unwanted buddies

[danno]

I enjoy my solo diving but about 1 out of 3 dives I get handed a buddy when a DM has a diver that is low on air and his other diver(s) have enough for another 10-25 minutes. DM will happen to see me, point to other divers, give sign to buddy up and then head to surface with low on air diver. I cannot say no if there is only one diver as he/she will have no buddy. I dive with same couple LDS and know the DM's and hit them up about it. They understand my point but also say they are paid to 'escort' divers and feel obligated to give there customers as much bottom time as they can. Question, should I refuse to take on a buddy???

 

[El Orans]

It's difficult to refuse a buddy underwater but it is necessary to tell those DMs that you're a customer too.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I enjoy my solo diving but about 1 out of 3 dives I get handed a buddy when a DM has a diver that is low on air and his other diver(s) have enough for another 10-25 minutes. DM will happen to see me, point to other divers, give sign to buddy up and then head to surface with low on air diver. I cannot say no if there is only one diver as he/she will have no buddy. I dive with same couple LDS and know the DM's and hit them up about it. They understand my point but also say they are paid to 'escort' divers and feel obligated to give there customers as much bottom time as they can. Question, should I refuse to take on a buddy???

IMHO, yes, but you should do this on the surface.

The DM's are being paid to escort divers. You are not. You are paying the DM's for an enjoyable trip.

If the other divers on the boat have elected to dive with a Hoover, that's their problem. If the DM's buddied them up, then the DM's should rearrange the buddy teams so that the Hoovers are diving together. They should not, however, expect you to cut your dive short to do the DM's job for them.

Once you're in the water, however, its potentially problematic to refuse to help. At best, it'll create confusion. I'd suggest speaking to the DM's before the dive so that they know that you aren't interested in taking their divers unless they are willing to add you to the boat staff and comp your dive.

 

[RICHinNC]

Give them a bill and see how long they ask for help

 

[redacted]

Sounds to me like the DM is asking you to take over as both buddy for the lone diver and escort for the group. If you decline, what is the option. Would the DM send up the LOA buddy team and continue the dive or terminate the dive? Does the DM rejoin the group after the LOA diver is returned to the boat? Does he share tips?

I like to dive solo but have never turned down a buddy when diving with a group. (Avoided some maybe but never refused one.)

 

[Diver0001]

I enjoy my solo diving but about 1 out of 3 dives I get handed a buddy when a DM has a diver that is low on air and his other diver(s) have enough for another 10-25 minutes. DM will happen to see me, point to other divers, give sign to buddy up and then head to surface with low on air diver. I cannot say no if there is only one diver as he/she will have no buddy. I dive with same couple LDS and know the DM's and hit them up about it. They understand my point but also say they are paid to 'escort' divers and feel obligated to give there customers as much bottom time as they can. Question, should I refuse to take on a buddy???

There are various schools of thought about this. I believe that when guiding divers that buddy teams are buddy teams from start to finish. I usually escort inexperienced divers and as such I feel that it's my roll to first and foremost reinforce good diving habits, to ensure diver safety and to show people a good time. Personally, I don't equate maximizing bottom time with having a good time, although I'm aware that some divers feel this way. If buddy teams need to get shuffled around because of vastly different air consumption rates than I'll do it between dives. A good briefing is usually all it takes to set expectations along these lines and to date I've had very little aggravation about this way of doing it. So there are other ways. It's really a matter of individual style and philosophy.

R..

 

[Tom Winters]

Don't wait until you're on the boat. Settle all this when you book the dive. Some dive ops will flat-out tell you to forget solo diving, so you can save your money and vote with your feet.
Once you're on the boat, it would not hurt to reinforce with the DM that you're diving solo.

 

[Whitelightnin]

They understand my point but also say they are paid to 'escort' divers and feel obligated to give there customers as much bottom time as they can.

They don't consider YOU a customer??? By cutting YOUR dive short, they are TELLING YOU that you are not as important as their customers. EXCUSE ME, I'M A PAYING CUSTOMER!!!

 

[matt_unique]

Don't wait until you're on the boat. Settle all this when you book the dive. Some dive ops will flat-out tell you to forget solo diving, so you can save your money and vote with your feet.
Once you're on the boat, it would not hurt to reinforce with the DM that you're diving solo.

I agree - determine expectations in advance and give your business to an accommodating shop.

--Matt

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

The unknown here is whether danno pays the same for his trip as everyone else, or as a regular, gets a good break, but along with that comes some help for the DM's if they need it. From the tone of the post, it sounds like he's being taken advantage of.

I solved the problem for me by just showing up back at the boat after 50-55 minutes, ready to get back on. Of course with a scooter, it's easy to stay out of sight, but not really far away.

There's some DO's I'll go out of my way to help any way I can, others, I let fend for themselves as long as it isn't endagering anyone.

Darlene