Been a regular diver since the early 80's and have seen and gone through much of what has been said. Owned a dive shop in the 90s and have led numerous trips almost everywhere. As I get older, I also get a bit more humble since I am not physically the diver I used to be but absolutely nothing can take away your experience and training, not even age. So here is what I have observed. On a personal note, nothing is worse than getting into a wet wetsuit that you have been doing 4 dives a day in for a week or so, yuck on that. I hated to see the Japanese divers literally holding hands and walking upright on all the coral in the Philippines. I later asked the divemaster why he allowed that, his answer 'because they were paying guests'. Another thing that bugs me, as divers we are supposed to be more ecologically aware yet whenever divers go on dive trips whether to a resort or liveaboard, they always seem to be chowing down on seafood. I just don't understand that. I always write on my food prefs form, 'No seafood', I really don't want to be a hypocrite. (However, I am, as I love the occasional tuna sandwich.)
New divers who flail around, well that is understandable, they need to be taught. This is not their fault as they are still insecure in these new watery surroundings. However, a relatively new diver, you know those 100 dive wonders who think they know it all, those guys are a kick in the pants. What else can I think of, oh yes, a person who has a 1000 dives in the Caribbean where there is no real current, great vis and as easy dive conditions as you can get, who then think they can dive the rougher waters that we have here in CA. They frequently get themselves in trouble pretty quick just trying to get through the surf. We see them rolling around in the surfline, losing their fins, masks and dignity. I'd put any of my past dive students up against them any day.
There are different kinds of show offs. If a person was trained to jump in and then put on his fins, I guess that is normal for him. Not safe for others but not really showing off either. Not something I would do. Then again, I never jump in with the regulator in my mouth, I hold it and stick it in my mouth at around 15 or 20 feet. That is just something I learned to do from my dive buddies way back in 81 when the only tanks we had were steel 72's. It was an anything to conserve air situation then and became a habit. Not showing off, just the way I do it.
The 'pretty fishies' thing, I remember a few years ago I took my newly certified wife on a group trip I was leading to Bali. It was a joy to see her excitement at all the 'pretty fishies'. I long ago lost that same childlike amazement that comes with being a new diver. You can't expect them to rattle off a bunch of latin names for what they are seeing for the very first time. She wouldn't know a blu ring octopus from a wonderpus if her life depended upon it. All they know is that they are seeing an octopus, a tang, a moray with huge teeth, a purple rock, a sea fan and a grouper for the very first time. We should be happy for their wonder and use it as an encouragement for continuing their diving futures.
Back to you Chet.
Steve