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Hi George:
After experiencing lots of diving down here as a divemaster doing
recreational charters, I know where Mike is coming from. I got so that I
found diving more relaxing and safer diving solo than with a buddy picked at
random from the dive boat. A lot of times I would end up diving with the
least skilled of the bunch. I would get to repeatedly save their butt, do to
things like not being weighted properly, losing a tank, not watching their
air supply, or a host of other barn yard stupid things that can be expected
if one dives a couple times a year. These kind of people/tourists are the
bread & butter of most dive boats in S. Florida. In my mind one is safer
diving alone and one has more of a worry free dive when you don't have to
worry about your buddy attacking you to get at your air supply or rushing to
the surface in a state of panic after seeing a nurse shark.
I saw Mike dive with people like this repeatedly and I can say that this
sort of thing gets old. It starts to take the fun out of diving. Your nerves
start to frazzle and you wonder how people can take such risks with their
and your life, and you wonder who the hell trained this guy or girl. It can
get pretty frustrating as there seems to be an endless supply of these twice
a year, poorly trained divers out there.
I found that if I dive as a divemaster solo, I can make the rounds and
save more barnyard stupid new divers from themselves.
It is a great thing to always have a good buddy to dive with, but
someone needs to look out for the newbies of diving or the death toll &
insurance rates will sky rocket. Due to these continual experiences I find
diving much more relaxing solo too. I have jumped countless wrecks solo. I
will admit that it is not the safest act in the world, but it gets the job
done. No one wants to go for a sand dive. Most buddies can not keep up with
me going down. If your buddy stops because he can't clear his ears, that is
the end of the dive, maybe for the whole boat. Grappling is a good idea as
long as you do not grapple debris off the side of the wreck somewhere, or
the grapple does not unhook. Remember recreational divers don't carry lift
bags. If they did it would be a nightmare. I guess I'm done ramblin' on for
the moment.
This is the reactive mentality that both I and Mike became used to. George,
I would bet that you have been in our shoes at one time. You know, where it
is safer to dive by yourself than with the people on the boat? Have a great
day &
Good Diving,
Bye,
George
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