Inappropriate customer

[Scuba-74]

Highlighted his age originally because there is a power dynamic inherent in very large age gap situations. A younger person harassing is not "more appropriate" but an older person harassing *additionally* engages the power older people often have over younger people. Then you have an age gap power dynamic in addition to the gender power dynamic.

Highlighted the second time because someone said "older is subjective" and I clarified because older is subjective and I meant "much older than me" - which you would have read but decided to take it out of context anyhow. But you just seem intent on arguing a moot point to... I don't know, is it to derail? No idea what your purposes are with this but it isn't helpful or respectful. Picking apart small use of language when the topic is much more serious and broad is weird

Got it, thanks for clarifying. Didn't mean to be disrespectful, just genuinely didn't see what age had to do with anything. You and one other poster before you answered my question. Sorry this happened to you, hopefully it was an isolated incident that won't repeat itself in the future.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Been there. Very difficult to provide evidence. Definitely nothing in private - stay public. What about asking to change trainee/swop with another instructor. Maybe another female who might then corroborate your experiences. Or maybe swop with the senior instructor - either tell them what is happening, or simply say you think the trainee would learn better with them. Or ask if the senior instructor has observed anything. This is not running away - this takes the courage to hold your feelings in and to solve the situation without conflict or danger to yourself. You are the one who you must protect.

If anyone asks why the change over, ask them if they can think of a reason and that response would include if the trainee asks the question.

I hope you can escape safely. Formulate your tactics for when it happens again. Because, in my experience it will - but perhaps you can prevent it.

Does your dive op hold regular staff breifing/training? Then ask them, hypothetically, what any instructor/divemaster of either sex should do if they are being "accidentally" (not) touched up. There could be useful discussion. This way to actually do something to improve/clarify procedures.

Stay safe - you are not alone. Don't let this worthless perv leave a scar on your life.

 

[lowwall]

Been there. Very difficult to provide evidence. Definitely nothing in private - stay public. What about asking to change trainee/swop with another instructor. Maybe another female who might then corroborate your experiences. Or maybe swop with the senior instructor - either tell them what is happening, or simply say you think the trainee would learn better with them. Or ask if the senior instructor has observed anything. This is not running away - this takes the courage to hold your feelings in and to solve the situation without conflict or danger to yourself. You are the one who you must protect.

If anyone asks why the change over, ask them if they can think of a reason and that response would include if the trainee asks the question.

I hope you can escape safely. Formulate your tactics for when it happens again. Because, in my experience it will - but perhaps you can prevent it.

Does your dive op hold regular staff breifing/training? Then ask them, hypothetically, what any instructor/divemaster of either sex should do if they are being "accidentally" (not) touched up. There could be useful discussion. This way to actually do something to improve/clarify procedures.

Stay safe - you are not alone. Don't let this worthless perv leave a scar on your life.

I'm the manager of a small law firm with only 6 employees. If you find yourself in a similar situation, please tell your employer. Don't hide or try to leave hints about the situation, tell them outright. If you are uncomfortable telling your immediate boss, find someone else you can talk to. The employer needs to know so they can take appropriate action and so they can protect your fellow employees.

If they blow your off or worse, you know it's time to escalate the issues to someone higher up. If that doesn't work, you know it's time to start looking for another employer. And always document what you've done in case the employer retaliates. You will likely have a legitimate employment law claim.

 

[nldunn]

Number One: say something to the individual, at the moment. If necessary, tell him if he does it again you'll knee him in the balls, hard, then say, "Excuse me, it was an accident."

This. I hate when people do things like this so I likely would have kicked him in the shins the second time he touched me and then pretended it was an accident but I understand many people wouldn't do it, but in the least, you could say, "Please stop touching me" very loudly and embarrass his ass.
I'd report to those in charge.

 

[PamelaH]

Yes, yes file complaints. Tell the certifying agency. Complain to the dive shop. Pray that the offender dies a horrible death. But never, ever mention or indicate to him in a direct and timely manner that his actions were unwelcome.

You're being facetious, right? Just checking.

 

[CT-Rich]

I would say tell the shop. They have a duty to provide a safe work environment for those conducting classes, even the trainees. It will also make them pay attention to the the creepy older guy and they may run interference by keeping him at a distance.

The association between the customer and the shop is temporary and the customer knows it a little embarrassment may go a long way. I am not saying humiliate him in public, but calling him out in front of the instructor may well be enough to put him in his place. his knowing that the instructor is aware of the problem and is willing to back you up may be all he needs to fly right.

Some guys are just A-holes. If this is how he gets his jollies, no one is going to miss his business.

 

[happy-diver]

Yes, yes file complaints. Tell the certifying agency. Complain to the dive shop. Pray that the offender dies a horrible death. But never, ever mention or indicate to him in a direct and timely manner that his actions were unwelcome.

You're being facetious, right? Just checking.

You could raise this with the nine people that didn't think as investigatively as you, gave the guy a thumbs down

 

[PamelaH]

You could raise this with the nine people that didn't think as investigatively as you, gave the guy a thumbs down

I don't know how that relates to what I said but I was referring to your comment about never speaking directly to the guy. Presumably this was a snarky comment but who knows? ASCII text is pretty bad at conveying subtlety.

 

[happy-diver]

I was referring to your comment about never speaking directly to the guy.

I'm considering re taking English and would suggest you slow down and have a flick through comprehension

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Dive gear keeps us safe.
You should get an Insta360 X2 underwater camera. It will record EVERYTHING.
People don't do bad things when they know they are being recorded.

The issue with Insta360 is that one of their "brand ambassadors" is a rapist and they don't care. Mahmoud Ibrahim is his name- in Egypt. OrcaTorch dropped the guy immediately when it went public, but neither Insta360 nor Subluetech care at all.