Is a group leader (DM) usually expected on a boat?

[H2Andy]

no DM's in North Florida and South Florida, unless you arrange for them

on my three trips to the Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Bonaire, Roatan) each
trip was lead by one and sometiems two DM's

 

[cerich]

Many times the assumption is made that you are certified as competent to engage in activities in conditions similar to those you trained in. If the conditions of your check out dives were the same then by the time you get certified you should be comfortable.

That being said it's common that a new diver may not be and wants the extra guidance.

As a diver you need to be clear in your expectations.
I would have determined your expectations knowing you're new divers.....

 

[uglyredshoes]

I usually ask the operator before i sign up or pay for any dive activities.

And as everyone has mentioned, some have a DM as a dive guide by default, some don't.

Most of the time on islands where there is actual Dive Tourism (more than 50% tourism = diving), they do have DM guides.

 

[chairmanTARAC]

Blue water charters in freeport always had Instructor and D/m's on Board. They would lead when requested and it varied with each charter.

 

[wreckchick]

That was a "mate" or a "deck hand", not a DM.

A divemaster's role is to "supervise divers from an appropriate vantage point" and that is from the deck of the boat if you have multiple buddy pairs or dive teams in the water. It puts the divemaster in a better position to aid ANY of the divers instead of just the ones in the immediate vicinity underwater.

Rachel

 

[cornfed]

A divemaster's role is to "supervise divers from an appropriate vantage point" and that is from the deck of the boat if you have multiple buddy pairs or dive teams in the water. It puts the divemaster in a better position to aid ANY of the divers instead of just the ones in the immediate vicinity underwater.

How is that any different than someone with a rescue card?

 

[Sideband]

How is that any different than someone with a rescue card?

The guy with the Rescue card has no legal obligation or liability.

Joe

 

[H2Andy]

nor does the guy with the Rescue card work for the boat as a Dive Master

not sure i understand Cornfed's comment

 

[JodiBB]

That was a "mate" or a "deck hand", not a DM.

No...really...it was one of the DMs....believe it or not!:14:

 

[cornfed]

nor does the guy with the Rescue card work for the boat as a Dive Master

not sure i understand Cornfed's comment

What's different about a DM standing on the bow of the boat waiting for divers to have a problem and a crew member with a rescue cert doing the same thing? Unless I'm mistaken, part of DM training covers teaching, organizing dives and other skills. It's not supposed to be Rescue Diver, pt 2. So why do you need someone with the additional training of a DM to sit around on the boat and wait for someone to pop to the surface with a problem?