Diving practices in GC

[EastEndDiver]

neilg you can always surface with the DM if you prefer you don't have to stay down if you aren't comfortable. To answer your question yes it is customary.

Alex we just got back from GC managed to get 4 days of North Wall diving with Dusty last week ,friday we had to dive West due to weather.

 

[neilg]

Thanks for all the replies. It definitely adds insight and perspective! What prompted my question were experiences from previous dives in Roatan and Cozumel (and as I have stated, we have limited experience) where every DM we interacted with did everything that was required and mentioned here, i.e. pre-dive planning/discussion, safety briefings, serve as a guide, but also always kept a watch on the dive conditions and the divers, and was always the last person to return to the boat. I concur that for experienced divers it's a "natural thing", or even a "desirable thing" for you and your buddy to be left to your own devices. However, as a new diver, and paying big $$$ for diving in GC, we expected a little more "attention to detail and safety". From an earlier post, it sounds like some operators (Divetech was mention) do provide that level of service and we will surely be checking them out in future. Just so many choices ;-)

 

[Insta-Gator]

neilg, don't feel put off. We started diving in Cozumel and got used to the DM always being there (like in that current they had a choice?). When we discovered Grand Cayman and the nearly no-current diving we fell in love. We've been visiting there about 15 years and the only time I recall the DM being with us the entire time was on some of the deeper wall dives. Even then I recall him hanging vertically at the planned depth away from the wall where he could observe us. On other (more shallow) dives the DM would brief us on the location, what to see depending on the direction we chose to take and when when we should be back at the boat. He didn't even get in the water. We loved it.

You'll love it too, given time.

 

[Alex777]

... but also always kept a watch on the dive conditions and the divers, and was always the last person to return to the boat. I concur that for experienced divers it's a "natural thing", or even a "desirable thing" for you and your buddy to be left to your own devices. However, as a new diver, and paying big $$$ for diving in GC, we expected a little more "attention to detail and safety". From an earlier post, it sounds like some operators (Divetech was mention) do provide that level of service and we will surely be checking them out in future. Just so many choices ;-)

I have nothing against DiveTech but their "level of service" is the same as most other dive ops. Many people here are enthusiastic about recommending their favorite dive op. Nothing wrong with that. But the reality is that practices are pretty standardized across the Cayman dive industry.

IMHO, if, as new divers, you would like to raise your safety level, your time would be better spent practicing skills in the pool than worrying about where the DM is or who he is watching.

 

[Damselfish]

DM staying in the water or not really has nothing to do with "attention to detail and safety." Now if they did not explain the routine, that would be a lack of such.

 

[AggieDiver]

The main reason for the difference between Coz/Roatan and Cayman practices is that almost all dives on Coz/Roatan are drift dives, whereas most dives in the Caymans are from a moored boat. When you are drift diving, the guide has to keep the divers close together and make sure they generally surface somewhat close to each other so the boat can follow and pick them up. Diving from a moored boat with little or no current, there is not the necessity to keep all the divers together in a little herd. You are free to dive wherever you want, at whatever speed you want. The guide in that case is there to just show you where things are on the reef if you are interested, but you and your buddy are responsible for your own navigation and getting yourselves back to the boat within your planned profile and air limits.

 

[oly5050user]

IMHO, if, as new divers, you would like to raise your safety level, your time would be better spent practicing skills in the pool than worrying about where the DM is or who he is watching.

Absolutely right. A dm is there to brief visitors to the site and assist exits and entries ..not there to hand hold anyone. Dives not conducted as a training exercise for certified divers should not need an escort .If a person feels they need an escort then hire one and pay for it. I would suggest to hire an instructor /dm to get your skills up to the level that is required for ow certified divers. Perhaps go back to your original instructor and ask for a explanation why he/she certified you if you are not able to dive with your buddy comfortably. Perhaps you may need more supervision that can be arranged by taking continue education courses that have you dive with an instructor. Not trying to be mean here, but this is why when I am asked to dive with an instant buddy on a boat, no matter what their certification level, I always refuse to as I will not let my dive that I paid for turn into my having to be responsible for someone without being paid. Paying big $$$ for a dive trip to Grand Cayman does not get you a personal dm. it gets you a dive vacation on GC..Pay just a small amount more $ if you need/want a personal dm.

 

[neilg]

Not trying to be mean here, but this is why when I am asked to dive with an instant buddy on a boat, no matter what their certification level, I always refuse to as I will not let my dive that I paid for turn into my having to be responsible for someone without being paid. Paying big $$$ for a dive trip to Grand Cayman does not get you a personal dm. it gets you a dive vacation on GC..Pay just a small amount more $ if you need/want a personal dm.

Your reply says it all and I'm glad I didn't have you as my instructor! All about the old mighty dollar, eh!? And I thought the "scuba diving community" is different...

 

[EastEndDiver]

neilg you should edit your post ,it was NOT Alex777 who stated that it was oly5050.I have dove with Alex and he is NOT like that.

 

[BUDMANOK]

sometimes it's not about having someone hold a persons hand but due to the fact that it's unfamiliar waters if you have never been to a location before.
If a DM wants to get in the water with you that's great I think they have more experience in a given location than I do.

GC looks to be about on the same level as Curacao and I always appreciated having someone more experienced locally to point out sealife. That being said as a photographer I also do not like going at others pace I like to hang around an area to see what's there and sometimes a DM wants to cover territory. A photographers pace is too slow for most people and I don't expect them to cater to me.