No but I think it is as much about helping people who are just starting out and struggling. Or is it just about look how experienced I am, my SAC is fine so therefore I wont dive with you because you will shorten my dive time? How exactly is a new diver supposed to "Just Go Diving" if everybody had the same attitude? Or would they just end up doing course after course as it would be the only way to get a dive in. I assume by your responses that you were a dive god the minute you dropped into the water? I am not embarrassed to say I wasn't but with the help of some great understanding buddies I became a better diver.
Nope, didn't say any of that. Nothing to do with being dive gods or the big I am. It's about team work, planning and diving. There are two people in a buddy team. If one's attitude is the sod you attitude you mentioned then they're only interested in themself and not worth the bother, whether experienced or beginner. Perhaps it could have been better phrased: "if you have a high SAC don't worry about it because a good buddy will be unconcerned, just speak to them first". Even now my SAC isn't great; if I think it will influence the diving, will say something at the outset. I also expect relevant information to be reciprocated. That is of course based on the assumption some sort of pre-dive planning occurs, even if just rudimentary. I dive with many divers with a low SAC and don't have an issue with it. However, if I know beforehand I can plan for it.
Steptoe has been a great buddy to me; lending me kit, giving advice, putting up with short dives and generally taking the piss. We all have to start somewhere, that's true, and like most things the more experienced your buddy, the faster you will progress. I have no illusions about the level of my diving, but I have jumped it with people on their 6th dive and I was happy to do it. I have no wish to be an instructor, but if a shallow bimble at Stoney keeps someone diving or helps with their confidence I am happy to help out where I can. I have also been on the receiving end and to be told that that they would be happy to dive with me again is a great confidence boost. I have also been buddied (on holiday) with some real speshul divers as well, but that's another story...
I'll still be giving you a shout in a few weeks Dom, finally got that replacement part for the Poseidon so back in business. Off for a dip tomorrow, Stoney should hopefully be real quiet Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner
Cool, just give me a bit of notice, I have a nasty feeling work is set to go manic any day. NDAC was ace today, wouldn't have filled even half of Cloudy's carpark!
Having had my first OW dive (after completing PADI OW) at Stoney in April with Dom, Beaker and Steptoe I can vouch that they are very supportive and great buddies to dive with as a newbie. I did state at the start that I was less than experienced and had really poor consumption and they all took me under their wings/BCDs It does seem that most people who dive are thoughtful towards us less experienced souls who take up diving and I am grateful otherwise I would never have completed that first dive and may have ended up with the odd holiday dive after doing my first course. Since then I have completed about another 20 dives and started to find some understanding of bouyancy and propulsion (not much)....my SAC is still pants though!
