In response to my "Who Is Responsible" post I've received a number of inquiries regarding the role these pros play outside of training. While I do not speak for anyone but myself I am going to try to explain this as I was trained, and subsequently as it really was. I will also put in my observations as a newer diver, a DM, and finally as an instructor as to what occurs on the boats I've been on in Florida, the Great Lakes, California, the St Lawrence, and Bonaire.
First of all I think defining just what the DM is on a boat is a good place to start. From my experience very few DM's on boats at larger operations and resorts are DM's. They usually are actually instructors acting as "DM's". But are they really acting as DM's or guides? Fact is from my PADI training a DM's primary role in the recreational setting is to anticipate and meet the needs of the INSTRUCTOR. Not the diver unless directed to by the instructor. The term Dive Guide is actually more accurate in my view based on what they actually do when in the water. Other agencies differ on what a DM can do and the duties they may perform but their role is to assist the instructor when training divers. Some expect them to also sell courses and gear but that is another topic.
The Dive Master's role, if on a boat, in the traditional sense is to check people in and out of the water, be sure they know the boat procedures, safety aspects, and watch for bubbles and respond to issues on the surface. They will also give a site briefing and give the general parameter for the dive such as time allowed, how much air to be back with, and entry and exit procedures. They may if asked help with gear, check to make sure your air is on, and assist you in and out of the water. Other than this their duties vary greatly from place to place and are not defined by their training but by their employer. Usually unless contracted for otherwise they do not get in the water as your buddy, monitor your air supply, control your depth or make up your dive plan. You are expected to do this. They may assign you a buddy if you don't have one but it is not part of their actual job as a "DM".
In places where the DM ( read DG) gets in the water and leads the dive they are not your buddy, they are not your pressure checker, and they are not the one who decides what you are comfortable with. They are there to point out stuff, navigate the course, and lead you back to the boat. If at any time you incur a problem they may respond if able. The fact is that most times they are so busy pointing things out and keeping herd over the group that alot of diver issues can get overlooked so the diver and his/her buddy need to watch out for each other. They will most likely go over signals with you but they will generally be more along the lines of "look here" "see that" or " time to go". When a problem does occur they may or may not be in a position to immediately assist, especially if the group is large. In Bonaire we had one DM to our group of 18. Now we had 3 instructors, a DM, some tech divers, and the rest save for two students doing checkouts were all experienced. In this case the DM was more or less along for the ride. He did show some cool stuff to some but was not really necessary.
But at any time we knew who was responsible for what and who and this makes things much easier. A DG unless contracted for again is not your buddy, does not plan your dive, monitor your air, or keep you safe. You and your buddy do this. So with this said why even have one? Fact is unless a place requires it or you want to be led to the cool stuff they are really not needed by competent, well trained divers. But the fact is that the last is not always the case and in order to reduce liability, minimize damage to fragile ecosystems, and keep people from killing themselves a Dive Guide is often employed in the places where many new and inexperienced divers seem to end up. Usually in warm water with relatively good conditions overall.
You do not find them on the Great Lakes, in Monterey, off the Outer Banks, in the St.Lawrence, or in the Florida keys where currents and more challenging conditions may be encountered. Why is this? You would think that more difficult conditions would require them. The fact is that those are the places that vacation and less experienced divers tend to go and the divers that do frequent these sites do not need or for that matter want someone in the water telling them what to do and where to go. These are the places that divers who are responsible and self sufficient frequent. They do not need an instructor to keep them safe.
And this is the next item. Why do they call them a DiveMaster when they are actually an instructor? Why not just say they are an instructor? Fact is I'm not really sure. I would always identify myself as an instructor. Even performing what would be considered DM duties are they still not an instructor?
To be continued tomorrow.
First of all I think defining just what the DM is on a boat is a good place to start. From my experience very few DM's on boats at larger operations and resorts are DM's. They usually are actually instructors acting as "DM's". But are they really acting as DM's or guides? Fact is from my PADI training a DM's primary role in the recreational setting is to anticipate and meet the needs of the INSTRUCTOR. Not the diver unless directed to by the instructor. The term Dive Guide is actually more accurate in my view based on what they actually do when in the water. Other agencies differ on what a DM can do and the duties they may perform but their role is to assist the instructor when training divers. Some expect them to also sell courses and gear but that is another topic.
The Dive Master's role, if on a boat, in the traditional sense is to check people in and out of the water, be sure they know the boat procedures, safety aspects, and watch for bubbles and respond to issues on the surface. They will also give a site briefing and give the general parameter for the dive such as time allowed, how much air to be back with, and entry and exit procedures. They may if asked help with gear, check to make sure your air is on, and assist you in and out of the water. Other than this their duties vary greatly from place to place and are not defined by their training but by their employer. Usually unless contracted for otherwise they do not get in the water as your buddy, monitor your air supply, control your depth or make up your dive plan. You are expected to do this. They may assign you a buddy if you don't have one but it is not part of their actual job as a "DM".
In places where the DM ( read DG) gets in the water and leads the dive they are not your buddy, they are not your pressure checker, and they are not the one who decides what you are comfortable with. They are there to point out stuff, navigate the course, and lead you back to the boat. If at any time you incur a problem they may respond if able. The fact is that most times they are so busy pointing things out and keeping herd over the group that alot of diver issues can get overlooked so the diver and his/her buddy need to watch out for each other. They will most likely go over signals with you but they will generally be more along the lines of "look here" "see that" or " time to go". When a problem does occur they may or may not be in a position to immediately assist, especially if the group is large. In Bonaire we had one DM to our group of 18. Now we had 3 instructors, a DM, some tech divers, and the rest save for two students doing checkouts were all experienced. In this case the DM was more or less along for the ride. He did show some cool stuff to some but was not really necessary.
But at any time we knew who was responsible for what and who and this makes things much easier. A DG unless contracted for again is not your buddy, does not plan your dive, monitor your air, or keep you safe. You and your buddy do this. So with this said why even have one? Fact is unless a place requires it or you want to be led to the cool stuff they are really not needed by competent, well trained divers. But the fact is that the last is not always the case and in order to reduce liability, minimize damage to fragile ecosystems, and keep people from killing themselves a Dive Guide is often employed in the places where many new and inexperienced divers seem to end up. Usually in warm water with relatively good conditions overall.
You do not find them on the Great Lakes, in Monterey, off the Outer Banks, in the St.Lawrence, or in the Florida keys where currents and more challenging conditions may be encountered. Why is this? You would think that more difficult conditions would require them. The fact is that those are the places that vacation and less experienced divers tend to go and the divers that do frequent these sites do not need or for that matter want someone in the water telling them what to do and where to go. These are the places that divers who are responsible and self sufficient frequent. They do not need an instructor to keep them safe.
And this is the next item. Why do they call them a DiveMaster when they are actually an instructor? Why not just say they are an instructor? Fact is I'm not really sure. I would always identify myself as an instructor. Even performing what would be considered DM duties are they still not an instructor?
To be continued tomorrow.
) divers. I hope both get widely read, and my reply is mainly to give this thread a gentle "bump" so it will stay towards the top 
