Role of a Dive Master

[Leejnd]

This is a confusing issue to discuss, because there are so many different types of dive situations, and DMs can play a very different role depending the location/situation/type of boat.

Many people are responding to this thread from the perspective of the situation they are most familiar with, not recognizing that others are talking about completely different dive situations. So there are many crossed lines in here.

Let's look at the many different types of dive situations in which a DM plays a role:

1. Resort dive boats (such as the type you find in tropical locations)
2. Live-aboards
3. Classes
4. Privately hired DMs
5. Group chartered boats
6. Open dive boats (such as the ones we have here in SoCal)

And those are just the ones off the top of my head - I'm sure there are others.

I would say the two most divergent are 1 and 6 - at many of the tropical resort areas we've dived, the DM expected to actually be a full-on babysitter, setting up your gear, leading the dive, and expecting us to actually OBEY him - he was "in charge of" the dive. Whereas on our dive boats here in SoCal, the DM plays a much more hands-off role - you are expected to be on your own, take care of your own gear, plan your dive, and the DMs usually don't even get in the water unless they have to...they are there to give dive briefings and offer help as necessary.

So given the wide variety of roles that a DM might play, I think your entire question needs to be rephrased to clarify exactly what type of dive, location, boat you are referring to. There is no "correct" role - it depends on the situation.

I also think that your question IS a bit baiting...you seem to suggest that DMs who are less directly involved are somehow uncaring, whereas it may simply be the type of DM'ing they are expected to do in that dive situation. You compare scuba diving to skydiving - not a reasonable comparison, because if something goes wrong on a skydive, that's pretty much guaranteed to be fatal, which isn't the case with diving - certified divers should be able to deal with things that go wrong. That's what a large part of our training is all about, and what the buddy system is for.

You also seem to suggest that DMs who don't babysit or "handhold" other divers are somehow uncaring and/or unprofessional. I disagree - I think it completely depends on the situation.

Yes, we are all human and there is nothing wrong with any of us (divers, DMs, boat crew) watching out for each other. But I think you do need to do a little research to understand the expectation of DMs in the type of dive situation you will be in. If you are coming out on one of our boats here in SoCal, don't expect to be hand-held - expect that the DM will be a resource if you need him/her, but you will be expected to be self-sufficient. If you are going out on a cattle boat in the tropics, don't expect to be independent - they won't allow you to be.

Often times it is up to the DM to be sure the divers are in or out of the water at a certain time. Keep in mind we're diving the same boats and the same sites every day. We have a schedule to follow. Our employers expect that we make that schedule. This is especially true on a liveaboard when we're doing 5 dives a day. If you gave me the "one finger salute" after I told you we need to surface or to rejoin your group or buddy... you wouldn't be diving anymore.

This is obviously describing the far end of the spectrum - the hand-holding resort-style DM-led dive. I'm with Jim Lapenta - I avoid these types of operations at all costs. I do not need or want a babysitter. If I'm on a dive boat, I have paid for a certain number of dives, and I expect to be able to do my full dive, and use up my tank. I absolutely will not end my dive because some noob hoover in the group sucked their whole tank down while I still have 2000 psi - nor will I shorten my dives because the boat has another load to take out that afternoon and the DM wants to keep to his schedule.

But the key is, I will learn the type of operation it is beforehand, and if that's how they run their boats, I make other arrangements with an operation that will allow me to dive independently. I've found myself in places where it's almost impossible to find an op that allows that, but even there I've been able to discuss in advance with the op, so that my buddy and I went off on our own, while the rest of the boat did the follow-the-leader thing. Worked out fine. We returned to the boat last, but they were expecting that.

I expect a complete dive briefing from a divemaster and the ability to answer questions. He is there to provide the local knowledge I need to make a dive safe: currents, tides, topology, hazards, etc. Once that is done, the less he does for me after that the more I will tip him. Ideally he'd stay on the boat while I dive.

And that's type 6 - which is what I am most familiar with, and what I'm most comfortable with. I do not feel our DMs are uncaring. They are doing what is expected of them...and usually a lot more than that, too.

It would be a lot easier for you to divide by 15 than for the divemaster to keep track of each diver's unit preference, I would think.

So you would change your computer for the DM?? Sorry, but I disagree. That is my computer, it's my air, and the DM is not responsible for keeping track of my air. That's my job. Even in a cattle-boat-follow-the-leader dive (which I have had to do in certain places - Blue Hole in Belize comes to mind) I am not changing my computer for nobody.

Just to be clear, I'm not baiting anyone. I just truly want to understand the role of the DM (and anyone else on the dive) so that I can make sure that I have done everything possible to keep myself and anyone else on the dive as safe as possible. I also want to make sure I'm not making any assumptions about the available aid or oversight available that might cause me to get myself or others into an unsafe situation.

I just want to reiterate that to truly understand the role of the DM, you need to find out what type of dive situation it is, and what the role of the DM is in that situation. That will help you to avoid making wrong assumptions.

 

[vladimir]

As far as I know (and I admit I am green) there are two primary units Bar and PSI.

Yes.

Both my daughter and I have less than 50 dives, but are reasonably competent. We do do buddy checks, have gone to the pool to practice and take our fun and safety seriously. However, I would not expect the diver's under a DM to convert. Why take a newish diver out of their comfort zone? We are responsible for our own air and safety. If we are used to reading PSI leave it. If everything is fine, then the conversion would be no problem, but what if an emergency arises?

The divemaster wanted to be able to signal to you, "How much gas?" and have you signal back, "100 bar." What I was suggesting was that you could leave your computer set to psi, look at the 1500 psi reading, and signal back, "100 bar." Just a suggestion--that's what I do with officious metric divemasters.

 

[Leejnd]

I'm unlike Jim. I don't mind a guide in an unfamiliar place. I would have missed a LOT of tiny, cryptic animals in Indonesia, without the guides to spot them and point them out. Just as, when I escort out of town divers around our local dive sites, I can show them the octopus under a log, or find the warbonnet inside of the piling. There's nothing like local knowledge to help you see more on a dive. That's MY biggest perception of the role of the "DM" (who, in Indonesia, wasn't a DM at all, but just a guide) -- that, and knowing how to get to where the most interesting things are.

Just saw this - and I would agree that this is more of a "dive guide" than a "DM". We dove with guides in several places - Bali, Belize, French Polynesia - and they added tremendously to the dives. But when we were doing multiple dives, we would ensure that we had the option of going off on our own and not following the guide. And, MOST importantly, if the guide had many people following him, that if someone in the group breathed out their tank, we would not be expected to end OUR dive.

 

[drrich2]

I've been on at least one charter boat, off eastern Puerto Rico, where you could either follow the DM for a guided dive, or dive your own plan (which some did).

You don't always have to choose between 'led by the nose' and 'Man vs. Wild' (sorry, couldn't resist) independent diving on a given boat.

Richard.

 

[vladimir]

So you would change your computer for the DM?? Sorry, but I disagree. That is my computer, it's my air, and the DM is not responsible for keeping track of my air. That's my job. Even in a cattle-boat-follow-the-leader dive (which I have had to do in certain places - Blue Hole in Belize comes to mind) I am not changing my computer for nobody.

I agree that it's my responsibility. As you indicate, though, sometimes you're stuck diving within these rules. In that case:

What I was suggesting was that you could leave your computer set to psi, look at the 1500 psi reading, and signal back, "100 bar." Just a suggestion--that's what I do with officious metric divemasters.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Here is some food for thought. I am speaking for many DM's.

I being a DM..This is what I am not:
- I am not your private mule.
- I am not your private gear put together guy.
- I am not your private dive shop. If you forgot a reg or any other life support I will not provide you with my personal one. If you forgot a piece of gear other than a life support system, if I have an extra one and it fits you..then you are welcome to borrow it.
- I am not going to plan your dive for you.
- I am not going to listen to your BS about how many dives you did when I can clearly see that you put your BC on your tank backwards.
- I will not repair your reg for you. I will take care of it back at the dive shop for you if you chose to have it repaired.
- I am not here to get yelled at because you are having a bad day.

I am a DM and this is what I will do for you:
- I will HELP you if you ask me to.
- I will provide a safe dive environment for you when you are on a boat, in a class or on a shore dive. ( What i mean by a safe dive environment is: have an emergency kit together, have O2, have a first aid, a cell phone or radio, have a throw line or rescue gear in place. Have a list of emergency numbers for the area we are in. Have an emergency dive plan set.
- I will HELP you to get your gear on if asked or if I see you need a hand. I will ask you.
- I will provide you with a detailed dive briefing so you can plan your dive accordingly.
- I will be in the water with you and have extra gas ready ( depending on environment and type of dive. I will carry a redundant gas supply or we will hang one or two extra cylinders with regs from an emergency line at 15 feet.)
- I will have extra rental dive gear on hand in the event you forgot something or if your personal reg is defective I will loan you a rental reg so you can have a great day diving.
-I will answer any questions if you are not clear as to the area we will be diving after the dive briefing.
- I will be your guide if you need one.

I am a DM and this is what I EXPECT from you:
- I expect respect from you. Because I am respecting you.
- I expect you to listen to my dive briefing. Because your safety is my concern
- I expect you to respect the boat, the crew and all other passengers on board
( depending on dive situation of course)
- I expect you to have all your dive gear in working order prior to your dive.
- I expect you to have all your dive gear( not in use) properly stowed away in a safe manner as to not put the other passengers or crew in any danger.
- I expect you to have all your necessary papers in order so we can register you in the manifest
- I expect you to tell me what you have as gas when I ask for it prior to you hitting the water
- I expect you to have fun. Because I will make it as enjoyable as possible so you can enjoy your vacation and come back and see us next time.
- I expect you to advise me on your health conditions if any.
- I expect you to communicate to me if you need anything so that I can provide it for you if I can.

I cannot read your mind so please let me know how I can be of service to you.

So tip your DM generously and say thanks especially if you had a great dive day regardless of weather vis or any-other factors that I as a DM cannot control.

 

[TimKy]

This has been very enlightening. It seems one problem is that there is no real standard for what a DM does or should do. The responses here have ranged greatly from the all inclusive to just the bare minimum and the diver takes the rest. The fact that the divers also don't agree on what they would like for the DM to do just exacerbates the problem.

Unfortunately, the loser here is the diver who makes some assumption (based on previous experience, anecdotal reports of other divers, etc.) regarding the assistance he or she will receive. Also very unfortunate is that the list of possible outcomes relative to that loss includes severe penalties such as disability and death.

I'm a big believer in letting people take responsibility for their own lives as long as that doesn't exact a price on anyone else. Diving seems to fit that mold in that an accident usually only has lasting effects for the diver him/herself. I certainly wouldn't want to see it regulated the way aviation is for example where the regulation has driven costs out of sight and made it nearly unavailable to anyone except the very fortunate. An aviation accident usually affects many more people than just the pilot (trusting passengers, people on the ground, etc.) so I think it may warrant the extra attention.

However, I wouldn't think it would hurt to have some reasonable guidelines for what a DM does for his divers and what you both can and should expect on a dive. That would include not only the help you would or could receive but also what their expectations of you as a certified diver will be. The vague nature of it all is what concerns me. Nobody can or will define the roles.

The bottom line is that diving is a very inclusive sport because it has so many different permutations. There are once-a-year rec divers and hard core daily tech divers. These divers obviously need vastly different things from anyone trying to aid them on a dive. So, some of this should work itself out if the divers pick dives that are remotely appropriate to their skill level. But maybe the dive operators and DM's still need to do a better job of trying to really figure out how experienced and/or comfortable the divers are well before the dives begin. I do think it would be very frustrating for every dive to be dumbed down to the level of the least experienced diver on the boat, so why not try to do a better job matching the experience levels to the dives and operators?

Maybe this is simple economics at work. The money is really not there so you take all comers, try not to piss anyone off and try not to kill anyone. If something does happen, you point at the diver and say it was his fault - he was certified after all. You have kept everything very vague which makes it harder to prove who is really at fault so that protects the dive operator and his staff.

In aviation, no matter what happens on a flight, the end result of the investigation will have "pilot error" as a component. If something fails, you should have anticipated that and been able to deal with it - if you didn't or couldn't that was your fault. If the weather suddenly got overwhelming, you should have been able to predict that - even when the meteorologists couldn't and it was your fault. They will often try to share the blame among manufacturers but, in the end, it was the pilot's fault. Knowing that, I always try to keep in mind that there really is no one to help me when I'm in the air. That insures that I am very thorough on my preflights, that I spend anything necessary on maintenance, that I keep my training up and that I am very forceful with air traffic control when I believe their agenda is at odds with my safety. I feel the same way with diving, but I think there are many out there that have the expectation that "someone" will help them if anything goes wrong, so they don't really have to worry about it.

It seems the right thing to do might be to be very explicit about the fact that the responsibility lies with you the diver and that you cannot really count on any help from the DM. Sure, they will try to help if they can, but it is not a guarantee and if you aren't comfortable taking the risk of getting lost in low vis or getting swept away in strong current or whatever other peril lurks on a particular dive, then you really shouldn't go. On the dive boats I've been on, there certainly hasn't been any emphasis placed on insuring that your skills and confidence level are up to the dive. I know you can hire a private DM as a guide at most places, but I would be willing to be that there is some more money to be made right here by being a little more proactive. A VERY thorough briefing of the upcoming dive and the associated challenges followed by an explicit offer of additional paid support would probably have a two-fold effect. First, it would increase the safety for those divers who come to realize they may be in over their heads and take advantage of some highly skilled help. Second, it would help to separate the divers by skill levels so that both the highly skilled and novices alike would have a better chance of getting the full enjoyment from their dives.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for the responses!

 

[RJP]

This has been very enlightening. It seems one problem is that there is no real standard for what a DM does or should do. The responses here have ranged greatly from the all inclusive to just the bare minimum and the diver takes the rest. The fact that the divers also don't agree on what they would like for the DM to do just exacerbates the problem

I think you're over-thinking the whole thing. There are "standards" for what a DM should do. They just happen to not be a single, universal standard, giving the wide differences in "permutations" that you cite. Nor can/should they be, accordingly.

One thing that hasn't been specifically stated, but seems to come up in a lot of the posts is the need for the diver to establish and clarify what THEIR expectations are relative to DM's and dive ops in general. (Outside of a class environment where the DM's role is pretty clear.)

• Don't want us to touch your gear? Let us know.
• Want us to hold your hand the whole day? Let us know.
• Want to do your own thing instead of following a guide? Let the OP know this is your preference ahead of time to ensure that's OK per the boat's policy.
• Want a guided tour of every nook and cranny? Make sure that level of service is what the boat provides
• Etc, etc, etc,

People who are otherwise intelligent - who wouldn't go into a restaurant without having some idea about what's on the menu, and wouldn't expect the waitress to magically know what they want to order, and wouldn't expect the chef to know that they don't like capers - somehow put a mask on their face and a tank on their back and suddenly expect that everyone in the dive industry can read their minds.

I don't know a dive OP, DM, guide or boat crew member who is not willing to accomodate pretty much any customer want, need, or desire - given that...

1. they are informed as to what those wants, needs, and desires are ahead of time
2. that they are consistent with whatever policies are otherwise in place to ensure that all divers have a safe and enjoyable time.

Simple communication is the key to making sure your expectations are understood and met.

 

[DCBC]

Quite a few interesting comments. Although a DM is a certification, I operationally define the DM as the one responsible for the safety of all divers as soon as they leave the dock, until they get back on it.

In this role the DM doesn't act as a dive guide, although dive guides may also have this certification. For me it's more important to define the DM by the role they have, rather than the qualification they hold.

Although I don't want the DM to baby me, I expect to satisfy him that the dive will be done safely. I'm happy to go over my dive plan and answer any questions up until the time that the dive starts. I expect him to check my equipment and satisfy him of my fitness and qualifications to make the dive.

Perhaps one of the largest operational skill-sets a DM requires is the ability to manage diver expectations. Some clients may desire a guide while others like Jim and I want to be left alone to enjoy themselves. Both can be accommodated in my view, but the responsibility is the DMs. His word is final.

When I operated a dive charter, I insisted on the DM remaining on the boat. A DM's not in a position to help anyone in an emergency if he's showing people marine life. If it was required or requested, we would put a second or third diving leader into the water to act as a group or personal guide.

 

[gyonks02]

I think your perception of a good DM is very accurate.
You very rarely read in these posts about Divemasters that did exactly what they are supose to do. Yet I think 99% of the time they do exactly that. Unfortunately, these posts are ideal spots to allow people to rant about what went wrong and who they can blame for it. We rarely like to blame ourselves. A talented Divemaster can check peoples gear and fixes problems above and below without divers ever being aware.
Other may see it differently.