Dive Master responsibilities

[SailorC27]

Please note: I am not started my classes yet, but will soon.

After reading many of the post on this board, it appears that a Dive Master responsibility on a dive trip consist of the following jobs to do:
1. Get the boat to the dive site
2. Get the boat back to base
3. Count that he has the same number of diver/bodies that began the trip
4. Collect the tips

All other responsibilities for safety, comfort and comradery is the responsibility of the diver.

Sorry if this seems sarcastic but this is how I have read it.

 

[AndyNZ]

You'll find a lot of variety in what a DM does, from charter to charter, from company to company.

For example, my favourite dive charter company Dive! Tutukaka have some of the best DMs I've ever seen. They are not responsible for the boat, that's the job of the skipper.... but on top of that they:

1. Manage the group of divers on board and make sure everyone has a buddy they are happy with
2. Provide information to people as to what the dive sites are like and where to find the really cool stuff
3. Guide people who don't want to dive as a buddy team
4. Make hot drinks between dives
5. Fix any little problems that occur during the day
6. Liase between the skipper and the passengers to determine which dive sites are the best option for the day
7. Tell people about the history of the Poor Knights Islands
8. Help people identify what the saw on the dive, and tell them a bit about the biology of the creatures


.... and much, much more. Oh, and they don't get tips... all of the value they add us done as part of their job and that's that.

You are always responsible for your own safety, but a DM should help you make the right decisions.

 

[TMHeimer]

Not sure how to respond. Can say I've yet to see a DM drive the boat. I can say that if that's all a DM does than I guess the pay is about right.......AndyNZ was posting the same time as me and has a good list. I was trying to figure which posts you read to come to those 4 things you listed.

 

[Doc]

All other responsibilities for safety, comfort and comradery is the responsibility of the diver.

Sorry if this seems sarcastic but this is how I have read it.

And your point was?

Take a look at "the Poll" http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/284943-dive-boat-pros-what-their-role.html

 

[ptyx]

The boat part would be the captain, and that guy has tales.

As far as I'm concerned: nothing too exciting happens means that the DM did an excellent job and deserves her tip.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Except for a very few low paid friends/relatives of the owners, DM's don't have anything to do with boat trips in Hawaii. For shore trips your more likely to be involved as a DM candidate, "interning" as a gear schlepper/washer, and your lucky if the Instructor buys you a 6" Subway for lunch.

 

[firstdive2005]

Sailor you have brought up a great question. Sorry the know it all would not respond a little better for you.
As new diver you will find a lot of differences in the way each company runs their show. Consequently a dive master will offer a different level of service also.
If you learn your dive craft as life saving skill and make yourself totally self sufficient in doing up your kit before your dive, then the dms job means nothing but guide-work to you.
That is the way I look at their job anyway. I will let them do only so much in the way of putting my kit together when I dive. However in Canada, with the guys I dive with on the west coast you get kicked in the n@ts if you expect them to do any prep work for ya. Thats the way I've been brought up.
When I was new I simply asked the dm what his job was so I would be perfectly clear what to expect. Do that when you travel each time and the expectations wont wreck your trip.

The list that Andy put up is close to what most that I have dived with in the Caribbean do. Over here I usually tip though.

 

[mselenaous]

The boat part would be the captain, and that guy has tales.

I've known Capt. Bob Bates for many years. He is quite the character and leads a great trip if you ever get to Key Largo.

As far as I'm concerned: nothing too exciting happens means that the DM did an excellent job and deserves her tip.

Agreed. A seemly uneventful trip where everyone had a blast and can't stop smiling means the crew did their job.

 

[AndyNZ]

The list that Andy put up is close to what most that I have dived with in the Caribbean do. Over here I usually tip though.

Yeah, but in Canada it's expected to tip someone who pours you a beer.....! I still struggle with that when visiting the in-laws!

Here, the guys get paid a reasonable wage (DMs and bar staff); so tipping is definitely related to exceptional service only... unlike other parts of the world where tips are pretty much the only income some workers get.

 

[fnfalman]

On a fancy live-aboard that the vacationer had paid thousands of dollars for five days and nights of diving, a DM would also act as a local dive guide, helped schlep gears, helped swapping tanks (if they don't have air compressors on board), helped with practically everything that makes the vacationer's experience a memorable one.

On a California dive boat, the DM mainly stays on board to control the diver. Yes, to make sure that nobody is left floating on the surface when the boat departs the area. The DM also serves as a deck hand to weigh anchors, refill the tanks, helping divers don gears, helping divers take off their fins at the swim steps, help schlep BC if a diver is not able to do so due to physical challenges, giving advices to newbies or visitors who are not familiar with SoCal diving and diving at that particular dive site, help with fish/marine animals identification, help repair damaged/malfunctioned equipment, ad infinitum. Heck, sometimes they would even deign to swap lies with us common diver folks. Now and then the DM would also function as the galley cook. And heaven forbids, the DM would actually have to earn his or her keeps and rescue a distressed diver.

So, yes, I do believe in tipping DMs with an appropriate amount of cash even though they don't "do much".