

My faith in SB has been restored ! I'd almost decided today to just plain stop reading it after some of the responses to this seemingly innocent post. There are too many self important jerks who unfortunately seem to have a lot of experience and probably have a lot to offer but have decided to respond in a "true to their nature" fashion.
Thank you TSandM for representing what SB should be.

Firststep2000, on the unlikely assumption that you are even still reading this thread, I would like to begin by apologizing for the rude and demeaning responses you have gotten from so many people.

It is an unfortunate fact that, in many places, people get certified to dive and NEVER dive without a guide. In some places, like Cozumel, it's actually ILLEGAL to dive without a guide. And if you have never been called upon to manage your own dive and do your own navigation, it can seem quite daunting, I would imagine. In addition, if you come from tropical diving in very clear water, the reduced visibility off the California coast may be unnerving as well.

The suggestion to take some instruction is not a bad one. You can hire a DM for a day to do a "Discover Local Diving" class, which will introduce you to some of the concepts of diving in your new environment. You can also hook up with clubs or groups to do some simple shore diving with buddies who are experienced in your area.

I think ALL divers ought to have compasses, and know how to use them, but in low viz, they become critical. One also learns to use natural navigation, placing oneself with reference to reef or other structures, and depth contours, and current direction, and even sunlight (if the water is getting brighter, you're getting shallower!) It's not a bad idea to keep to simple sites, until you have gained some of these skills. (I myself have been embarrassed when diving off a charter boat in SoCal, because finding the boat isn't a skill I need much in Puget Sound, where all charters are live boat pickup.)

The good news is that you are thinking about this, and that there ARE things you can learn to keep from getting lost, and to be more comfortable on your own. You were (or should have been) taught the rudiments of them in your OW class, but like everything else, if you don't use the skills, they atrophy. But they do come back, and can be further developed.

If you have more questions, please feel free to PM me and I can refer you to some SoCal folks who can at least head you in the right direction.

 

[Jasonmh]

...3) Is there any other tips to help me feel more comfortable to dive with ONLY my buddy?

Thank you very much ... looking forward for your valuable tips. .. :kiss2:

Hello thefirststep2000. I have to agree what what TS&M wrote, as usual.
Wanting to be self-sufficient as a diver is a good and admirable goal. You are obviously new to the sport, and from your questions you may not be ready to dive without a guide yet, but don't let that discourage you. Taking some additional classes, esp. navigation, will help improve your skill and give you more time under the guidance of an instructor. Also, until your cabability improves, there is nothing wrong with exploring near the boat, staying as close as you are comfortable. As your skill increases you will feel more comfortable, and that will allow you to explore more.

Good luck to you and keep diving.

 

[diver 85]

My faith in SB has been restored ! I'd almost decided today to just plain stop reading it after some of the responses to this seemingly innocent post. There are too many self important jerks who unfortunately seem to have a lot of experience and probably have a lot to offer but have decided to respond in a "true to their nature" fashion.
Thank you TSandM for representing what SB should be.

Getting mushy mushy on us--------lol.....btw, my response:

"3 things----get a reel, get a compass, or you can always 'wagon wheel' the dive from the bottom U-Bolt............"

was based on IMO what an average new OW diver should be able to handle---@ least in our neck of the woods.......

 

[Stu S.]

We drift dive in South Florida, and one diver must always tow the flag float. Under some current conditions, towing that thing is more work than recreation. And, the tow diver must also have good air consumption, or they may leave the group "floatless".

Having done that, I appreciate somebody else doing it. On Kevin's boat 'Expolrer' (Boynton Beach) last Sunday, a nice young lady dive master was towing it, well above the reef, giving the rest of us a chance to explore and take photos.

That's a valuble service that we all appreciated. It had nothing to do with anyone's diving skills.

 

[JohnQPS122]

don't dive

I'm not sure what the opposite of "Thanks" is, but if there was a button for it, I'd press it for that type of post.

 

[boulderjohn]

I would like to add my apologies for the responses you have gotten. Even when we are trained appropriately, it does not take too many months or years of people doing things for us before we forget that training.

A suggestion I would have is to find a local shop with whom you can feel comfortable. You may want to shop around a bit--that's what I did before choosing the one with which I am still associated.

Then go in and tell them your situation. You want to have the skills to manage your own dives with confidence. Depending upon what agency or agencies you have selected, they will be able to provide you with appropriate training. You will want to learn about navigation and gas management.

I would like to stress that you be very specific about addressing your needs. For example, navigation courses will teach you things like navigating a straight line with your compass and then following a reciprocal heading back, but they often fall short of showing how this basic skill can be used in a variety of ways in a variety of situations to allow you to explore and area and still get back to your starting point. Make sure you ask, "OK, but how do I use this in the real world?"

 

[merxlin]

Except for a couple exceptions, it seems like there are really only two opinions being expressed: Some feel a diver should be self sufficient and some feel needing a guide/professional buddy is OK. And good for the OP for knowing his/her limits. But when you know your limits, and aren't willing to compensate someone for being the solution to your problem, that brings up the possibility that the diver will go off on their own, when obviously unprepared to do so. That could bring about it's own set of problems.

Also, there have been scores of posts about the responsibility of certification agencies and the skill level of divers who once certified should have the ability, and definitely have the opportunity to dive without supervision. It's hard for most of us to ignore the fact that this diver is certified yet lacks some basic skills (compass, navigation). There is no way to tell if that was instruction, retention or both. But I would not be too hard on those who responded somewhat harshly about the need for additional training. Better to be honest and make the diver evaluate of the need for that, than to read about it in "Accidents and Incidents".