Technical Dive Guide Certification in 2025 can we ask for Proof ?

[KaptainAddock]

So much about safety ,risk management, and diving within limit and proper certification , but , what can we do ?
If we dive ,"Guided " by divers not Properly trained for technical diving , to depth as far at 60M ?
Not properly trained ! by this i mean , not understanding gradient factor , Computer synchronization , common Technical Dive sign , computer setting , Pre-dive briefing Emergency end of dive procedure , etc etc .
And after further questioning , we just realized in fact they are not trained for technical diving neither certified for technical diving to extended range or deco procedure or Advance Nitrox.
So we ask more question(s) to the Owner operator of the dive center, most of the time away and very rarely on site .
We ask DAN if we are properly insurance in case of an event diving with a Negligent Dive operator.
We ask in good faith the Dive Agency represented on the Dive Operator website by a Nice LOGO, misleading a diver like unaware of the situation.
So much about safety in the industry of Scuba Diving but in 2025 I`m surprise that so many related parties refuse to take action about a negligent operator refusing bluntly to shown proof of Technical diving certification. Some call this situation fraudulent , I `m wondering if i have been mislead to believe i was diving with leader in technical diving ? Who can answer , this hot issue ? A Lawyer ?

 

[lowwall]

You are talking about a guide, not an instructor offering technical training right?

What do you expect a guide to do on a technical dive? Sure they can bring you to a spot or point of interest, but the diver is responsible for his or her own safety including managing gas and deco.

Of course that's true of all dives with certified divers, but while you might expect some handholding if you need it on DM-led open water dives, that should never be the expectation on a dive specifically for tech divers that is outside of recreational limits.

 

[lermontov]

im puzzled?
Im assuming your on your own and need a buddy ?rather then your on a trip with a buddy and your forced to have a guide ?

are you expecting to be guided ? or are you forced to accept a dive guide that you dont believe is trained because youre booking with a company that insists you have a guide?

 

[Blackcrusader]

I've done many dives where the guides are not dm certified. Just rescue or even AOW. You can always ask to see the cert of the guides

 

[Centrals]

Tec dive guide must have suitable qualification to perform tec dive. PERIOD.
How on earth can he/she plan a tec dive if not having proper training.
This is a completely different ball game from recreational dive in which any qualified can qualify as guide,
Dive guide and Dive Master is NOT the same.

Find another operator.

 

[happy-diver]

Don't worry be happy, diving with experienced diver people, man
Have you seen the standard of divers they are pumping out today

Trained is only one step and book past untrained and me and you



I'll have a Ni-Van that's been in the ocean since birth take me anywhere before some western schlub

 

[halocline]

This is a vague post that sounds like the OP had a bad experience. Maybe if he or she had some specific info about a specific situation that occurred, there would be conversation worth having.

But, sure, obviously, if you are paying a guide to take you on a technical dive, you would expect that guide would be qualified to do the dive.

Some places like marine parks require guides.

 

[ZephyrNYC]

So much about safety ,risk management, and diving within limit and proper certification , but , what can we do ?
If we dive ,"Guided " by divers not Properly trained for technical diving , to depth as far at 60M ?
Not properly trained ! by this i mean , not understanding gradient factor , Computer synchronization , common Technical Dive sign , computer setting , Pre-dive briefing Emergency end of dive procedure , etc etc .
And after further questioning , we just realized in fact they are not trained for technical diving neither certified for technical diving to extended range or deco procedure or Advance Nitrox.
So we ask more question(s) to the Owner operator of the dive center, most of the time away and very rarely on site .
We ask DAN if we are properly insurance in case of an event diving with a Negligent Dive operator.
We ask in good faith the Dive Agency represented on the Dive Operator website by a Nice LOGO, misleading a diver like unaware of the situation.
So much about safety in the industry of Scuba Diving but in 2025 I`m surprise that so many related parties refuse to take action about a negligent operator refusing bluntly to shown proof of Technical diving certification. Some call this situation fraudulent , I `m wondering if i have been mislead to believe i was diving with leader in technical diving ? Who can answer , this hot issue ? A Lawyer ?

Please tell us what happened. It's difficult to understand from limited information.

 

[Blackcrusader]

This is a vague post that sounds like the OP had a bad experience. Maybe if he or she had some specific info about a specific situation that occurred, there would be conversation worth having.

But, sure, obviously, if you are paying a guide to take you on a technical dive, you would expect that guide would be qualified to do the dive.

Some places like marine parks require guides.

I had guides in Fuvamulah Maldives who are not DECO certified leading divers deeper than 45m on deco dives. They just told the divers up to them how deep they wanted to dive and deco was on the divers not the guides.

 

[boulderjohn]

im puzzled?
Im assuming your on your own and need a buddy ?rather then your on a trip with a buddy and your forced to have a guide ?

are you expecting to be guided ? or are you forced to accept a dive guide that you dont believe is trained because youre booking with a company that insists you have a guide?

In some places, DMs are required by local law. That is true in Cozumel, for example. On technical dives in Cozumel, you need to have a DM, just as you do on NDL dives there.

done many dives where the guides are not dm certified. Just rescue or even AOW. You can always ask to see the cert of the guides

The key thing here is your dive guide will not have liability insurance, something that is required for a currently certified DM.

In a case in southern California, a DM tried to assist a diver who was struggling on the surface by removing his BCD without first removing his weights. The diver plummeted to the depths and died. The DM had let his insurance lapse and so was not currently certified. Both the operator and the DM were sued. Facing a mammoth lawsuit with no insurance, the DM committed suicide.