Is this normal!?!? - Navigation vs. Guided

[przeor]

We're still trying to break the habit of following the leader when we go on vacation- hopefully our liveaboard trip this fall will give us the chance to explore on our own, and force us to use the navigation skills we have. Our vacation experience has been follow the leader dives, 60 minute dives, etc. etc. We like driving over to SoCal for shore diving where we get to brush up on our skills (as well as getting out of the AZ lakes and into the ocean.)

[georoc01]

There are plusses to follow the leader dives. Namely if the dive master dives the sites regularly, they know where the cool stuff is and can bring you too it. There was this eel living with a shark in Cozumel that we would have never found on our own.

[techgnostic]

There is nothing to say you can't swing your compass around, mark your headings/times, and then hand that info to your buddy so they can reverse the course on the return tripw/o eyeballing the group. Then trade off. The one who isn't practicing can keep any eye out so you don't fall too far behind the group. It's better than atrophy. Which will happen if you don't practice those basic skills (navigation, equipment donning, buddy breathing, etc.).

[cummings66]

Definitely pluses to guided tours, they know where to cool stuff is, but still back up the dive with your knowledge and just don't blindly play follow the leader.

[aramisun]

Guided dives are great for a first dive in a new location, but I am usually going much slower than any group and like to really explore, so once we got liberated it is much better without the DM.
<DIV>It seems like the FL, MA&amp; CA dives we have done are non-DM dives unless you request one. Bonaire is a great example of diving without really having to know much navigation (go out , turn left or right, go for a while, make 180, recognize landmark, go back in ).</DIV>
<DIV>The skills you pick up there are more like fish ID, etc. </DIV>
<DIV>I practice some skill on every dive. DM or no DM.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>

[harb99]

My wife and I are going to the Keys in August - I looked for a shop that does guided dives. Its not that I'm uncomfortable diving without one, but this will be our fist trip to the Keys and also my wife's first ocean dives (certified in June in the midwest) and mine since '03 or '04. I have been certified for quite awhile, but only have around 20 logged dives and they have been spread out over 12-13 years.

I feel for our experience level, it will give us an extra added measure of safety to have an experienced dive guide along that is familiar with the conditions and locations - plus - I think it will make my wife much more relaxed knowing that the guide is down there with us.

Once we have a bit more experience, I dont think we will have any problem diving just the 2 us, but for now it just makes sense to have a dive guide.


Harb

[tc_rain]

Every resort I have been to only has the "tour guide" dives. Around home I am able to do my own thing but it is not in the ocean. I guess that could be a good thing too since my navagation sucks. (Still working on it)

[Joew]

As a DM I think there are a lot of plusses for guided dives. For the experienced diver in a new location a DM can help find all the cool critters. I'll regularly have people tell me they wish they could see a shark or certain nudibranch, and a lot of the time I can find what they're looking for.

More importantly, I think guided tours are good for new divers. Lets face it, the OW course doesn't churn out expert divers. It's good for them to have a DM or instructor nearby to help them sort things out.

[CompuDude]

I agree. Where I have issues is when people choose to ONLY do guided dives so they can turn off their brain.

[tc_rain]

If it wasn't for the guided dives, I wonder how many people would end not being able to find their way back to the boat or getting on the wrong boat.