Becoming a Dive Captain

[gerardnealon]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this question, please feel free to move it if so.

Besides from the cost of the boat and gas, I am curious how hard / expensive it is to become a dive captian. Will I need a license / insurance / Instructor certified? Anyone know how much insurance is around for something like that. I am looking into buying a boat specifically designed for divers that can hold around 20 divers. I know how expensive it is for divers to dive charter boats all the time, i would like to offer one at a cheaper rate and have a little fun while I am at it. I figure if I am diving on the weekends anyways, why not take a bunch of people with me. Thanks for any info and hints. Not exactly sure where to start researching this.

Gerard

 

[Phaethon]

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[scubasean]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this question, please feel free to move it if so.

Besides from the cost of the boat and gas, I am curious how hard / expensive it is to become a dive captian. Will I need a license / insurance / Instructor certified?

What Phaethon said...and

If t'were me, I'd probably carry at least a million in ins., but probably more...I carry half a mil now, and I'm not a boatie...

I believe the US Coast Guard licenses commercial US boat captains...

Before you actually do this, I'd strongly suggest you plan this out in a business plan format, see the effort and investment required, and make the plan as pessimistic as possible...

I think you'll find that the folks already running charters are not becoming millionaires...charging less would mean less income/cost avoidance.

 

[MgicTwnger]

I'm not sure about the diving aspects, but you need a license to take passengers-for-hire. Is commonly known as a "six-pack", you can take up to six passengers.Here's a link to the coast guard regs:
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/passengers.htm

 

[gerardnealon]

Well, I can't be sure about this, but common sense suggests that the Captain of a boat of that size, carrying paying (even non-profit) customers, cannot dive - he has responsibility for the safety of the boat and picking up divers on the surface (underwater I suspect is the DM/Insrucor's problem). What if he drownded or became shark bait? Who'd take everybody home?

Just a thought.

K.

Thats interesting because around here I see a lot of captain go down while others are doing their surface interval. Plus if I were to do this, I would certainly have helpers on board to assist divers upon exit/entry. Thanks for the input.

Gerard

 

[gerardnealon]

What Phaethon said...and

If t'were me, I'd probably carry at least a million in ins., but probably more...I carry half a mil now, and I'm not a boatie...

I believe the US Coast Guard licenses commercial US boat captains...

Before you actually do this, I'd strongly suggest you plan this out in a business plan format, see the effort and investment required, and make the plan as pessimistic as possible...

I think you'll find that the folks already running charters are not becoming millionaires...charging less would mean less income/cost avoidance.

I kind of figured the insurance would be very high, i wonder how much something like that would cost. I would never start a business without months of research and business planning, that would be foolish. The way I look at it, sometimes you have to be a little cheaper to open some eyes.

Thanks guys/gals for the good advice and info. I appreciate it.

Gerard

 

[Phaethon]

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[gerardnealon]

When we hire cars in the US it's recommended that we carry at least $2 million insurance... not personal insurance but insurance to pay the lawyers of anyone you hit/scratch/scare/cause offence to/look at in the wrong way/breathe near.

Twenty people in a boat, each suing you for a million dollars worth of emotional distress because you referred to their fins as flippers... ==8^O

K.

hahaha, since I am from NY, it would be more like suing me for not having a hot dog stand at the stern. ;-)

 

[CBulla]

6pack license, make sure your very comfortable on the water as the pilot of a motored vessel, design your boat based on experiences and input from others, and dont plan on diving when others are in the water.. someone has to mind the boat.

I keep thinking about it since there are so few boats that do that in my area, but sooo many divers. The boats that are here, dont advertise - I'd kick their keisters!

 

[murphdivers286]

gerardnealon,

I thought dive bosts in Long Island were used to carry people with cement "flippers". lol