"Newbie," or *not* "Newbie"

[Meister481]

I'll dive with anyone willing to go into the holes I like to dive. For some reason I hardly ever manage to find anyone...

Well, if you didn't tell people about the Rappel into the system, you might find more buddies! Sorry I was too late to join in the fun. I'm heading to Little River to check out a spot I found last time I was there.

Maybe I'll find a new buddy while I'm in cave country.

[YBWET]

Hey Arnold,
How's it going? I'll dive with you anytime! especially if your driving me to Fla !! When we going ???

Walt

[Bobby]

I will dive with almost anyone at least once as long as I don't have a specific dive plan that is close to my personal comfort level. I have found, the hard way, that it is important to let others lay out their plan then make my own decision to dive it. Often people will agree to a plan that is outside their comfort level to keep from holding someone back. More than once, in the past, I have gotten a new dive partner in to something that made them uncomfortable because they didn't speak up during the planning phase. It is not a good thing to look into someones eyes and see the "I am a heart beat away from bolting" look.

A couple of times I have called a dive before it ever started. One time someone was looking for buddies and I agreed to a dive with them. During the dive plan they started talking about if we turned it and they wanted to keep going they would. To me if they wanted to dive solo then why were they looking to pick up buddies? A few questions later with vague answers I opted out of diving with them all together.

Another time was the first dive after my GF finished Basic. She needed a calm reassuring dive after the scrutiny of class when someone approached us to join the team. When I started to discuss the fact that new team members might not be best for where my GF's experience was he jumped in telling me how he was a cave instructor and it would be fine. A few minutes later I felt he was too aggressive for our team and called it.

My point is that no matter if someone is a newly minted diver of has years and years of experience they need to be brutally honest about their comfort and skill level. If anything is out of sorts be prepared to call it before getting in the water. I know we say this all the time but too often I see people that get into uncomfortable situations because they don't want to be the squeaky wheel. I would prefer to sit on the porch and fiddle with dive gear then put myself or someone else in jeopardy on a dive.

Bobby

[mag3]

OK, I think I'll try a poll. This poll is based on some of the comments
from the "Diving with new people" thread. Assume the following definitions:

[SNIP]

And Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks to all who participated. It is comforting to know that there are many who are willing to give us "newbies" a chance.

Hopefully, I will meet some of you shortly. I will be departing for Fl. tomorrow, and, after a quick visit with family, will arrive in Cave country on 12/12 for some training/diving. Perhaps I'll see you there.

I will also be in the Sanford/Lake Mary area on Sat. 12/19. Perhaps we can arrange a lunch outing while I await the return trip on the Auto Train.

[Namibconsult]

I will dive with almost anyone at least once as long as I don't have a specific dive plan that is close to my personal comfort level. I have found, the hard way, that it is important to let others lay out their plan then make my own decision to dive it. Often people will agree to a plan that is outside their comfort level to keep from holding someone back. More than once, in the past, I have gotten a new dive partner in to something that made them uncomfortable because they didn't speak up during the planning phase. It is not a good thing to look into someones eyes and see the "I am a heart beat away from bolting" look.

A couple of times I have called a dive before it ever started. One time someone was looking for buddies and I agreed to a dive with them. During the dive plan they started talking about if we turned it and they wanted to keep going they would. To me if they wanted to dive solo then why were they looking to pick up buddies? A few questions later with vague answers I opted out of diving with them all together.

Another time was the first dive after my GF finished Basic. She needed a calm reassuring dive after the scrutiny of class when someone approached us to join the team. When I started to discuss the fact that new team members might not be best for where my GF's experience was he jumped in telling me how he was a cave instructor and it would be fine. A few minutes later I felt he was too aggressive for our team and called it.

My point is that no matter if someone is a newly minted diver of has years and years of experience they need to be brutally honest about their comfort and skill level. If anything is out of sorts be prepared to call it before getting in the water. I know we say this all the time but too often I see people that get into uncomfortable situations because they don't want to be the squeaky wheel. I would prefer to sit on the porch and fiddle with dive gear then put myself or someone else in jeopardy on a dive.

Bobby

I think you choose a right approach Bobby.
I am a relative newbie in caving, having made only 20 cavedives (around 30 hours) since Full Cave Cert, but I feel your approach makes sense.

The trouble is that, us newbies, will have to sometimes rely on you seasoned folks to take us to new experiences. The thing is, that I believe such a newbie should be open and upfront about the fact that this-or-that aspect is new to them.