In your Opinion, what are the responsibilities of a DM?

[redacted]

I know a couple operations where the DM is responsible for waking you up in the morning when the coffee is ready.

 

[scoobajay]

I did almost all of my first 30 dives or so in Cozumel. The DMs took my gear from me and set it as the boats traveled to the dive site. They told us what the dive plan would be, and we followed them through the water until they brought us to the surface. Then they broke down our gear for us. Then I did a dive in South Florida. As we headed for the dive site, I kept wondering why the DM was not setting up my gear for me. He was, in fact, ignoring me completely. It eventually dawned on me that I was on my own, and I scrambled to set up my gear (let's see--how does this go again?) before we got in the water. That was a rude awakening about the differences in DM roles in different locations.

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Thanks boulderjohn! Until I went to Bonaire recently, this was 100% my experience. Cozumel, Tahiti, Hawaii...Every dive op I used in my first 50 dives literally did everything for me. I just naively assumed this was the way diving was! A few experiences after that taught me I was gravely mistaken.

After some fabulous advice from Scubaboarders, I've begun to carefully read up on dive ops and find out exactly what they will be offering and what they won't.

---------- Post added September 8th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ----------

I have about the same experience level as the OP and am a vacation diver with no regular buddy. I think when you are inexperienced and diving with an instabuddy, you have different needs and expectations of a DM than if you are experienced in independent diving with a regular buddy.

I agree. Many SB posters are incredibly experienced divers who regularly plan and execute hundreds of their own dives independent of a DM or dive op. I can absolutely see the lowered expectations a diver like that might have.

The other issue is you don't want to hang around mid-water too long with bull sharks swimming nearby so I really can't blame the DM for his reaction. He needs to be sure that everyone on the charter can descend relatively quickly without ear issues and can handle a decent amount of current and still stay together. I think I might have disclosed that to the shop at the time I booked the dive ;-)

On the other hand, I would guess that the real majority of scuba divers are "vacation divers" who don't dive on a regular basis, maybe only a few times a year. I felt completely competent for this dive and it had only actually been about 3 months since my last dives. I just thought it was perfectly acceptable to ask the DM to give my set up a quick check while we were still on the boat?? As I see now, I was mistaken

 

[dirkadirk]

Scubajay said: On the other hand, I would guess that the real majority of scuba divers are "vacation divers" who don't dive on a regular basis, maybe only a few times a year. I felt completely competent for this dive and it had only actually been about 3 months since my last dives. I just thought it was perfectly acceptable to ask the DM to give my set up a quick check while we were still on the boat?? As I see now, I was mistaken


I personally would argue that you weren't. I am not PADI qualified, however I did work at a PADI centre in the role of a Divemaster owing to the level of my certification and apprenticed in to gain my DM. As DM is the first 'Professional' level of training it does, in theory, speak volumes about the level of knowledge and experience of this professional diver.

I am a BSAC diver, and we do club orientated diving (although the majority of my dives have been my buddy and I independant of club/centre etc) meaning that we all look out for each other. Every diver from Ocean Diver up is given rescue skills, that I believe go far beyond that of the basic PADI skills (my own opinion). These skills are then built upon with each grade and progression. The nature of club diving means that although we have a Dive Marshal and a Diving Officer, we all look out for each other before, during and after diving. Less experienced divers will only learn by asking questions of more experienced divers.

This is exactly the position that the DM should occupy - the experienced, knowledgeable diver - irregardless of what their employed role is at that time. If a newly-qualified diver asked me to give their kit the once over just to ensure they had assembled correctly, or to observe their buddy checks, that shouldn't be a chore or 'beneath me' it is part of the function of 'higher' diving qualification. That being said if there is a gap in the DM's knowledge, or information is requested that should be within the purview of an Instructor the DM should not be afraid to say so - 'I'm sorry I don't know off the top of my head/I cannot teach this to you, however I can point you to the person who does know, or the instructor'.

I would probably consider anything related to any diver's safety as within the remit of any qualified diver. I wouldn't hesitate describing/demonstrating any of the safety equipment that I carry to a lesser-experienced diver - especially things like manual/auto DSMBs, emergency flags, inflator horns. That diver could be in a position to save me at some point, and unable to use any of my safety kit due to lack of knowledge.

Hope my ramblings made a little sense

Safe diving!!