Diving with new people

Being a new guy... I'd rather know what I was getting into. A bad dive buddy can really complicate matters.

One diver I dove with when it came time to turn, he just turned and ran over me towards the exit and was flutter kicking the whole way out..... No indication before hand that at the turn he would spazz.... Then he left me in the dust.... easily 100 feet+ in front of me, paying no attention to my light signals. When he realized I was not with him, he turned around and swam at me like a torpedo.... I tried to tell him to slow down, but once I returned the "OK" signal he turned around and flutter kicked like Michael Phelps again. We repeated this process all over again, and finally after a while when he realized that once again I was "lost" he slowed down so we could exit together.

Basically new guys like me don't need this type of ****, and I need to be MUCH more picky with who I dive with. Luckily, this was high flow and they didn't blow the place out.

i had posted (offered) a questionnaire especially thought out for this purpose a year or 2 ago, got almost no answer.....

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Originally Posted by NWGratefulDiver

I set up my recent trip with someone I had never met before. We talked about each other's training and experience (he knew up front I was brand new at caving), and I did check with his instructor ... who also happens to be my instructor. And I'm fairly certain he did likewise.

Turned out great ... I have found a buddy I can enjoy diving with for years to come.

I get the impression that most folks who dive caves are less casual about "pick up buddies" than your typical recreational diver might be ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

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:-) Thanks(?!?) Bob

I enjoy meeting people and diving with people. But I do take it to a "different" level. I can't say that I would dive with a "stranger" but there is lots to be said for talking with a potential dive buddy and asking lots of questions.

I would be rather nervous if a potential buddy didn't do the same.

Communication tends to be the area that causes the most stress, so I typically go over what I consider standard signals, and then go over strategies and plans and gear...

I play dumb real well, and find it useful to go over all sorts of basic questions and planning, lights etc. If someone gets upset then I probably don't want to dive with them in the first place.

All that said- - I'm still a "line follower" and I typically go very slow watching them and me and the cave etc. I can't imagine doing a "push dive" with someone I just met.

Jim loved the checklist... have to mention that heck some of us may have even met our instructor in the parking lot... ;-)

Dave

Bob and Dave, I enjoyed diving with you while you were out here and look forward to future cave diving with you both. I also had a great time diving with Squirrel Girl and Forrest....and Jeff, Amanda, Neil, and Allen. Hope to dive with you all again some time. Lots of new dive buddies during this trip. Good times!

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Originally Posted by CGriffing

Bob and Dave, I enjoyed diving with you while you were out here and look forward to future cave diving with you both. I also had a great time diving with Squirrel Girl and Forrest....and Jeff, Amanda, Neil, and Allen. Hope to dive with you all again some time. Lots of new dive buddies during this trip. Good times!

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Aw, man, I met and dove with the crappiest people this past trip!
:yawinkle:

Just kidding. I got to meet and dive with the Carlmeister. (Dood, I just got a PM on the Little River Rooster. Plus, I've had two people think that monster was a giant plastic statue--little did they know how our lives were at risk!!!)

Henry was cool and fun to dive with, plus Lisa and Saila and also Rob. And Alan, Debra, and Bob. And I don't recall that I dove with Neil and/or Barbara before, though we met a while ago.

Of course, it's always fun to dive with the oldies but goodies--Forrest and Jill.

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Originally Posted by Squirrel Girl

Aw, man, I met and dove with the crappiest people this past trip!
:yawinkle:

Just kidding. I got to meet and dive with the Carlmeister. (Dood, I just got a PM on the Little River Rooster. Plus, I've had two people think that monster was a giant plastic statue--little did they know how our lives were at risk!!!)

Henry was cool and fun to dive with, plus Lisa and Saila and also Rob. And Alan, Debra, and Bob. And I don't recall that I dove with Neil and/or Barbara before, though we met a while ago.

Of course, it's always fun to dive with the oldies but goodies--Forrest and Jill.

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Great to meet you!

Met up with 2 new buddies this week and had a BLAST with both. I learned a great deal as well, Ted and Rob showed me a glimpse of something new and I like it. Best of both worlds IMO.

P.S. Go team Olsen!

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Originally Posted by Squirrel Girl

. . .I got to meet and dive with the Carlmeister. (Dood, I just got a PM on the Little River Rooster. Plus, I've had two people think that monster was a giant plastic statue--little did they know how our lives were at risk!!!)

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Our friend wasn't around when we dived at Little River yesterday morning. :smt086

Now a rooster? A couple of years ago there were some fierce white geese - one of them attacked a friend - grabbed him and wouldn't let go!

What is it about Little River that attracts aggressive birds? What's next - a crazed homicidal egret? :)

Mike

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Originally Posted by MORGAN

Now a rooster? A couple of years ago there were some fierce white geese. . . .What's next - a crazed homicidal egret? :)

Mike

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The Rooster already took care of the geese and the egret.

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Originally Posted by CGriffing

The Rooster already took care of the geese and the egret.

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Must be a heck of a rooster!

Mike