Travel with dive shop problems

[kiknads]

My wife is an instructor with the local dive shop, and they are headed to Saba/st kitts on the explorer ventures boat. She has been given a spot aboard by the store. The problem is the dive shop owner has decided that significant others of group leaders ARE NOT allowed to go which seems rediculous to me considering I am (or was) a dive control specialist with said shop also. The other dive instryctors wife is dealing with the same issue also. I'm trying to figure out a way to get it through this guys head that he is only causing huge issues with his instructors in that the significant others love diving also

Has anyone else heard of such a rule? Or have any idea how to convince him otherwise?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Did they book the whole boat? If not call ex ven and see if there are open berths. Then buy one. If the shop owner says anything tell him to go pound salt. If your wife is actually going to be working as a leader he may feel that you would be a distraction and that would make sense. Otherwise he's full of crap. They get a free spot for so many paid ones. Just pay for one.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hawkwood]

Are you going as divers and paying for spots just as others do? Without understanding what the policy is and why the policy is in place, it's hard to "rationally" criticise it.

Our shop has no such restriction. Anyone who wants to go can pay and go. That includes the instructors. I'd think it would be unusual not to see the instructors' spouses/significant others/partners (whatever your pleasure) on a dive trip if they dive.

Bill

 

[kiknads]

He has booked the whole boat unfortunately, I would be paying full price as any other person would. Given that it's a confined space I can't understand how distraction would become an issue. If anything I think the instructors would be happier that their s/o wasn't fuming at home

 

[Hawkwood]

Something to consider...have there been "grumblings" from shop customers in the past about availability of spaces on dive trips?

Often the first to know about trips are the shop staff and instructors. Very quickly the trip gets populated with the instructors diving spouses and kids...I have seen it. Take two instructors, two spouses, and throw in a couple of kids, and you now have 6 of the 12/14 spots taken up. All are paying of course, but it still limits the number of spaces for "customers". Customers who might miss out and get upset when they find out that by the time the trip is announced it is half or 3/4 full. These are also customers who also buy stuff for the trip and take classes on the trip - often the side benefit/reason for shops even organizing these things.

Maybe that's the rationale. Ask...there is a reason for everything.

 

[kiknads]

The trip has been posted for several weeks now, for january with 4 spaces left for some time, also posted is the October trip with 3 available. I understand how they would like to make more by selling courses/ equipment but that does the opposite of rewarding loyalty even especially to staff. Angry spouses at home could lead to lack of instructors in his shop

 

[sskasser]

If I had a spouse that "sat home fuming" while I went on a working trip, even a fun one, I might reconsider having that spouse. That just doesn't seem to be an ideal domestic situation. If spouses want to go on a dive trip together, book a dive trip together. If an instructor is given a free space on a shop trip, it is up to that instructor to decide if he/she wants to accept the offer or not.

Something else to consider, those spouses that would sit home fuming, might also be the spouse on the dive boat that sits fuming while the instructor spouse is tasked with diving with other divers who may need more assistance. That doesn't sound like fun for anyone.

 

[theduckguru]

If you are a paying customer, I don't see an issue.

 

[Tigerman]

Is the shop instructors paying or getting the trip for free and expected to do some "work" on the trip?
If they are I would understand that the shop would want to have "independent" customers able to book first up untill pretty much "last minute" before they allow spouses of the staff to book.
If the shop instructors are "paying customers" whos there to relax and dive, Im a bit more in doubt as you have the fact mentioned above that "normal customers" might find the trip full or almost full before they can book, but at the same time, everyones paying guests so to speak..

 

[kiknads]

Skass; it'd be easier if it wasn't a "anyone can go but you" trip. My wife does scientific diving also and I understand the difference. I am a Dcs with the same shop so I'm used to diving with new people and not necessarily my wife. I'm quite personable and I enjoy the reactions/ challenges that come from new divers