Steel tank ops - a comparison between Living Underwater and Aldora

[Prop Joe]

Marg, I'll be down for a few days starting tomorrow. Get on an Aldora boat with Sallye and I. If nothing else stop by the Villa for an ice cold beverage. I'm there with the family till the 20th.

 

[Christi]

Dear Mossman,

Yes, there have been times that divers have become separated from our groups, but it has been rare—but never planned or expected as others may do. Given that most of the dive sites are also the high speed routes of boats going back and forth on dive trips, and boats are also maneuvering to pick up divers, I just don't think it safe to have divers all over the place on the surface, and I back that up with conviction. And Christi, you are wrong!

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

Dave,

Your policies are your policies - and I respect that. I am not here to tell you that you are WRONG for implementing that policy - but which point of mine do you disagree with? Please let me know how you believe I am factually wrong with any point(s) that you disagree with. Like MMM's friend, I cannot find anywhere in my most recent Instructor Manual that requires a DM to even be in the water with certified divers, let alone that a group of certified divers is required to stay together and ascend as a group.

I also wasn't aware that PADI had taken on the solitary role as Scuba police for certified divers. If I am indeed wrong, then I stand corrected - but I don't think so.

A. PADI is not the only training agency - and therefore not the sole authority on how dives are to be conducted
B. No agency governs how dives are led for certified divers, only for students
C. DM's in the water in CZM is a local law, not a rule or standard by any of the certification agencies
D. The PADI Instructor Manual also states that dives are to be conducted in accordance with local regulations and practices

 

[MMM]

Would have loved to do so but when I was there Sally was off the island. And I guess even if you, me and Sally had been on the boat, our dives would have been limited to whoever else got put on it with us. Advanced or not.

Marg, I'll be down for a few days starting tomorrow. Get on an Aldora boat with Sallye and I. If nothing else stop by the Villa for an ice cold beverage. I'm there with the family till the 20th.

 

[Prop Joe]

Would have loved to do so but when I was there Sally was off the island. And I guess even if you, me and Sally had been on the boat, our dives would have been limited to whoever else got put on it with us. Advanced or not.

We'll both be there now. If your interested I know this guy named Memo. He can make things happen at the shop. He can get us a boat. Maybe our own boat? Stranger things have happened. Trust me...
Stop by the Villa and I'll introduce you to the family, mine and the Aldora team that runs the Villa.

 

[MMM]

It was a short trip. I am back in Canada. I think the spare boat went to the guy that nobody (and I do mean NOBODY including the DMs) wanted to dive with.

We'll both be there now. If your interested I know this guy named Memo. He can make things happen at the shop. He can get us a boat. Maybe our own boat? Stranger things have happened. Trust me...
Stop by the Villa and I'll introduce you to the family, mine and the Aldora team that runs the Villa.

 

[lionfish-eater]

Marg, just curious, what would have happened if this type of diver booked a week with LU? Would the other divers be stuck with him all week, would he have been turned away by the shop, given his own dm or boat?

---------- Post added July 14th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ----------

Well, I don't know ?

---------- Post added July 14th, 2014 at 09:51 PM ----------




Is that like saying don't wear a seatbelt, because people wearing seat belts can get killed too?

Hey but I am all in on the play nice. This is teetering on the edge of ugly....

No, it is like saying that people need to be very careful to avoid injury regardless of whose boat.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Right! We could all just stay home.

---------- Post added July 14th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ----------

Me, I'm a risk taker that likes to dive the tank I've paid for.

 

[MMM]

Since I have never encountered such a terrible diver before it's hard to say. However, what I can tell you, with the utmost certainty, is that he would have had a private word with the diver. He will try to manage the problem, suggest they need to fix it or leave is the message. Most assuredly they would not be given their own private boat. I have NEVER been forced to endure an unendurable diver and my request to Aldora to have another diver moved was the very first time I have ever done so.

Jeremy doesn't advertise, doesn't participate on web forums etc. and relies almost exclusively on word of mouth via advanced diver forums. So my experience is that GENERALLY his divers are pretty good. But not all are! He has told me about some dandies! As Boulderjohn mentioned. Much can be mitigated (but not all) and generally enough to my satisfaction since they get sent up earlier. I don't care about swim-throughs, or diving deep or whatever. In fact, I am pretty easy to get along with and will go wherever other divers on the boat want to go or where the DMs THINK they should gol

When I am there for the winter, I don't really care who his other divers are. If he finds he has some bad ones when I am booked then he will contact me and suggest I move. But obviously that doesn't work when people only have a week to dive. Does this answer your questions?

Marg, just curious, what would have happened if this type of diver booked a week with LU? Would the other divers be stuck with him all week, would he have been turned away by the shop, given his own dm or boat?

---------- Post added July 14th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ----------



No, it is like saying that people need to be very careful to avoid injury regardless of whose boat.

 

[cvchief]

and relies almost exclusively on word of mouth via advanced diver forums.

Wait.... That isn't where I am?

 

[jd950]

Marg, just curious, what would have happened if this type of diver booked a week with LU? Would the other divers be stuck with him all week, would he have been turned away by the shop, given his own dm or boat?

I have seen Jeremy tell divers they need to find a different op for their remaining dives. I have no idea what, if anything he would have done in this situation.