I'll steer away from one unless vetted. It could be any combination of getting a feel of their mentality/experience by posts or in passing at the local spots, dive sites, workshops, Kazbors, Dive Outpost, etc....
That first dive together is always just something mainline. I'm certainly not perfect, it gives them as much a chance to get used to my style as it is for them them to get a feel for mine...
I would get their CDF name, and come read their profile and previous posts.
You know, when I first wrote this, I was trying to be funny. In all reality, it isnt a bad idea, along with what was previously mentioned of course.
Insert something witty and creative here_________________________.
I find the best thing that any cavediver with experience can do is to dive with those with less experience. Mentorship was something that got me to where I am today in my skills, and I think it should be not be a question for fellow experienced cavedivers to step up and dive with those who may "need" some advice or experiences.
I will dive with just about anyone once. If I find that the skillsets are lacking to the point where I think the person has some serious issues, I will suggest that they work with their instructor more and will not dive with them again for awhile. If they are decent in their skills and are on "the right path", I offer what advice I can, and I also ask them for their opinion. Part of learning how to make one's self a better diver is to be asked to ponder and critique someone else while comparing them to your own self.
I am not saying every dive needs to be a mentorship dive, but once every few months doesn't hurt, and can be helpful to those who you dive with...
Just my opinion of course... which is worth as much as you paid for it.
Joe
Originally Posted by Richard Pyle
After reading posts of some of my buddies, I remember a funny story. I was at Peacock a few years back, looking for a buddy (before the Morgens). I walked up to a group of three, and asked to join them. They looked a little skeptical, so I went looking for someone else. Then a few minutes later, a well known instructor came up to me laughing. He then introduced me to the same group as his former students, and told them they would be fine diving with me.
See Lynne, even "old goats" get vetted occasionally
It's important to me to dive with other people, especially those who are relatively new and looking to gain experience, because that's what people did for me. But I've been in a cave with a diver who had a Full Cave card, and swam with his hands, had no light discipline, and looked at me through his legs through the whole dive -- it drove me crazy, and the silt was not a good thing. Since I am not one of those lucky people who gets to cave dive constantly, I think I'm just more comfortable in a cave with someone I either know pretty well from on line (you can learn a lot about people's attitudes from reading their posts) or who is trained by someone I know, or vouched for by someone I know.
I met one of my absolute favorite dive buddies because he contacted me and told me he was trained by Steve Bogaerts. I know Steve, and I know he would never pass anyone with bad skills or an attitude issue.
I started the thread mostly to find out if other cave divers would find it offensive to be "vetted", or if others do as I am now doing, and ask for pedigree. It seems I am not alone.
I don't remember doing a dive with you...
(i kidd, i kidd)
Joe
I let them plan the dive, by the time we get it hashed out I'll be comfortable or not. I don't feel the need to require a full diving CV and 3 references just to get in the water. Seems to take the fun out of things.
A check. It's an excellent deterrent.
Andrew Ainslie
Almost extinct cave diver
I have found that a pretty general conversation or two about their experience (not direct questions, necessarily) and what dive plan they might want to do with some execution points is enough to help me decide whether or not we will mesh. Sadly, most of my diving is a bit selfish: focused on my plan or ideas and desires for any given dive trip. I do not intentionally avoid diving with unknowns, it just ends up that it means my previously established dive plan would have to be changed. And I am usually already in the swing of it.
Specific to the OPs question about vetting a dive buddy, I don't have a formal process. But then I don't feel the need. I would not do a dive with someone I don't know that I couldnt conduct alone.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks