Setting up gear for you in Coz?

[scubawife]

It is the divers' responsibility to make sure his/her gear is set up properly. You are correct. This is why I set my own gear up. I can't understand why people want someone else to do that for them. Having another person messing with it just adds to the possibility of error IMO. Yeah, yeah, the DMs do it every day, but they don't know the individual piece of gear and the divers' specific setup. Only the diver who uses it does. If you can't set up your own gear you shouldn't be diving.

...and setting up gear is not a DM's basic function. It's something that was added to try to get extra tips. Next some lazy diver will want the DM to dress them in their wetsuit.

Cozumel is much different from most Caribbean dive destinations. There are many dive ops to choose from and you can find virtually every combination of service and price to suit just about any divers preferences and taste. There's everything from just a boat ride, bottle of water and a DM, to full-service "valet diving," and everything in between.

Choosing a dive operator who will rinse and store my gear and have it set up on the boat for me when they pick me up in the morning is my choice. I'm very capable of doing all that myself (and bringing my own towel, snacks, drinks, etc.) and do on most of my trips to other destinations. In Cozumel I have a dive op I trust and who I pay for the extra service and amenities because it lets me enjoy my vacation a little more. I still check my gear before every dive and do a buddy check. I also analyze my nitrox tanks.

Even with the premium dive ops, if you prefer to set up your own tank and rinse and deal with your gear yourself everyday, they won't object. You won't get a discount for doing it all yourself, but they will let you do it.

 

[paulw]

I can only speak for my experiences but I have always let the DM set up my gear in COZ and watched them do it and before I dive do a buddy check (even if it is only checking myself) and have not had an issue. As a matter of fact I once changed the tank placement and the DM saw what I did and did it that way the rest of the week with out me saying a thing. I have found (or been lucky which I don't believe) the dive ops in Cozumel very professional and eager to please and so what if it is for more pay ie a tip, isn't that why we all work and try hard for our customers at home? For me I am on vacation and let the dive ops haul and load and whatever else. Lazy - yep thats what I'm paying for but I am safe, I do check my gear before I get wet. But I can understand if someone wants to set up their own gear. Just IMHO and my 02.

 

[fireflock]

I bet gear setup would easily take twice as long on a coz small boat if each person decides to do it themselves. With limited space, 6 divers each trying to set up their own gear (or switch tanks) at the same time can cause a cluster.

So - there are practical reasons too....everyone is not just lazy

Rich

 

[jo8243]

I bet gear setup would easily take twice as long on a coz small boat if each person decides to do it themselves. With limited space, 6 divers each trying to set up their own gear (or switch tanks) at the same time can cause a cluster.

So - there are practical reasons too....everyone is not just lazy

Rich

I wasn't aware the boats were so small. Nobody pointed that out in the first batch of responses. That does explain some things.

 

[fireflock]

_Some_ of the boats are small. The DM can sit on the floor in the back and set up gear while moving at full speed on the way to the dive site. Imagine a typical tourist diver trying to do the same

Coz has big boats too for people who prefer that. I've never been on one though, so I don't know what they do with gear.

Rich

 

[116fire]

I let them do their thing, and then I do mine. If you dive without double checking your an idiot. I don't care who says "your ok" I still make sure my air is on, my nitrox analysed etc. Now the "don't touch my stuff and don't call me Francis" school--well you are the customer. I dive with Aldora in Coz, and I trust them to touch my stuff, they are professional divers, and if they can't change a tank without messing up a reg they wouldn't be around long.

 

[ronski101]

I learned the hard way (not at cozumel) when on one dive in the week my air was not turned on. Fortunately I caught it because before I jumped in I always check both primary and octo. In cozumel on the small boats there is usually a minute or two to check stuff before rolling in. I make it a practice to not rush myself even if I am the last one to get handed my gear and people are waiting.
Like others, I watch the guy who is usually very busy setting up the gear just to make sure he doesn't forget something like loose tank strap, BC hose not connected, tank too high or low, etc. I figure it is my fault just as much as it is his if it is not the way I like it.

 

[Christi]

I learned the hard way (not at cozumel) when on one dive in the week my air was not turned on. Fortunately I caught it because before I jumped in I always check both primary and octo. In cozumel on the small boats there is usually a minute or two to check stuff before rolling in. I make it a practice to not rush myself even if I am the last one to get handed my gear and people are waiting.
Like others, I watch the guy who is usually very busy setting up the gear just to make sure he doesn't forget something like loose tank strap, BC hose not connected, tank too high or low, etc. I figure it is my fault just as much as it is his if it is not the way I like it.

Exactly....this is exactly why we do gear/buddy checks before entering the water REGARDLESS of who sets up your gear. ANYONE can forget to turn the tank on, not connect the inflator hose all the way, etc. etc.

I think some people don't really "get" why buddy checks are so important. NO different than proofreading your own paper. You always need someone to double check it.

 

[waynel]

Folks, are we serious here? What's the big issue. Fine, let the DM set it up but check everything out before you go in. As Christi suggested, it's real basic stuff, I mean there's just so much that needs to be done and...that's it. Got a cut o-ring? You will hear it. Valve not opened? Just open it. Want to analyze your gas, great, go for it. The valve thing has happened to me. The DM came along and opened it up and yep, a deck hand came along and closed it. Guess how I realized it was closed? I checked it. Relax. Yes, a number of things can go wrong. Yea, safety first, but it's diving not launching a space shuttle. It is about having fun. Leave the obsessions home.

 

[shydamsel]

I was taught to take a test breath to make sure my reg was working properly. I have had them replace my tank for the second dive, while I was getting on from the first dive. I always recheck what they did. I have had the air not on all the way or not turned on at all. It is nice to be pampered, but I am responsible for myself and can only take that responsibility if I check my gear.

My brother works with someone who had the DM leave the tape over the tank valve and put her reg over it. She jumped in, had a few breaths, then it clogged and stopped working. Apparently they had insisted that they set her gear up.....