Can't add much to that, Bill (AWMIII). Diving here certainly isn't as rigorous as it can be in the States (I can think of exceptions to your observation) and because of the Tour Guide rule most dive staff have little or no experience of diving elsewhere. I sometimes find that things that are obvious to me, with my substantial diving experience in far more strenuous conditions than we usually have, are regarded here as rather quirky and unnecesary. My insistence for example that virtually every dive ends with a DSMB being deployed. My concern that a dive briefing covers every possible eventuality (such as the four distinct current states in Hol Chan). My preference for a dive plan (which is then observed) or a computer that the diver is familiar with, with no clear water between.
Another problem is that because diving here is generally easy and predictable (albeit relatively deep for visiting inexperienced warm water divers) dive leaders tend to be a bit too relaxed, and assume that they will be able to deal with anything that may crop up. Most of the time they'll be quite right. When I teach recreational diving I feel uncomfortable taking more than two students into open water, and sometimes even two is too many. That's because in my past experience I've seen things go horribly wrong and I'm always thinking "what if?". I once really impressed a local resort manager who was then just an OW diver with the care I took over a DSD, especially after he had seen a local DM performing a similar role. Not because I was particularly good at it, but because I remembered certain basic essentials and kept those to the fore, things like not allowing the diver to go deeper than me on the way down or shallower on the way up. Basic things that the DM hadn't bothered with. 99 times out of 100 that DM would have no problem, but my concern is with that 100th time. Of course, when teaching technical diving (something I haven't done for a while) the reasons for my strict adherence to certain principles become clear.
As you say, there is a tendency amongst certain visitors to assume that the DM knows best and to stop thinking for themselves. So long as you accept him as a guide but not your guardian things should go well.
Another problem is that because diving here is generally easy and predictable (albeit relatively deep for visiting inexperienced warm water divers) dive leaders tend to be a bit too relaxed, and assume that they will be able to deal with anything that may crop up. Most of the time they'll be quite right. When I teach recreational diving I feel uncomfortable taking more than two students into open water, and sometimes even two is too many. That's because in my past experience I've seen things go horribly wrong and I'm always thinking "what if?". I once really impressed a local resort manager who was then just an OW diver with the care I took over a DSD, especially after he had seen a local DM performing a similar role. Not because I was particularly good at it, but because I remembered certain basic essentials and kept those to the fore, things like not allowing the diver to go deeper than me on the way down or shallower on the way up. Basic things that the DM hadn't bothered with. 99 times out of 100 that DM would have no problem, but my concern is with that 100th time. Of course, when teaching technical diving (something I haven't done for a while) the reasons for my strict adherence to certain principles become clear.
As you say, there is a tendency amongst certain visitors to assume that the DM knows best and to stop thinking for themselves. So long as you accept him as a guide but not your guardian things should go well.
