Functions of a dive guide

[west0ne]

There are a bunch of things missing! Carry my Gear! Fix my lunch! Wake me up when we get to the dive site!

The list is endless! :cool2:

Don't expect this but certainly going to bump up the tip if they do it, especially if the lunch is good!

 

[t4e]

Most of the respondents are confusing "Dive Guide" with "Divemaster".

according to SSI the only difference between the two is that the latter can assist active SSI Instructors in academics, pool and open water training under direct supervision, but they both are qualified to lead certified divers on a variety of scuba diving adventures
SSI seems to be the only one that has the separate titles

so afaic for the purpose of this thread, and diving activities in general, the terminology is interchangeable

 

[TSandM]

Well, I did specifically use "dive guide" as the term, because in some places, the guide is not even a trained divemaster (they weren't in Lembeh) and in other cases, the dive guide might be an instructor. But regardless of the guide's certification, unless you are very lucky, you have ONE guide for a group of divers. When you hire a private divemaster to escort you, the responsibilities of that person are determined a) by the scope of practice of a DM, and b) by the discussed agreement between that DM and the person who hired him. On the other hand, I sort of think that the things people expect of that one person guiding a group may not be what the person guiding the group expects to do, and may not always even be thing that person CAN do.

At any rate, I used "dive guide" to indicate the person provided by the dive op to lead the group, regardless of that person's level of training.

 

[Hawkwood]

Thanks.

 

[gcarter]

I have my own approach to diving, but I'm frequently nonplussed by how different it is from some of the other folks who write on the board. So I'm curious about what diving functions the typical (or atypical, because they're on SB in the first place) new diver expects a dive guide to perform for them. We will take it as a given that, since the customers may be unfamiliar with the area, the dive guide will propose the dive plan, including depth profile, dive time, and basic navigation, and will brief this in useful detail. But other than that, of the responsibilities above, which do you think the dive guide should do for you? And please explain why you think that function should be performed by the guide.

Edited at others' suggestion to add: I really wanted to ask this of new divers, which is why I put it in the New Divers forum. I would assume that, for many people at least, increasing experience leads to decreasing dependence on guides to do much of anything (although I may be wrong in that). Also, if you do not expect a dive guide to do anything for you, feel free to post and say so. I left that choice off the list.

Specific to the poll choices - none of the above. A dive guide should only be expected to provide what you discussed in the quoted text, and perhaps actually leading the way in the water pointing out landmarks / wildlife / items of interest (not to be confused with handling ALL navigational responsibioities).

The rest is between me and my buddy, primary responsibility going to me with my buddy being my fallback position.

 

[mathauck0814]

None of the above - their job is to manage logistics (fill the cooler with water, make lunch, give a briefing, answer my stupid questions and laugh at my jokes) and provide surface support.

 

[Crush]

As you noted, as one progresses in diving they rely less on a dive guide.

My first few post-certification (BOW) dives were with a hired guide in the UK. This was a one-on-one situation. Here is what I expected from him:

Monitor my status, including buoyancy. I should be able to manage my own buoyancy but I expected him to be a very attentive dive buddy.

Handle all navigational responsibilities (after all, he was the guide). I was checking his bearings but, given the task-loading associated with being a new diver, I would have followed him in pretty much any direction.

Manage minor and major problems - again, I expected him to be a super-attentive dive buddy.

I did not expect him to set up my gear, select my weights, monitor my air, etc., but I suspect that he was paying close attention to my fumbling about. He did ask me about my air all the time.

 

[Wookie]

according to SSI the only difference between the two is that the latter can assist active SSI Instructors in academics, pool and open water training under direct supervision, but they both are qualified to lead certified divers on a variety of scuba diving adventures
SSI seems to be the only one that has the separate titles

so afaic for the purpose of this thread, and diving activities in general, the terminology is interchangeable

Perhaps for you, but in real life, a dive guide is someone in the water to guide your dive. It has nothing to do with some cert by a certification agency.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

None of the above. Minor navigational guidance if we are at an unfamiliar sight is appreciated but not expected.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Even as an experienced diver, if there is a "dive guide" I appreciate and even expect him/her taking over the navigation and showing me the cool stuff. I always carry a compass and have a general bearing back to the boat. They simply have local knowledge and better eyes to find the cool stuff (diving more often than most). I can navigate fine myself, but if I don't have to worry about it, I have more time to look at stuff.

As for the other stuff, I don't need it but if we are stuck in a group situation, their care of the less experienced divers tends to make the group experience bearable. So I appreciate it even though I don't need it. I have sat on a boat where the dive guide queries each diver on basic stuff like how much lead are you loaded with and what you your gauge read. It amazing how often someone chimes in with a crazy answer (last week someone answered 18lbs, normal sized guy in a 3/2 suit). The guide talked him down to 12lbs and saved us all the hassle of waiting for him to get it right in the water.

The best dive guides however, allow you to split off from the group and dive you own dive if you decide that the are doing it boring. It has to be prearranged a bit, but get a nice tip.