cost of a private divemaster?

[DiverG]

Just wondering if anyone has used a private divemaster/guide, and what the cost was? I have a group trip in July, and one individual if allowed to go will be require to hire a private divemaster/guide for the entire trip. I found one post that stated they paid $50 per trip. Is that a common price for most dive ops in Cozumel? Thanks.

Also if we were to request that the guide be instructor qualified would that possibly increase it even more?

 

[CZMDM]

For multiple days you should be able to get one for $40-50USD. For what you get...an expert in their field, the time taken and the fact that they are "bodyguarding" someone....I think that is inexpensive.

Many people hire private DM's, but usually for only a day or two. Would you mind sharing why one of your divers is required to have a private DM for every dive? How many divers are in your group?

 

[Misa]

The best i had in Egypt was 1 day / 2 dives / 3 people / - 1 meal / 25 usd each. 50 usd is not much for 1 day.

 

[leslief]

I used this once in coz and the fee was $50 plus the regular dive charges for 2 tanks.

 

[leslief]

I'm a pretty regular cust. so they didn't actually charge me so for multiple days the fee is probably negotiable as is every thing in life.

 

[DiverG]

For multiple days you should be able to get one for $40-50USD. For what you get...an expert in their field, the time taken and the fact that they are "bodyguarding" someone....I think that is inexpensive.

Many people hire private DM's, but usually for only a day or two. Would you mind sharing why one of your divers is required to have a private DM for every dive? How many divers are in your group?

I'd rather not discuss the reason in public, but check your pm in a few minutes.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

It seems that $50 per two tank trip is a pretty standard rate here in Cozumel. I don't see anyway to do it for less on multiple days as that is what most dive ops pay the DMs. I don't think anyone pays them much less than that, and if you did get one charging less I'd be leery.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[leslief]

mystery solved--I've always been curious as to what dms were paid in coz. but thought it would be rude to ask.

 

[cruiser]

When I was new to diving I hired a private DM in Cozumel; it was an extra $50 per day, and was worth it. Not only would he point things out to me and take me off the beaten path during drift dives, but I could do what I wanted, stay back from the group if I saw something I wanted to explore further, and he was there by my side to look out for me. These days I don't need a private DM but it made for a positive experience in my early days of blue water diving.

 

[CozumelAntonio]

There are several reasons why a diver (or divers) might rerquire a Private DM. I'll start by saying that we have many divers who don't actually require to have one for a particular reason, and just do so because they like diving in their own group of 1 or 2 divers, usually with their favorite DM (whom they've been diving with for years).

Diving with a Private DM on a 2 tank trip, is required (by Scuba Du) when a person holds only a Scuba Diver Certification (in PADI that means they have not finished the full Open Water and can only go to a max depth of 40 feet), as our 2 tank trips do an 80 foot dive for the 1st dive, and the second can be 50-60.

When we have Junior O/W divers we also require a Private DM for the same reason, depth limits, 10 & 11 yr olds cannot go past 40 feet, and 12-15yr olds are recommended to stay above 60 feet. We do have the occasional 14 or 15 yr old (6'2, 250lbs) built like adults, with 100+ dives, and in those cases they are just required for 1 day so our DM can evaluate them, and if they're good divers and the parents so request, they can dive in the general group w/o a Private DM by signing an additional Jr.Diver Release. We take it on a case by case basis.

Other likely candidates for Private DMs are some very new and inexperienced divers, specially when they haven't dove in the ocean (certified in the lake 47ºF water, 7mms and 4 foot viz). Many of us forget what it was like to be a spanking-brand-new diver, all stressed out and nervous, trying to go over every single little thing the Instructor made us memorize, looking around at all these other divers, obviously far more experienced (giving us that "Oh no newbies" look), worrying about keeping up with the group, or holding others back, and how did this regulator thing go??? and oh my god look at that huge ocean!!!! :shocked2: Yes, we forget.... For many in this situation, having a Private DM is a blessing (well worth the extra charge), they can forget about the other divers completly, they have their own personal DM paying all his attention to them, hand-holding when necessary (and it's OK, it often is necessary, while a new diver builds confidence in their own skills), and diving at their own pace and leisure, you can't beat that for 50 bucks.

So there can be several situations where a Private DM is just the right way to dive...

Happy Bubbles!!!!!