Excellent advice, when you put that dive trip on the credit card, you haven't paid in full. You still owe money.
The A-hole is the guy on the boat who's inferring that the money I paid for the trip wasn't the total amount, it's not really a $60 trip, it's a $65-$70 trip. They don't pay us, you have to. Didn't they tell you that when you paid.
I'm glad I have my own boat and only have to deal with this DM crap on special occasions.
I don't know how I manage to get the boat out, do a dive, and get back without a DM.
Well said, DennisS. I dove from my own boat for years, only going out with commercial charters maybe five or six times per season (in NJ
my season was May-Oct). Took lots of friends and friends' friends out and the only thing I requested was that divers unknown to me be vouched for, as to their abilities, by their friends. Sadly, for them, the commercial ops don't have that option. So the DMs and crews have to be nursemaids to infrequent and, all to frequently, unskilled divers, specially in resort areas like SE FL. I think this may have resulted in a general low regard by the crews. Working with the public is a tough job in any arena. I sure wouldn't want to do it. In short order I'd be calling them stupid, cheap and unconscious dopes and be going around with a chip on my shoulder. That's not the kind of person for that kind of business.
Very unprofessional. Anyway, when I, and apparently a few other divers, get on a charter, we often don't want, and certainly don't need, assistance. In NJ DMs don't lead dives, generally speaking. The "Buddy System" is more often honored in the breach. That's the way we (
real NJ divers) like it. There are times when some NJ guys do need assistance, like when diving with swings, scooters, guns, etc. But we're usually pretty independent. OK, I'm off my soap box. (BTW, a couple of these comments were made tongue-in-cheek. I leave it to the reader to decide which.)