DM ? what's the role of a Dive master

[TMHeimer]

Whatever the role of a DM may be regionally, it should be clearly discussed whenever the DM is entering the water with a group of divers who are paying that DM, so that everyone is one the same page. This might help avoid unpleasant surprises.

Exactly. Just ask before you pay for and get on the boat. What the DM does can vary a bit even from boat to boat in the same area.

 

[DevonDiver]

DMs around S.E.Asia tend to be one of two varieties;

1) Shepherd/Babysitter: Leading a flock of [-]sheep[/-] divers around a dive site and generally providing all necessary functions to stop said customers from prematurely and permanently ending their herd existence. Does all dive planning, equipment set-up, fixing any problems, navigation, safety assessment and generally taking every and all decision that needs to be made. Becomes the responsible buddy for every diver in their care.

2) Underwater Guide: As above, but doesn't give two hoots about customer welfare or safety. Jumps in, swims around and is always pleasantly surprised if a majority of the divers happen to surface in their general vicinity at the same time as them. When divers don't surface at the end of the dive, gets primarily concerned about being late and missing dinner/drinks/upset girlfriend etc.

 

[grantwiscour]

I mostly just want/need the DM to give a solid dive briefing. If they are acting as a guide I like them to show the interesting things to be seen on the dive. It's their backyard not mine.

 

[hypertech]

It depends, and if you aren't sure what to expect from a particular DM in a particular situation, you should ask.

In a class, a DM might take a pretty active hands on role. As a general guide, a DM might be there to answer questions and be helpful but not in charge of your dive. As a personal guide, a DM might even make you lunch between dives if you hired them to do that. There really isn't one answer.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

DMs around S.E.Asia tend to be one of two varieties;

1) Shepherd/Babysitter: Leading a flock of [-]sheep[/-] divers around a dive site and generally providing all necessary functions to stop said customers from prematurely and permanently ending their herd existence. Does all dive planning, equipment set-up, fixing any problems, navigation, safety assessment and generally taking every and all decision that needs to be made. Becomes the responsible buddy for every diver in their care.

2) Underwater Guide: As above, but doesn't give two hoots about customer welfare or safety. Jumps in, swims around and is always pleasantly surprised if a majority of the divers happen to surface in their general vicinity at the same time as them. When divers don't surface at the end of the dive, gets primarily concerned about being late and missing dinner/drinks/upset girlfriend etc.

If they have to get in the water I'll pick number 2.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

DMs around S.E.Asia tend to be one of two varieties;

1) Shepherd/Babysitter: Leading a flock of [-]sheep[/-] divers around a dive site and generally providing all necessary functions to stop said customers from prematurely and permanently ending their herd existence. Does all dive planning, equipment set-up, fixing any problems, navigation, safety assessment and generally taking every and all decision that needs to be made. Becomes the responsible buddy for every diver in their care.

2) Underwater Guide: As above, but doesn't give two hoots about customer welfare or safety. Jumps in, swims around and is always pleasantly surprised if a majority of the divers happen to surface in their general vicinity at the same time as them. When divers don't surface at the end of the dive, gets primarily concerned about being late and missing dinner/drinks/upset girlfriend etc.

I'm with Jim, I'll take #2.
That's why I like Southern California dive boats. The DM's are there to fill your tank, help take your fins off at the swim step, and cook tri tip. They are never in the water unless somebody is in trouble and signals them. They don't care what type of equipment we use.
The older and more torn up the better they like it (the gear not the divers).
They like to see well used BC's, torn up wetsuits, and scratched up regs, it means the diver has been at it a while.
They don't give a damn if we solo dive.
The more they leave me alone the bigger tip they get.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Most people think they are smarter than the average and an many of us (me included) think we don't need anything from the DM other than a site briefing and a proper head count before leaving the site. In a perfect world with a decently trained diver and mother nature behaving this should be all that is needed.

I view the DM as insurance, he's out there looking after my ass. I don't expect him/her to fix stupid, but Mr. Murphy is alive and kicking and unexpected issues do occur. They are position to mitigate some of these issues and at least once they saved my dive day with a quick gear fix.

 

[Frosty]

My experience up till now of DM's has been that they are either just a dive buddy who knows the local sights. Ie im as much there as his buddy if he gets in trouble as he is mine but because he's local he will lead the dive. Or if its a bigger group the DM is a tour guide-ie the buddy teams watch out for each other and follow the DM roughly. But each team is self reliant.

 

[eternaljonah]

thanks for all the insight it sure looks to me like most of the diving you do is with a regular buddy, that sure is the best kind of diving but well let me put my two paisa's in, here we're i dive we go out to sea and there is always a dm or local diver added to very dive group,they help finding the right gear in the shop, anchoring the boat and facilitating the change of tanks, Give a brief before the dive, during the dive they manage the reel (if its a reel dive) and keep an eye on gas reserves( an ooa diver at 30m is no fun.) during a drift dive they shot the SMB and so people have a reference for their 5/3. they generally help keep the dive safe. most of the time the divers passing trough are good and can take care of themselves but then there is alway a diver that comes that is a little out of shape( to be polite) and i feel that divers like that need to be baby sited for their own good. sadly today having a AOW mean that you have done 9 dives it does not mean you know how to dive.

 

[Steve50]

thorough briefing and cold water