Instructor dating DM, would I tell students?

[KillerJupe]

I'm an instructor and my partner is sometimes my fully certified and insured DM.
She thinks it's weird for me to not tell students, I think it is more professional.

I try to treat her just like I would any of my other DM's. I am friends w/ all my DM's and I think having a good connection w/ them makes the classes better but I don't want anyone to feel un comfortable the fact we are dating and working together sometimes.

I know this is a tough one because so much depends on group dynamics and other variables.... however...

What is your perspective, thoughts, ideas?

Thanks,
D

 

[wedivebc]

Why would it even come up. I don't share my life story with my students.

 

[DevonDiver]

I don't think this really requires explanation. That said, if students couldn't guess you had a relationship, then I'd be questioning the success of the relationship chemistry. LOL

I don't see that it matters, either way... except for you don't want to encourage female students to hit on you... LMAO

 

[DiverGirl1972]

I haven't known any boyfriend/girlfriend teams, but I have known of a couple of husband/wife teams and there was no weirdness about it. As long as everyone maintains their professionalism, who cares? Why do you feel people might think it is weird?

 

[TONY CHANEY]

My OW Instructor and her DM were wife and husband. I think that you are worried that students may hit on your partner. Now, if a student should ask your opinion about their GR, wife, BF, SO, husband, partner diving together you have a very good example.

 

[knotical]

Sometimes students feel more comfortable approaching a DM with an issue, rather than bothering the instructor. What if it's an issue about the instructor? How would the student feel if after raising the issue they then learned the instructor and DM were dating?
My wife's Open Water instructor and DM were dating (they're now married), they told us, and all was cool.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

"Yes, tell them (if appropriate)"

Under what possible circumstances would that be relevant (prerequisite to being appropriate for sharing, IMO) information?

 

[gcarter]

"Yes, tell them (if appropriate)"

Under what possible circumstances would that be relevant (prerequisite to being appropriate for sharing, IMO) information?

Direct question? Would you lie to the student? Tell them it was none of their business?

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I understood the OP's question to be about an unsolicited disclosure, and I can't really think of any circumstances under which that would be relevant/appropriate. In response to a direct question, I suppose it would depend on whether it's any of the student's business. Lying about it certainly doesn't seem appropriate.

 

[DevonDiver]

"Yes, tell them (if appropriate)"

I'm confused about the "if appropriate" part. Do you mean "if appropriate to reveal a relationship" or do you mean "appropriate details".

For the sake of the relationship, rather than the instructor issue, I'd advise against sharing 'inappropriate' details