There can be a very competitive nature in diving, and between divers. That can often result in peer pressure forcing some divers to do what they are not comfortable doing, and this is where accidents happen.
Follow our simple guide to keeping safe and helping set a good example for newer divers.
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Have You Succumbed To Peer Pressure While Scuba Diving?
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***** THANK YOU FOR WATCHING *****
So far i didn’t came across a dive I’m not feeling like doing. But If i will – i will never hesitate to say NO, by the end of the day i have a plan to live a long and happy life. If someone have a problem with it, they are welcome to find another buddy.
I had a dive buddy who was always – go, go,go and after turning out he forget to turn the air on. Since I’m not looking forward to use my “rescue diver” skills – I found another buddy.
Great advice…exactly what they teach you in the Rescue Diving Course
Cheers – I think a well-taught Rescue Diver course is one of the better recreational courses out there.
Mark, thank you for calling out the dangers of peer pressure diving. It is more prevalent than I think many would admit to or acknowledge. I was in a situation very similar to the ones you described. A newly certified OW diver now on my first dives in Caribbean – and the Dive Master was pressuring me to do a deep dive that included swim throughs. I had made it perfectly clear prior to going out with the dive shop that day, that I did not want to do a deep dive because I didn’t feel capable enough to save myself if something went wrong. He really tried talking me into it, so much so, that I actually got into the water, made my way to the mooring ball and then said to myself, “Why in the hell did I just let this guy talk me into this?” I was not embarrassed – I was mad. I told him “Nope, I am going back. You guys enjoy the dive.” I mean. I could not have been more clear about my comfort level prior to scheduling those dives. He did not apologize, nor did he chastise me after they came back up from the dive. He went so far as to move the boat to a nearby shallower site, and then sent me down with another guide for a nice 40 minute reef dive while the rest had there surface interval. So, for me, even though I was feeling a bit bullied into the water, I was glad that I could stick up for myself and come out better for it. I cannot stress enough the importance of speaking up for yourself on a dive boat or in any diving situation where you do not feel comfortable. Thank again for highlighting what many feel or experience regarding peer pressure during a dive. It could save someone’s life.
Congrats on standing your ground.
Absolutely correct! The best thing to say when the stomach says “No” is no, regardless of what others say! Very valuable topic.
Thanks for the content.
You’re welcome.
Hey i don’t think you could have said it any better and think some people can be very insensitive to others.
Indeed they can.
Absolutely right, the „encouraging“ divers are the worst. I have encountered someone who talked his wife into a dive course and then made her join him on the „interesting“ dives way above her self-confidence and her skill level. They are divorced, by the way. Not because of the diving, but because of the self-centred, irresponsible person he turned out to be.
Sounds like she made the right call!
Great discussion, Mark. Going on 30 years in the military, risk assessment has become somewhat a way of life. There are times added risk must be accepted, but a recreational scuba dive is not one of them. Totally concur with your approach. Thanks!
Thank you, Robb.
Great discussion! Better to call the dive then have an emergency or bad experience!!!
For sure!
I’ve been watching LOTS of videos about diving for a while now and I have to say that this one ranks as one of the absolute best I’ve ever watched. Hands down. I could talk about this subject for hours on end. The one thing that I’ve come to find out is that as with any endeavor, there’s a small percentage of individual blowhards filled with arrogance and a need to shine better than the rest of us. Frankly, this way of thinking and scuba diving don’t mix at all – especially coming from the so called dive professionals. I’m hoping to complete my Rescue Diver training sometime this year and you have more than reinforced a huge concern I’ve always had. No one should ever be pressed into something they’re uncomfortable with. We need more divers like you and those that trained you from the beginning. That’s the kind of diver I’m working to become… thank you so very much!
High praise indeed – thank you for that. I do think it is an important topic that perhaps does not get the air-time it deserves.