"Observations show an average 260 touches per one hour dive for a party of four."

[Eric Sedletzky]

Personally, I'd be happy to have a DM give me pointers on buoyancy, fin technique, etc. (subject to the style & delivery of said critique). In another context that's called a class or private instruction. I'm also happy when I see a DM providing that kind of guidance to others (thinking back to an interaction between a DM from Aldora and someone from another shop who was using a stick to anchor themselves). Would I pay extra? Nope (cause I'm cheap). Would that kind of situational awareness, respect for the environment, character, and ability to deliver a teachable lesson in a respectful manner positively influence my choice of operation and location? Yes, absolutely.

So, maybe it is all about money, but don't assume that loosing "torpedo fins" as a customer won't be somewhat offset by gaining the loyalty & repeat business of other customers.

You mention helpful tips and pointers by DM’s and then call it private instruction. But then you claim you are not willing to pay for that. Does that mean they should work for free? Because that’s what it would be.
Shouldn’t a diver already have those skills in place before they visit a location with endangered reefs?
When you took open water was it free?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

So, maybe it is all about money, but don't assume that loosing "torpedo fins" as a customer won't be somewhat offset by gaining the loyalty & repeat business of other customers.

I like this.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

There wouldn't be enough divers out there to keep a gear manufacturer alive. I for one, would give it up.

Really?
I beg to differ. I think a reason some divers quit going to some locations IS because of crappy divers and the bullsh!t that they do to the reefs.

 

[Steve_C]

Reality check time, I do not care what the skill is be it driving a car or scuba diving a reef. Just because somebody gets a card from a good program does not mean that they internalize what they are taught and will be practicing it 5 years later. Some will. Many will not. As illustrated any time you drive down the street, or go diving.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Reality check time, I do not care what the skill is be it driving a car or scuba diving a reef. Just because somebody gets a card from a good program does not mean that they internalize what they are taught and will be practicing it 5 years later. Some will. Many will not. As illustrated any time you drive down the street, or go diving.

So what are your ideas then?
Do you have anything more productive than that?

 

[ReefHound]

No ideas are needed. What Cozumel is doing is just fine. The coral bleaching and stony coral tissue disease is not being caused by divers. Some are lashing out at the wrong party because they don't have the clout to go after the guilty parties.

 

[aldertyler]

No ideas are needed. What Cozumel is doing is just fine. The coral bleaching and stony coral tissue disease is not being caused by divers. Some are lashing out at the wrong party because they don't have the clout to go after the guilty parties.

Let's go after the guilty parties then, while also holding divers to a higher standard.

 

[JohnWoods]

Personally, I'd be happy to have a DM give me pointers on buoyancy, fin technique, etc. (subject to the style & delivery of said critique). In another context that's called a class or private instruction. I'm also happy when I see a DM providing that kind of guidance to others (thinking back to an interaction between a DM from Aldora and someone from another shop who was using a stick to anchor themselves). Would I pay extra? Nope (cause I'm cheap). Would that kind of situational awareness, respect for the environment, character, and ability to deliver a teachable lesson in a respectful manner positively influence my choice of operation and location? Yes, absolutely.

So, maybe it is all about money, but don't assume that loosing "torpedo fins" as a customer won't be somewhat offset by gaining the loyalty & repeat business of other customers.

My first trip to Roatan , group of 4 somewhat experienced divers , after the first dive our DM asked if we would mind some criticism....we absolutely said bring it on , which he did. He was exceptional , addressed some things neither of us realized and mostly related to buoyancy/air consumption. He had pointers for each of us after one dive and was spot on. This was all to protect the reef on future dives he wanted to take us on but felt he couldn't unless our skills were better. I laughed at your cheap comment , I am too but would pay extra for this type of retraining , or enhancement to existing training. Buoyancy specific to reef diving in delicate environments ( basically all reef diving) would be a nice add on to an OW certification. I think most people would do their best to adhere to what they've learned , idiots will always be idiots .... most of them anyway

 

[MMM]

If they switched around dives 1 & 2, I'd concede the point. In my limited experience of just one day, we went on a drift dive with a respectable current (you would work really hard to stay in place and you'd blow through a lot of gas doing so) down to 80 feet and we all went through a swim through single file. That wasn't a checkout dive. The second dive was much lazier, 45 feet or so, for a lot longer with a much milder current (you could easily fin against it).

Did you splash in and head straight into the swim-through or did some time pass while the DM assessed the group's abilities?

 

[ChuckP]

I've witnessed some extremely dumb stuff but have yet to see anyone sent back to the boat or told to sit out the second dive. I have seen DM's request to switch to another group.

No DM that leads a dive can watch everything - I've seen a few drifting backwards in a seated position for a lot longer than I ever would but hey, whatever works the best for you.

The best that can happen is the DM lead by example and tailor the dive to the divers, talk with divers that are doing things detrimental to the environment. Educate, raise awareness.

A check out video or an awareness card/sticker (I already see them everywhere) or mentions during the dive briefing (I see it happen) are about the best you can do.