Dive Coordinator question?

[JC Fedorczyk]

Just finished up my cert 2 weekends ago and I'm headed out to a quarry next weekend to dive with another one of the guys that is new to the board. Originally it was just going to be the 2 of us going up but after talking to a few friends it has now become a group of 5-6 people. So here's the group.

1. Me- certified 2 weeks ago
2. Gordon- certified late last year and then it got too cold for quarry dives.
3. Carlton- older friend who has been diving for a while but not recently.
4. Girlfriend- certified 2 weeks ago with me.
5. Manager from Diver's supply who was eager to go with us
6. Beth- another friend who certified a while ago but hasn't had a lot of practice since then.​

Here's my question. Obviously the diver's supply manager is the most qualified out of all of us since he's been diving for quite some time and has current experience. Since I put together the group and planned when we would be going, I feel responsible for the group. Not to sound like a mother hen, but I'm already worried about making sure that everyone has their equipment correct, air on, sticks with their buddy, etc. I've already told Carlton that he can't dive with us until he gets his regulator serviced.

I feel comfortable with all my skills and I'm comfortable in the water so I'm not concerned with myself so much as keeping an eye on the other folks in the group who aren't coming off fresh from training. Suggestions on how to run this trip?

I've been thinking about who to pair with who since I can't be a buddy to everyone and will probably go this route with pairing up people for the first outing.

Gordon and myself- Gordon originally approached me wanting to know if I wanted to go diving and I want to pair up with him since the potential for frequent trips is there.

Carlton and Beth- Carlton has a lot of prior experience and Beth is bound to be a little rusty.

DS manager and my girlfriend. She's not entirely comfortable in the water yet and I think being with the manager of the store will set her at ease.

I also want to get everyone in the shallows at about 10ft to make sure that everyone is okay in the water and comfortable with their skills. That way we can address any questions/problems before it becomes an issue.

Basically the whole dive is just to work on bouyancy and other skills I just want everyone to have a SAFE and fun time getting in practice and becoming comfortable with everyone and also themselves.

Anyone have any other suggestions? Don't want this going pear shaped.

 

[El Orans]

Sounds to me that you've got it all figured out.

Just make sure to tell everybody that anyone can call a dive at any time without questions. Even before you get in the water.

Sorry, no other suggestions.

 

[Damselfish]

It great that you organized a group of people to go, but do remember you're not responsible for the group and can't be, everyone needs to be responsible for themselves and their buddies. It's good that you're comfortable with your skills and you sound like you have it together but you've still only been certified 2 weeks and that's rather soon to be trying to play the divemaster role. As far as buddies, you have obviously put some thought into it and might make suggestions, but I think you should also just let people meet and talk with each other and take part in deciding for themselves who will buddy up.

 

[scubaranger]

I agree with damsel people got to be responsible for themselves. You can help but they got to take care of themselves. If anything talk to your most exp. diver and ask him to help out don't put all the responsibility on yourself. Another tip for your divers who have not gotten wet in awhile maybe give them the advise of playing with their equipment in a pool. this will ease them back in when they hit the water. I did this with the advise of some scuba board members when I hadn't gotten wet in 7 mos.(due to family commitment) this helped me out when I jumped in the ocean. I felt like I was a little rusty and I'm very safety conscience. Give it a try.

Have a safe and fun time.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I agree with those who say don't try to make yourself responsible for everyone ... you won't be able to "mother hen" a group that size in any event.

Some suggestions ...

- Make a dive plan and brief the entire group.
- If you plan to dive as a group make sure you have a separation plan. A typical separation plan is to make it clear to everyone that if you separate from your buddy, search for a minute, then surface ... and once on the surface, stay there till you reunite with your buddy. If you separate from the group, but are still with your buddy, continue the dive (following the plan).
- Make sure everyone knows what their turn pressure is prior to beginning the dive. With a group this inexperienced, some divers may not even know what that means. If they (or you) don't ... ask.
- Make sure everyone knows that anyone can thumb the dive at any time. Make sure you all understand the procedure if someone does thumb the dive (does it affect only the buddy team or the entire group?).
- Go over hand (and light, if applicable) signals as part of your dive plan briefing ... communication underwater is much easier if everyone understands each other's signals.
- After you do the briefing, relax and have fun. You've put a lot of effort up-front getting the group ready for the dive. Once you descend, you are only responsible for you and your buddy. Enjoy the dive.

... Bob

 

[MikeFerrara]

Why should you decide who dives with who?

 

[JC Fedorczyk]

I'm not making the final decision I was tossing out my ideas with the thought process behind it to see what you folks thought. Once we all get together I'll offer my suggestions and why I thought of them, but I'm not going to enforce them. If someone wants to dive with someone else that's fine with me as long as everyone has a buddy. I'm looking for suggestions like Bob gave for how to handle a group of people and what everyone should go over. By no means do I fashion myself as a DM I just want to be as conscientious as possible with this because there are a lot of people in this group that I care about and I don't want anyone to get hurt.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

As the organizer of the event you're participation is fulfilled. Sounds like you have chosen a buddy, I would suggest your g/f approach the store manager about buddying up with her and discussing her comfort levels WITH HER BUDDY!

You and your buddy need to make a dive plan, either to follow the other groups, follow and maybe split off, go do your own thing. Everyone should know who THEIR BUDDY is, and is responsible primarily for themselves and THEIR BUDDY.

Group dives planned by experienced divers often turn into CFs of significant magnitude. Don't be a statistic, buddy pairs plan their dives. Maybe 6 divers go together in three pairs, but anyone who thumbs a dive takes A BUDDY to the surface wtih them, not the entire group. No one should be or feel responsible for five other divers, or ruining the dive, should they need to thumb, for five other divers. Imagine how your g/f will feel looking into five eager-to-dive faces, trying to determine if she should tough it out to not disappoint the guys.

 

[MechDiver]

You and your buddy need to make a dive plan, either to follow the other groups, follow and maybe split off, go do your own thing. Everyone should know who THEIR BUDDY is, and is responsible primarily for themselves and THEIR BUDDY.

No one should be or feel responsible for five other divers, or ruining the dive, should they need to thumb, for five other divers.

I agree. I think you're trying to take way more responsibility than you are trained for, and that you should. Its nice to setup a trip, but trying to do what you're doing is like herding cats. And, the others may not appreciate you doing all their planning for them.

As certified divers, they're responsible for themselves. Unless you are trained for this, arrange the trip and let it go at that.

MD

 

[dweeb]

Why should you decide who dives with who?

Exactly! Why should you be doing any of this. You just got certified. If the dive shop manager, WHO IS MORE QUALIFIED, isn't doing it, you shouldn't be. Are you also going to make sure everyone's car is in working order, check their brakes and tread depth and tire inflation, license and insurance for the trip to the dive site?

May I suggest that by doing this, you are creating a duty of care that you are neither qualified, certified, nor insured for.

Much as it pains me to suggest this, if you feel that this group truly needs such a level of supervision, then pool your money and hire a certified, insured professional to take you diving. If you have this little confidence in your friends' competence, then you shouldn't encourage them to dive without professional supervision. The smart move would be for you and the other newbies to sign up for an AOW, and the rusty ones to take a refresher, or AOW if they haven't. Either you're ready to dive unsupervised, or you need QUALIFIED supervision.