I have started the SDI Divemaster training with my LDS. At the end, they MAY offer me a "job" as a DM for the shop. If they do, and if I accept, then they will put me on the shop's insurance.
However, the reason I am doing DM training is that I would like to be able to lead trips for my club. I would like to be able to offer these trips without going through any shop. I'm not trying to make money. I'm just trying to setup trips and lead them, while giving the people who come on the trip some confidence that they can trust the trip leader, and while also having liability insurance to cover me in case something happens.
I expect that a common trip opportunity I would offer would be to go to NC to go diving. The NC boats have a DM on the boat, but the boat's DM does not get in the water (normally). So, I would not be the boat's DM, but I would potentially still be acting as a dive guide, for people who aren't comfortable jumping into shark-infested waters and swimming around wrecks on their own. I meet a lot of people around here who I don't think would want to go on one of those trips knowing that they will be completely on their own in the water. But, as a member of the club and getting to know me directly or indirectly, they might decide they would like to go and try those dives with me diving with them. (I realize that sounds kind of arrogant or something and I don't mean to sound like that - I just do think that a lot of divers I meet are intimidated by the NC diving prospects but would be game to try it with a buddy that they know is experienced there and especially if the buddy is also a certified dive pro) I just want to get more of the people in my club out diving - more than just the once a year trip to the Caribbean. And I want to do what I can to give them those opportunities without them paying a higher price to cover a shop's profit and/or overhead.
If I'm on the shop's insurance, it would not cover me if I were leading a trip that was not being run through the shop.
So, the question is, if I'm on the shop's insurance, to be covered when I'm leading a shop trip, can I still get my own insurance to cover me when I'm leading a trip that is not affiliated with the shop?
I told the shop owner that I want to lead trips for my club and he said that I could not be on the shop's insurance and also have my own insurance to cover non-shop trips. He said he thinks it is illegal.
Do I need to just plan on getting my own insurance and tell the shop that whatever else we work out, I don't want the shop to put me on their insurance? I suppose it might be moot in that they might decide if I'm going to lead club trips that are not run through the shop they don't want anything to do with me at all anyway.
Thanks for any words of wisdom.
However, the reason I am doing DM training is that I would like to be able to lead trips for my club. I would like to be able to offer these trips without going through any shop. I'm not trying to make money. I'm just trying to setup trips and lead them, while giving the people who come on the trip some confidence that they can trust the trip leader, and while also having liability insurance to cover me in case something happens.
I expect that a common trip opportunity I would offer would be to go to NC to go diving. The NC boats have a DM on the boat, but the boat's DM does not get in the water (normally). So, I would not be the boat's DM, but I would potentially still be acting as a dive guide, for people who aren't comfortable jumping into shark-infested waters and swimming around wrecks on their own. I meet a lot of people around here who I don't think would want to go on one of those trips knowing that they will be completely on their own in the water. But, as a member of the club and getting to know me directly or indirectly, they might decide they would like to go and try those dives with me diving with them. (I realize that sounds kind of arrogant or something and I don't mean to sound like that - I just do think that a lot of divers I meet are intimidated by the NC diving prospects but would be game to try it with a buddy that they know is experienced there and especially if the buddy is also a certified dive pro) I just want to get more of the people in my club out diving - more than just the once a year trip to the Caribbean. And I want to do what I can to give them those opportunities without them paying a higher price to cover a shop's profit and/or overhead.
If I'm on the shop's insurance, it would not cover me if I were leading a trip that was not being run through the shop.
So, the question is, if I'm on the shop's insurance, to be covered when I'm leading a shop trip, can I still get my own insurance to cover me when I'm leading a trip that is not affiliated with the shop?
I told the shop owner that I want to lead trips for my club and he said that I could not be on the shop's insurance and also have my own insurance to cover non-shop trips. He said he thinks it is illegal.
Do I need to just plan on getting my own insurance and tell the shop that whatever else we work out, I don't want the shop to put me on their insurance? I suppose it might be moot in that they might decide if I'm going to lead club trips that are not run through the shop they don't want anything to do with me at all anyway.
Thanks for any words of wisdom.