Diving with new people

[mag3]

In the last couple of weeks, I have had kind of a new experience for me. I have set up cave diving with several people I not only hadn't ever met, but really knew nothing about. Although it makes me feel awkward and not very friendly, I have asked them about who they trained with and what their experience is, and in some cases, I have checked with the instructor to verify. I have had one past experience of ending up diving with someone who made me feel uncomfortable, and I really don't want to do that again, especially right now, since I just passed Full Cave and don't at all feel like I have the experience to make up for somebody else's deficiencies in cave that is new to me and above my prior pay grade.

If you dive with strangers, what do you ask them before you do it? Do you feel awkward about it? If other people ask you for your bonafides, does it irritate you?

This is something I think about a lot. I'm in a similar boat as you, perhaps even more difficult, as I'm just beginning my cave training (FTR, I've been diving over 4 years, 170 dives to date, including a few cavern dives with my cave instructor as part of my training). I'm taking some addl. training in December, and if that goes well, then I plan to hold there and just go diving for quite a bit... until I'm absolutely comfortable with those kinds of dives. Then I'll consider moving on. During this time, I'll need a lot of buddies willing to dive at "less than full" cave. I can't ask my mentor to dive with me all the time. And, other than my cave/tech instructor and a few others, I have yet to meet the majority of the cave community.

My mentor tells me the best way to gain buddies is to hang out at the different sites, shops, or places like Dive Outpost etc., and just talk to people. I'll be trying that. First, I'd probably watch them from a distance. Watch how they dive with others... Watch how they are "on the surface." Go to as many social events as I can and do a bunch of networking. It isn't a perfect predictor of how a person behaves while diving, but it does give a little insight into personality. If I'm comfortable with them in those scenarios, and perhaps, after a little vetting from those I already know, then I should be comfortable approaching them for diving.

I would, of course, ask about cert level and number of dives done at that level, and if they wouldn't mind coming down to my level (at first, I'd probably want to go with people higher than me, then perhaps those *at* whatever level I am). Of course, at this point, I would appreciate as much planning, "conservatism" & rule following as I can get, as that is my personal preference. Both my mentor and cave/tech instructor have given me solid backgrounds in re: practices, techniques, task mgt, gear setup etc. Now, I have to get comfortable with the diving itself. Of course, it's just as important for me to be as honest with a potential buddy about my skills as I seek from them. I understand if others more experienced would rather not take on a cave "newbie," and I would not want them to be uncomfortable either.

Hopefully, it works a bit like that movie... "Pay it Forward." People mentor and help you get the experience you need now, and then you do it for those that follow you later on.

So, I'll be training between 12/13 & 12/17, and I'll have a free day on Fri. 12/18 up in cave country if anyone wants to go. I'll be traveling down to the Sanford area on 12/19 as previously discussed, so if anyone wants to do lunch while I'm waiting for the Auto Train...

[FW]

....I wouldn't dive any silty small cave with a stranger at first. Sticking with the main caves.......

Did you read my "ghost story" in the 2009 Halloween Spooky Cave Diving Limericks Contest? The reason I was diving with Sheck that day was he didn't want to dive a sump with someone he didn't know.

[cloudboy55]

I will generally dive with strangers after a few introductory questions. At this stage in the game for me, they're generally more experienced at the site I'm diving and can offer a great deal of information as well as techniques. Some of my favorite cave dives have been with folks I've never dove with before.

I also do a lot of solo cave diving, so diving with others is a treat for me (usually).

[WJH]

I'll dive with strangers, after some conversation. I've met some great people this way. There was even this one guy, with a long white beard, and a pony tail....but I digress.....

The skill level is important to know, but the attitude is crucial. If the attitude ain't right...the dive is thumbed before I unload my gear.

That said, I dive with a self-rescue/solo mindset and gear configuration. I will be there to help my new buddy out, but I won't count on him to do the same. If he's able to render assistance, that's great, but I'm not betting my life on it.

Exactly the answer I was going to give! Even the part about the guy with the long white beard who did my first Grand Traverse with me. LOL.

An unfamiliar buddy in a cave is a solo dive mindset.

WJH

[WJH]

. . Hopefully, it works a bit like that movie... "Pay it Forward." People mentor and help you get the experience you need now, and then you do it for those that follow you later on. . .

Perfect!

WJH

[skip]

I'll dive with anyone out of the box, no questions asked, as long as their gear is configured to my satisfaction (two tanks, two regs, both work). But the first dive is a goldline dive no matter number of dives, training, etc. And I may thumb the dive in the cavern zone!

All the deep checking and questioning is burdensome, although with more talent at conversation I could call it chatting it up maybe. And in the end, it's the diving that counts, not the instructor, the training level, the number of prior dives, most recent dive, etc.

I have been asked to show a log book when I was looking for a buddy or two and did so gladly. I don't mind the questions directed at me, but even then I don't like to dive the first time or two with new buddies (strangers) unless it's a simple gold line dive with no significant penetration. Save the challenges for when we know one another better!

-skip

[RN]

I was going to start off saying being a local now I dive with a good number of 1st time buddies. Then I remembered before I moved here I had already arranged to do some dives with someone I met here on CDF!

I just look at the attitude of new buddies before diving with them. I won't dive small silty caves with someone for the 1st time unless I know about them prior to that day. (Shirley, we still need to dive together...I need a back up set of Legends...) Otherwise I'll dive the usual caves with almost anyone on scooter, stage, whatever they are comfortable with. I can always call the dive early.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Location and attitude make a huge difference :P

[rotor60driver]

.... I can always call the dive early.

In aviation it is said that "go arounds" are free, so are thumbs in cave diving. I am still new and hopefully will always be learning and am very happy that a few folks have allowed me to dive with them even though we hadn't met before or were not well acquainted (RN and FW to name two). I have learned quite a bit from more experienced cave divers that I have gone with and also learned from some of the less experienced ones that I have teamed up with.

[sskasser]

Shirley, we still need to dive together...I need a back up set of Legends...

BUWAHAhahahaha! Let the wild rumpus start!

Good seeing y'all Saturday, BTW!