Private DM - Anyone hired one?

[deborahdelamar]

Some dive operators REQUIRE a private DM for newly certified divers and/or those experiencing their first ocean dive; at least for the first day. Bobby seems to have enough dives, but don't know about his wife.

Never heard of a requirement by a Coz operator -- Has anyone? SOP, as far as I know, is for the DM(s) to observe &, if necessary, assist newly-certified and new-to-the-operator divers.

 

[Christi]

Never heard of a requirement by a Coz operator -- Has anyone? SOP, as far as I know, is for the DM(s) to observe &, if necessary, assist newly-certified and new-to-the-operator divers.

I require it - it's absolutely necessary in my opinion as well as every instructor I've spoken to about it here - for newly certified divers, with no previous ocean dives to have a DM for at least the first day. My policy is actually less than 10 logged dives, private DM required for 1st day. If you saw what we do on a regular basis, perhaps you'd wonder why every operation doesn't require this. In fact, I think it's irresponsible to throw a brand new diver to the wolves having never been in the ocean, let alone a drift dive from a boat without some assistance for the first day.

This is a safety policy that I don't waiver from - and it's one thing I can say I've yet to be wrong on. Every new diver has SOME issue on the first day of the trip - whether it's weighting issues, fear, equalizing, inability to hold safety stop by themselves, etc. Even those that may have been resistant to having a private DM for the first day have thanked me after wards - and many end up request the private DM for MORE than the first day. It takes the pressure off the new diver and allows everyone on the boat to enjoy their dives - with the DM for the group able to focus on being a GUIDE for the group.

The fee charged IS NOT a profit to the shop - it's actually a loss if you think about it - because it takes a space away from a paying diver. The fee covers only the DM's wages and tanks for the 2-tank trip - but I'm happy to take a loss on what I believe is a very important safety point and as a service to ALL divers on board.

 

[MMM]

Never heard of a requirement by a Coz operator -- Has anyone?

Nope.

 

[deborahdelamar]

Ok, Christi -- I sit corrected!

 

[Bobby T]

Thanks for all the info. Nothing against the resorts. In fact our stay at SCC last January was awesome. I'd go back in a heartbeat. My wife and I, though, really enjoy a more private adventure. Where ever we travel we try to hire private guides versus going with the herds. In general you can do this for a very small premium. We've never done this as part of a SCUBA trip though. Also, we want to prepare ourselves for a trip to Bonaire where we may very well dive on our own. I'm kind of thinking that 10-15 dives on a private boat with our own DM may help us better prepare for that.

 

[farsidefan1]

If you go to Bonaire I highly recommend Bas as a dm guide. read up on the Bonaire posts and you will find him. His night dive with the uv lights was very interesting. My daughter declared it her best dive ever.

 

[firstdive2005]

Hi- Give Opal a call at Scubamuacozumel.com she will put a private dm on the boat with you. Or if you prefer put you on your own boat. Their service, like many, is great you wont be disappointed. Also if you want to try some shore dives, just off their shop you can do that. kevin

 

[cruiser]

My first ocean diving was in Cozumel with Dive House, and I requested a private dive master which they provided for a fee. He gave very personal service, never left my side, helped me with my buoyancy for salt water, pointed out little things along the way, and we took a different, less traveled path through the coral heads (better viz). I felt I was in very good hands, and it was well worth the money

 

[scubawife]

Thanks for all the info. Nothing against the resorts. In fact our stay at SCC last January was awesome. I'd go back in a heartbeat. My wife and I, though, really enjoy a more private adventure. Where ever we travel we try to hire private guides versus going with the herds. In general you can do this for a very small premium. We've never done this as part of a SCUBA trip though. Also, we want to prepare ourselves for a trip to Bonaire where we may very well dive on our own. I'm kind of thinking that 10-15 dives on a private boat with our own DM may help us better prepare for that.

There are a number of really good small dive ops on the island where you will a max of 6-8 divers on the boat, very personalized service, divers choose the sites every day, leisurely diving, and as little or as much DM attention as you might want or need, pier pick up/drop off, beach SI's...

Before you go and spend $$$$ to charter your own boat for a week, check out a few of the small shops. A very different experience then the big resort based boats.

 

[CZMDM]

Before moving here I made at least 25 trips to the island. Except for my first 2 trips we would always stay somewhere moderately priced and would always charter a private boat for a for the duration of our stay. When there are just a couple of divers in the water together the experience is completely different than diving with a group.