Dear DM's around the world...

[Darnold9999]

I assume you warn them ahead of time? Otherwise that behaviour may be considered a little passive aggressive?

Yes passive aggressive I suppose, but if you have been told that I dive slowly, and have no interest in a swimming "tour the reef" dive and you still insist on doing that kind of a dive then you can expect to be ignored in return.

Have to say that I really really dislike the "group of divers led by a DM" dive that has become the norm in many locations. Where I live and dive locally there is no such thing. The boat drops you off and picks you up. You are responsible for the dive between those two points. If you need to be at a certain point at the end of the dive you are responsible for getting there - either back to the anchor line or to the end of the drift point for example.

I do like having a guide that is there to find and point out the weird and interesting, but those kinds of guides do not do "tour the reef dives". If they did they quickly would no longer be employed. Having someone at the front of a group of divers swimming across the reef seemingly trying to cover as much ground as possible is a waste of a dive and to be avoided IMHO and wherever possible I do.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

How about each team hire their own guide and the DM stays on the boat where they can actually oversee all the divers? That way you get exactly what you want. To expect a guide or DM to meet the needs of a group of people is simply not realistic or fair to the DM/guide.

 

[Hank49]

Dear DM: Hi! We will NOT be following you. Have a great dive!

I don't think that would work on your first....10 dives or so on sites like....Yapak 2, Boracay. There are many like it in other countries but when the dive requires a quick descent in blue water and very strong current, to drift into and hang onto a wall at 30-35 meters, it's probably best to try and hang with the DM or guide. If you miss the wall, the boat has a hell of a time tracking you.

But yes, in a no current, anchored or moored boat situation....cool.

 

[Centrals]

How about each team hire their own guide and the DM stays on the boat where they can actually oversee all the divers? That way you get exactly what you want. To expect a guide or DM to meet the needs of a group of people is simply not realistic or fair to the DM/guide.

1. There are plenty of cheap charlies and selfish divers around.
2. Does not work on a liveaboard.

 

[TMHeimer]

I read during the DM course about DMs who stay on the boat, what they do, how they position themselves when divers enter/exit, etc. Other than the usual tasks (help with logistics, dive briefing, etc.), I'm not sure how the DM can help safety-wise when something happens during the dive. I guess each buddy team/group hiring their own guide would solve that. So would a buddy team just taking care of itself, but that's not the norm in many places, so I read.
Then of course, hiring your own guide is more money, another tip.

 

[charlier]

Based on my limited experience from diving and guiding in Indonesia ±Malaysia and Thailand, I have a couple of comments. Many dive sites in Alor, Komodo Islands, East Timor, Raja Ampat or in the Banda Sea, it is not that easy for the boat or LoB to "drop you off and pick you up". We all agree that everyone is responsible for themselves between drop off and pick up, but as a DM, I feel that I have a personal responsibility for the safety of my customers. I wonder how many experienced divers from North America have the experience and background to dive in areas with strong currents, unpredictable down currents, along small pinnacles with steep cliffs, or in the blue ocean in remote regions without adequate medical care, SAR capability or nearby chamber. Just something to consider.

 

[Darnold9999]

I am not sure that there are too many locations in the world that have stronger currents or more difficult diving conditions than my local area. (Vancouver Island) I have been to Komode, I have been to Raja and yes the currents are strong - no stronger than my local conditions however and we seem to do just fine without dive guides getting to wrecks, small pinnacles and the like.

However don't really have any issues with guides in difficult conditions, it does make some sense to have a DM when there is a significant chance of getting blown off a site, or where having a guide will show you interesting features or creatures that you would miss on your own. The vast majority of dives don't fall into that category and the guide is completely unnecessary - except for divers that need to be babysat.

Selfish - perhaps but not sure how not wanting to play follow the leader on an easy tropical reef is selfish.

 

[TMHeimer]

Agree with the last 2 posts. Most places I've been needed no guide. There is a view that a good diver, particularly a DM, should be well-versed in many conditions. Not sure I agree with that. I think a good DM is one who knows back & forth the place(s) where he/she works (this is one reason I never DMd charters--didn't know the wrecks all that well). At least that's who I'd feel comfortable diving with. Knowledge beyond that is nice.

 

[Storker]

I'm not sure how the DM can help safety-wise when something happens during the dive.

Should they? Any diver should be able to plan and conduct their dive without help from others than their buddy.

In some parts of the world (typically UK & rest of Northern Europe), the norm is independent buddy pairs/teams, each team plan their dive based on the site briefing and are obligated to surface within the time frame they give to the dive leader. The dive leader stays topside, counts heads, keeps track of whether or not the buddy teams surface on time, and, if they don't, call emergency services. A DM leading and babysitting a bunch of divers around the site is a completely alien concept, applicable only to warm-water resort diving.

 

[TMHeimer]

Should they? Any diver should be able to plan and conduct their dive without help from others than their buddy.

In some parts of the world (typically UK & rest of Northern Europe), the norm is independent buddy pairs/teams, each team plan their dive based on the site briefing and are obligated to surface within the time frame they give to the dive leader. The dive leader stays topside, counts heads, keeps track of whether or not the buddy teams surface on time, and, if they don't, call emergency services. A DM leading and babysitting a bunch of divers around the site is a completely alien concept, applicable only to warm-water resort diving.

Should they? Of course not. Agree with all you say. They do the logistics (head counting, etc.). And don't get to dive (this would be a big minus in my book). Too bad the babysitting inwater is assumed in the tropics. I guess it's all about the business and vacation divers. I couldn't be a vacation diver-- would be too nervous, with a DM/guide or not. I guess many don't share that feeling.