Got My DM - But I Don't Want to Dive "This Way"...
- Thread starter Peter Guy
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Well, a couple things ... first off, Peter's not a candidate ... he's done with the class and is a DM. Part of why he posted is that when he was a candidate, the gear he chooses to wear was OK ... now, suddenly it's not. He's asking why? I think that's a good question that deserves a better answer than the one he's received.
Second thing is that there's a difference between being the student and being a dive leader. Every agency makes specific requirements about what students wear ... and different specific requirements about what dive leaders wear.
Third thing (OK, I just thought of a third thing) ... is that the agency determines what gear is requisite for its students. NAUI does, PADI does, and GUE does. The difference, in this case, is that you are asking what's the difference between PADI and GUE. The answer should be obvious ... and it's probably not appropriate to go there in this particular discussion ... :no
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
BTW, I just thought I'd interject here that Peter is capable of diving in good trim in either his Balance or his BP/W. He wants to dive the latter because it's what he DIVES, and he's most comfortable in it, and therefore most capable of turning all his attention to the students, not because he can't manage things in the Balance.
The nice answer is that PADI does allow for a verity of gear configurations, like for example, Air2 or octo, split fins or paddle, mask with purge or without. Whereas GUE has a standardized set of gear parameters that must be strictly adhered to within the unified team. And it won't very from GUE instructor to instructor (much
).ArcticDiver
Contributor
Interesting thread. In reality it is just a continuation of the GCC that has gone on, and will go on I suspect, for a long time. Oh, GCC? Gear Configuration Conflict. We seem to have never ending energy to devote to arguments over what gear is the "correct gear".
To me though the OP question is really a matter of his attitude, not the shop owner. As a DM he is representing the shop and is obligated to present the image the shop desires. Personal desires certainly can be voiced. But the Boss is The Boss.
As far as being able to demonstrate skills is concerned. Frankly, I don't think that basic skills are any different with any type of kit. Trim is Trim regardless of where the air bladder is. So, the kit is really not the key. The key is demonstrating the skills so the student can see what they look like. As has been pointed out the student probably can't process anything beyond the skill to the equipment anyway.
This isn't a slave society. Peter certainly isn't doing this for the money, cash or in kind, anyway. So, if there is a conflict that can't be accomodated; move on. The shop owner will be happier and for sure Peter will be happier.
To me though the OP question is really a matter of his attitude, not the shop owner. As a DM he is representing the shop and is obligated to present the image the shop desires. Personal desires certainly can be voiced. But the Boss is The Boss.
As far as being able to demonstrate skills is concerned. Frankly, I don't think that basic skills are any different with any type of kit. Trim is Trim regardless of where the air bladder is. So, the kit is really not the key. The key is demonstrating the skills so the student can see what they look like. As has been pointed out the student probably can't process anything beyond the skill to the equipment anyway.
This isn't a slave society. Peter certainly isn't doing this for the money, cash or in kind, anyway. So, if there is a conflict that can't be accomodated; move on. The shop owner will be happier and for sure Peter will be happier.
I am smack dead in the middle of my DM class and boy does this hit home. My equipment consists of a Zeagle Stilleto, (back inflate) and I am using an alternate air source on my inflator hose, and I have an integrated dive watch so I am running a pretty streamlined setup. With that said I wasn't real happy about donning the rental gear for my training but in hindsight, It would be difficult to demonstrate to students with anything other than the traditional setup. I was also unable to connect a standard first stage to my BC as the connectors are different sizes so I am using a vest type BC and the traditional setup.
With that said, I don't think it is a big deal to use this equipment in the pool environment. I will expect to use my own equipment in the open water sessions and doubt that any student would even notice. I suppose it will be up to each individual instructor but I really would be surprised if it was an issue. I for one wish I had been exposed to other setups as within a years time I am diving with very little of my original equipment. I hope I get the opportunity to give my advice to a new diver and his/her equipment decisions. Everything I have was purchased at my LDS so there isn't any conflict there.
I should be starting my first internship within the next month and if this thread is still alive I can report back. BTW, anyone in the market for a nice Seaquest I3 BC? LOL... and an aqualung Octo.
Bruce
With that said, I don't think it is a big deal to use this equipment in the pool environment. I will expect to use my own equipment in the open water sessions and doubt that any student would even notice. I suppose it will be up to each individual instructor but I really would be surprised if it was an issue. I for one wish I had been exposed to other setups as within a years time I am diving with very little of my original equipment. I hope I get the opportunity to give my advice to a new diver and his/her equipment decisions. Everything I have was purchased at my LDS so there isn't any conflict there.
I should be starting my first internship within the next month and if this thread is still alive I can report back. BTW, anyone in the market for a nice Seaquest I3 BC? LOL... and an aqualung Octo.
Bruce
seaducer
Contributor
Perhaps this will peeve somebody, but I think it has to be said. I am not trying to single anyone out here, just putting a thought out.
If you are a diver, by all means dive what you want, for whatever reasons you want. If you think you can only achieve trim and lose the danglies with a bp/w then that is your gear.
But if you are a DM, AI or Instructor working with students, and cannot dive any normal gear configuration safely and comfortably then maybe you need to rethink your decision to be a dive leader.
If your personal gear is a BP/W and you just can't feel safe or trim or whatever in a jacket BCD, IMHO you are not a good enough diver to be assisting students and perhaps performing a rescue.
Unless you are being told you have to BUY different gear to teach in, who cares? If the LDS is giving you the stuff just wear it...
If you are a diver, by all means dive what you want, for whatever reasons you want. If you think you can only achieve trim and lose the danglies with a bp/w then that is your gear.
But if you are a DM, AI or Instructor working with students, and cannot dive any normal gear configuration safely and comfortably then maybe you need to rethink your decision to be a dive leader.
If your personal gear is a BP/W and you just can't feel safe or trim or whatever in a jacket BCD, IMHO you are not a good enough diver to be assisting students and perhaps performing a rescue.
Unless you are being told you have to BUY different gear to teach in, who cares? If the LDS is giving you the stuff just wear it...
Guba
Contributor
I can see both sides of this issue ... at least the gear issue ... and to my concern the most appropriate solution would be for Peter to simply let the instructor know he's not comfortable with the ground rules, and therefore will not be willing to help out with those classes. The instructor will then either find a way to resolve things to a mutual satisfaction level or find another DM ...
Thank you, Bob, for cutting to the chase. That about sums it up. I'm not a divemaster, but I AM a professional educator in a variety of venues, and I want my assistants to be on the same page I am. From the cert classes I have taken, one of the duties of a DM is to be on hand for demonstration purposes, so it's entirely reasonable for an instructor to prefer his DM's to wear gear comparable to the students', particularly during the pool (confined) sessions. It isn't totally unreasonable to expect that in the OW activities, either. However, during the last day of OW classes, it would probably be good for students to see different gear and configurations, just to let them know such things exist, and new students need to research the options before purchasing gear.
My OW instructor did exactly that, and I appreciate her for it.
Bottom line...if the OP is truly uncomfortable, then he should follow diving's "Prime Directive"--thumb the dive(s) and follow Bob's advice.
Thank you, Bob, for cutting to the chase. That about sums it up. I'm not a divemaster, but I AM a professional educator in a variety of venues, and I want my assistants to be on the same page I am. From the cert classes I have taken, one of the duties of a DM is to be on hand for demonstration purposes, so it's entirely reasonable for an instructor to prefer his DM's to wear gear comparable to the students', particularly during the pool (confined) sessions. It isn't totally unreasonable to expect that in the OW activities, either. However, during the last day of OW classes, it would probably be good for students to see different gear and configurations, just to let them know such things exist, and new students need to research the options before purchasing gear.
My OW instructor did exactly that, and I appreciate her for it.
Bottom line...if the OP is truly uncomfortable, then he should follow diving's "Prime Directive"--thumb the dive(s) and follow Bob's advice.
I doubt anyone other than his instructor or shop can give him that answer. I suspect that they weren't happy with him in his own rig all along but as a DMC he was a "paying customer" and so looked the other way, now he is not.
Hank49
Contributor
Peter said,
Today I asked him if he minded if I dove "my gear" in OW and told him I wasn't all that comfortable diving the Balance in OW. (I haven't dived it in OW for two years.) He "suggested" that I ditch the "technical gear" and just dive the "regular" gear so as to NOT confuse the students AND so as to defuse potential liability issues/questions (don't ask!). He also told me I shouldn't worry about my trim (etc.) because I'll be so concerned with where students are that my trim won't be of any concern!
It seems that Peter was frustrated that he was told to ditch the tech gear in this statement. Since the instructor is in charge of the course and training, it was his call. My point was, if you're going to work (volunteer) for someone who wants you to use certain gear, whatever his reasons are, use it or go somewhere else. Why is that any different than conforming to GUE's gear configuration?
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