JustDiveIt:
Quote
Are you not paying them (DM's) when you tip them? If not, then what's that (the tip) all about?
Tipping isnt common everywhere, certainly not in the med or other areas. As for what is a tip for, if you think they did their job well, ie guided a tour, found the interesting bits and so on then tip them. If they didnt, dont.
It is rare when a group of divers on a dive charter are "ALL" of the same dive experience especially when traveling to some far distant land. I feel it is the Dive Master's responsibility to keep watch and insure the safe return of all divers.
Thats the roll of the planning, organiser and sometimes the dive master in assigning the buddy pairs - you're supposed to operate as a pair and they should be assigned with that in mind. If the instructor/DM/anyone doesnt think someone is up to the dive with any of the pairing options available he should tell him, either buddy with him or inform him of the worry. Babysitting is the job of an instructor and not something that should be forced onto everyone by an overzealous DM.
If they're not doing the job, then who? Typically the DM is familiar with the dive site and can show you points of interest (true), but also the hazards of the site if there are any.
As i said, a good accurate dive brief for the site in question is part of their role as a guide.
With your perspective on this issue, it would seem that one would want compensation for helping out a diver in trouble if they were not your buddy.
Compensation culture at the moment is quite frankly, crap. Yes you try to look after each other under water however at the end of the day everyone is a responsible adult and should be able to weight up the risks/benefits for themselves. They should accept that before getting in the water. Looking to sue someone because it went wrong when the person wasnt expected to help you is crazy. You're in the water knowing the risks,if you need to pay someone to look after your safety in my view you arent qualified to dive. You either accept people will try and do their best or you dont get in.
Wouldn't that too be considered attention above normal buddy pairing that you suggest one pay for?
There are some things you expect off a buddy and some things you dont, you expect them to have been trained to a minimum standard and be aware of certain procedures and solutions and you hope theyd use them if needed. A rescue or instructor grade where you need to constantly nanny people about their air, adjust their buoyancy and generally hand hold is beyond that - if you need that pay for it.
Hence, its nice to have A DM, another pair of eyes watching for signs of trouble from any diver, even from those that are confident in their diving abilities and feel that they can do it all by themselves.
"nice" but not essential (see above). Thats not their job in my view, if i want yet another person there for my own personal protection id expect to have to pay them.
So I ask, does a DM really go through all their CPR, rescue and other training just to become a tour guide, sell things in the LDS, arrange some dive trips and help divers on and off the boat?
Quite often you or also as a stepping stone towards instructor grade.
If people EXPECT someone to act above the normal buddy level of attention then expect to pay for it. Otherwise you're demanding something from nothing.
Having a divemaster lurking around is no excuse for poor buddy procedures,pairings and dive conduct - they therefore shouldnt be used as a safety net excuse for one poor buddy practices go wrong.
