Geting Paid to Dive in Cozumel

[firstdive2005]

By the way maybe we should petition all divers that come to Coz that dont have dive insurance cant dive there. Hmmmm dandydons' signature would lose it's wisdom then ya think?

 

[firstdive2005]

On some level, I agree with you on the private nature of how a shop operates, but there becomes a point that isn't enough. If the shop is operating illegally, that would concern me. I wouldn't hire a contractor in the US if I knew his crew was not on the books and being paid under the table. I think there is a line between private business plan and operating illegally.

I hire lots of people to do stuff for me. Not a problem. I cant believe for a moment this is not common on any level.
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[firstdive2005]

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[cruiser]

Lose your halo dude--nearly all goods manufactured enmasse are paid in sub or poverty wage rates. I have never met anyone that can survive on one wage in any restaurant in North America with the applome of the well off or doing well crowd. While auto workers and mail delivery persons and medical people seem to make wage that can pull off a good life, I talked to a fireman on Coz and was astounded at his pay. Why dont you get on your high horse and go talk to the captain there. It is not my place to chastize how people are paid if they freely walk into the place of there employ. At that point they are not victims if they arent at gun point.
Dive masters have the choice of how they will have their medical payed. Am I supposed to say to him or her-hey did you pay your medical because if you didnt your not getting my warbucks.

Like I said, to each his own...

You mentioned that dive masters have the choice of how they will have their medical paid. Does this mean they all HAVE medical? I had thought some were doing without medical but maybe I misunderstood. Would be good to know they all had it.

 

[cruiser]

By the way maybe we should petition all divers that come to Coz that dont have dive insurance cant dive there. Hmmmm dandydons' signature would lose it's wisdom then ya think?

Hmm, would that be such a bad idea? From my experience, divers who don't have dive insurance are usually (not always) unaware of DAN and how dirt cheap the yearly cost is.

 

[DandyDon]

Like I said, to each his own...

You mentioned that dive masters have the choice of how they will have their medical paid. Does this mean they all HAVE medical? I had thought some were doing without medical but maybe I misunderstood. Would be good to know they all had it.

I think he means that DMs can agree to work under legal conditions with coverage but less take home, or agree to work for more cash and less coverage illegally as we saw recently. I prefer the legal and insured route rather than donations later, but I still feel our view is rather distant. We really cannot reasonably check on compliance of the dive Ops, hotels, cafes, taxis, buses, tour Ops, etc.

 

[ianr33]

We really cannot reasonably check on compliance of the dive Ops,

Agreed.

But a smart Dive Op might choose to advertize they operate legally. (And make proof available to anyone interested)

 

[scubawife]

Lose your halo dude--nearly all goods manufactured enmasse are paid in sub or poverty wage rates. I have never met anyone that can survive on one wage in any restaurant in North America with the applome of the well off or doing well crowd. While auto workers and mail delivery persons and medical people seem to make wage that can pull off a good life, I talked to a fireman on Coz and was astounded at his pay. Why dont you get on your high horse and go talk to the captain there. It is not my place to chastize how people are paid if they freely walk into the place of there employ. At that point they are not victims if they arent at gun point.
Dive masters have the choice of how they will have their medical payed. Am I supposed to say to him or her-hey did you pay your medical because if you didnt your not getting my warbucks.

IF people really followed and lived by what they claim they do on internet boards, we wouldn't have our store shelves packed with everything made in China, Indonesia, Honduras, Guatemala, and where ever else there's cheap labor, lower operating costs then in the US or Canada (mostly due to not having to meet all the safety standards, labor regulations or environmental regulations).

I'm not entirely sure what the OP's objective was with this thread. Patting his own operation on the back and looking to gain customers? Taking a shot at a shop or shops without wanting to come right out and name them? Pretty sure everyone who dives Cozumel, or anyone researching their first trip, will know or learn that Aldora is in the top tier or shops and if Aldora's services match what they're looking for, they'll dive with them.

To say shops are not operating legally because owners and DMs agree to an "independent contractor" type arrangement isn't really fare. For a good DM with a following, even when business is slow I'm pretty sure they could take their pick of shops. These are adults. It's their choice. My only feeling on it is that, if you make the choice to not be insured in any way, you do so knowing that if you get hurt, you have no net. If you made the financial decision to not buy insurance then roll the dice, take your chances, pay the price if your luck runs out. I don't feel it's my responsibility to pay your bills if you do something you know is a risk and you get hurt. If I was a shop owner and a customer started asking questions about my business operations and financial details, I'd suggest they go look for another shop, or I'd just happen to not have space available on the days they're looking for. How staff are paid, what benefits they are given, etc., is just not a customer's business. Take care of yourself. Look that a boat has an O2 kit and first aid kit, marine radio, pfd's, etc. Maintain your equipment, check your set up before every dive. Make sure YOU have adequate dive accident insurance and your own primary medical coverage so you'll be covered if you have an accident. Don't worry about your fellow divers or the shop staff.

Talk to firemen, EMTs, paramedics and cops in the US. They aren't making any big bucks either. More than half our fire and EMS are volunteer and when you see what the paid guys and gals get, there's not much point it's barely worth it. The EMTs and paramedics I know who do this for a living work at 3-4 different places and put in 6 days a week, often 18-24 hrs a day (back to back shifts or one shift after another at two different places), and they still just pay the bills.

 

[cruiser]

I think he means that DMs can agree to work under legal conditions with coverage but less take home, or agree to work for more cash and less coverage illegally as we saw recently. I prefer the legal and insured route rather than donations later, but I still feel our view is rather distant. We really cannot reasonably check on compliance of the dive Ops, hotels, cafes, taxis, buses, tour Ops, etc.

Ahh, thanks for explaining.

 

[Craig66]

To each his own, but I don't want to support a dive op that isn't doing right by their employees or cutting costs at the expense of customer safety, which is also why I don't want my investments to support apartheid in South Africa, or my clothes to be made by a 6-old who should be in school.

Agreed 100% but you speak about South Africa in the present tense and so I hope you are aware that Apartheid ended almost a decade ago.


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