Instructors doing "trust me" dives.

[Cave Diver]

Comments in another thread made me wonder about the prevalence of instructors taking students on "trust me" dives.

For those unfamiliar with the term, it's a dive where one person has little idea of the circumstances, conditions, or environment and are diving beyond their skill and/or training level and are basically relying on the other person to guide them through it safely.

I realize there are some situations where instructors can take a diver on a dive beyond their current cert as an "experience dive." An example would be a cave instructor allowing an OW diver to dive a cavern area with them. These are not the types of dives I'm referring to.

I'm more interested in Open Water instructors taking divers beyond recreational depths or doing wreck penetrations, especially if not properly equipped with redundant air sources, etc.

Have you as an OWSI/DM ever taken a certifed diver or student on a trust me dive? (this will probably be rhetorical)

Have you as a certified diver ever been encouraged to do a trust me dive with an instructor or DM?

Please detail your experience for perspective.

 

[tkdgodess]

No never for leading or following. I alway discuss the dive plan with students or buddies. I've never been a follower. I want to know who what when where why how for pretty much everything, so I assume everyone else does. I try to teach thinking divers. (some folks don't wanna think - not my favorite type of person for doing anything with)

Recently I dove with divers with more experience and more air, we discussed the plan, and mine was slightly different. I ascended alone at night according to plan due to my tank configuration being different. I'm always one to plan my dive, dive my plan. If I dive for fun with other divers I always bring up the dive plan. IMHO it build alot of confidence, I will dive anywhere anytime, with a plan.

 

[Jax]

Is it a "trust me" dive if the DM is taking you on a pinnacle dive?

 

[tkdgodess]

it's a trust me dive if you have no active part in the dive plan.

 

[Jax]

it's a trust me dive if you have no active part in the dive plan.

So everytime you fly somewhere and a DM takes you out, it's a "trust me" dive?

:huh: Anyone else?

 

[Scott]

I put 'Yes I followed'.
Very early in my diving life, maybe around 20 dives, I had a DM in Mexico convince me to do a 180'+ deep dive to see some type of coral (black maybe?) that you supposedly could only see at those depths.
Luckily the pucker factor kicked in somewhere around 140' and I called it.
I have never put another diver in that situation (trust me) because I know how I felt.

 

[ianr33]

Is it a "trust me" dive if the DM is taking you on a pinnacle dive?

If the DM suddenly drops dead can you get back to the surface/boat safely on your own? If "no" then its a trust me dive

 

[tkdgodess]

Um no. A DM may suggest a location or even lead a tour. A DM may not plan MY max depth, time or Air.

 

[Jax]

If the DM suddenly drops dead can you get back to the surface/boat safely on your own? If "no" then its a trust me dive

That does seem more reasonable.

 

[Tigerman]

As far as Im concerned I have always considered any dive thats outside of your training a "trust me" dive - and to get trained you have to do them, thats why its called training.
If you DONT trust the instructor and your own ability to step up to the "next level" but do it anyways, thats when you have a problem on your hands.