DM pay or free to 'hold hand'?

Alright, my folks have a house + boat in Pensacola, FL and my pops wants to take us out on his boat but is reluctant to let us dive alone as is my dive buddy a little, never been on a dive without other people in our posse.

So, a local LDS was just kind enough (Dive Pro) to put on their bulletin board my name and number and that I am looking for a experienced diver familiar with the area to partner with.

My question at this point is concerning compensation for this arrangement. The plan is to take him on a 2 tank dive less than 1 hour boat ride from my folks dock/house. He/she would just come over, hop on the boat and just basically comfort my parents by being there, he/she might formulate a dive plan with us, go over it in the prescnece of my dad, talk it through, just be there basically.

They could bring a diving buddy or not and get a day of diving.

Im thinking maybe the pay would be the boat ride and I could pick up some tanks and have them on the boat for them. Do you think that is adequate or would it be insulting not to pay them? I figure free diving and free air would be a mutually beneficial relationship for a few dives. Maybe we would become friends and do soem wrecks in the future, etc... Waddaya think?

I think if I was in pensacola, I'd take you up on it...a boat ride & tanks would be enough for me.

TyTy:

Alright, my folks have a house + boat in Pensacola, FL and my pops wants to take us out on his boat but is reluctant to let us dive alone as is my dive buddy a little, never been on a dive without other people in our posse.

So, a local LDS was just kind enough (Dive Pro) to put on their bulletin board my name and number and that I am looking for a DM familiar with the area to partner with.

My question at this point is concerning compensation for this arrangement. The plan is to take him on a 2 tank dive less than 1 hour boat ride from my folks dock/house. He/she would just come over, hop on the boat and just basically comfort my parents by being there, he/she might formulate a dive plan with us, go over it in the prescnece of my dad, talk it through, just be there basically.

They could bring a diving buddy or not and get a day of diving.

Im thinking maybe the pay would be the boat ride and I could pick up some tanks and have them on the boat for them. Do you think that is adequate or would it be insulting not to pay them? I figure free diving and free air would be a mutually beneficial relationship for a few dives. Maybe we would become friends and do soem wrecks in the future, etc... Waddaya think?

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A DM is a Professional...whether or not they are getting "free" diving with you is really not a factor. By hiring a DM to escort you, you are imposing a professional level of responsibility on him/her.

What do you do for a living? What would you say to someone who walked in and asked if you could provide your time, services and expertise for free. Thinking that the opportunity to go diving with you is compensation enough is what many may find insulting.

Would you do your job for free?

Some might say that dive professionals who are willing to work for free are a contributing factor as to why one cannot make a living in the dive business.

Christi:

A DM is a Professional...whether or not they are getting "free" diving with you is really not a factor. By hiring a DM to escort you, you are imposing a professional level of responsibility on him/her.

What do you do for a living? What would you say to someone who walked in and asked if you could provide your time, services and expertise for free. Thinking that the opportunity to go diving with you is compensation enough is what many may find insulting.

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Doe,s the DM have insurance? he should have if he is a paid professional and is he/she willing to take responsibility if it hits the fan?.

Christi:

A DM is a Professional...whether or not they are getting "free" diving with you is really not a factor. By hiring a DM to escort you, you are imposing a professional level of responsibility on him/her.

What do you do for a living? What would you say to someone who walked in and asked if you could provide your time, services and expertise for free. Thinking that the opportunity to go diving with you is compensation enough is what many may find insulting.

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Thats what Im trying to find out, not trying to insult anyone.

I dont really care if that person is a DM or not, just experienced and familiar wiht the area, I should have made that clear.

But one thing to point out, I know the DM that went on my checkout dives didnt get paid, just got free diving and earned dives towards their further certifications. Also all of them had professions other than diving and did that on the side.

So yes, getting 100 or more dollars of free fuel, a boat that they probably dont have and free air dosent seem like a bad deal to go get wet. They wont be teaching us anythng other than a local conditions report/survey, no divings skills need to be taught just come along and have fun.

matts1w:

Would you do your job for free?

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but I'd not discount the barter system, either. I trade engineering services for other "stuff" all of the time.

I changed the title and post to reflect the fact that I am not looking for a professional diver to give me lessons or train me in any way, just someone that is experienced and familiar with the area to dive with. Also I am not looking for someone to take any responsibility for me in any way whatsoever. In fact I would prefer if this person brought their own buddy and we dove independantly of eachother as in if I loose track of your buddy group Im not going looking for you and vice versa, we are just two buddies diving at the same place at the same time.

BTW, Im not afraid to pay someone, that is fine. I just dont want any wierdness by offering someone money when they thought we were developing a friendship or vice versa to not offer when it is expected.

Also if I should offer I want to offer a fair amount so that I dont get ripped off, her/she gets properly compensated. I want to make the relationship mutually beneficial/agreeable to eveeryone which is why I posted.

Aquanaut4ata:

I think if I was in pensacola, I'd take you up on it...a boat ride & tanks would be enough for me.

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Me too, I frequently go for a free boat ride where I am expected to hold hands with someone.
A divermaster is essentually a dive professional but I doubt many DMs are doing it for a living.

TyTy-

Diving with an expereinced diver and a new friend is a totally diffferent take on the situation.

However, your first post indicated you were looking for some sort of guided dive, much like the PADI Discover Local Diving experience. If that is the case you should compensate for their time.