Here's a lighthearted look at some different types of diver:
The Kit Junkie
This is the type of diver who is much more focussed on the kit than the diving. This diver will take 15 minutes during a buddy briefing explaining the changes in his kit configuration. You’ll see him regularly dismantling his regs, or deeply engrossed in his computer handbook.
The Old Stager
The old stager has been diving since you made your own wetsuits from a kit that came via mail order. He regularly tells you about the good old days, and that divers just aren’t trained properly these days. His kit is usually very old and very faded, but “They don’t make things like they used to!”
The Envelope Pusher
This diver is the one who always has to keep going for a couple of minutes after the agreed turnaround point, who goes a couple of meters deeper than the plan, and dives just a little far away from you when he’s your buddy. He always wants to dive farther, deeper and colder than before and keeps his records on key areas in his log book. In short, he is the test pilot of the oceans, always pushing the envelope. And the opposite is……
The Comfort Diver
This diver is cool, calm and competent in his own comfort zone, be that an area, a type of dive profile or when diving with a particular buddy. Take him out of that zone, and he’ll quickly develop a little kit malfunction which will mean an abort.
The Power Diver
Usually fit and young, this diver is always in a race – finning vigorously across the reef, and often missing anything interesting along the way.
The Qualification Kid
Whether he needs it or not, the qualification kid will take every course on offer within his diving discipline and he’ll collect his cards in a great big wallet.
The Logbook Novelist
This diver will have his logbook out before he’s dry, and will write a three page essay on the dive, asking anyone within shouting distance to sign his log book
These are some of the diver types I have observed on my travels. What diver types have you come across? Let me know in comments.
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