Relegated to the back of the dive group

[morecowbells]

A couple of years ago a group of us went diving in Roatan. One of our friends has a long standing relationship with a particular dive op. The skills of our dive group range from beginner to advanced. I enjoy slow dives, exploring reefs and taking pics. While respecting the buddy system, it always seems that I am the last one in the group. So what is the problem? Our dive master for the week in Roatan singled me out to act as "the tail of the group". Ordinarily not an issue except that after following everybody else through swim throughs and looking under coral heads, the sand was so mucked up that it was impossible to get a decent photo. During a surface interval I explained to him my goals of getting some more photographs and not to be assigned to stay in the back of the group. He explained that he LEADS the dive and cannot keep an eye out for the beginner divers at all times. Thus, I was yet again relegated to the back of the group.

We are returning to Roatan in a few weeks. I know my friend wants to use this dive op again. I just want to know what other divers think of this. Am I being petty? Is this common practice? If this annoys any of fellow Scubaboarders, how would you handle this? Thanks in advance.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

... I would say no ... you're on vacation, and it's not your job to "keep an eye out for the beginner divers".

If he insists on you playing that role, I would recommend that you insist you get paid for your services.

I would also recommend you take your complaint to the dive op manager or owner, with a hint that you pay a lot of money to come there, and there are other ops who would be happy to provide you with the kind of service you would expect as a paying customer.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[KevinNM]

Are they comping your dives at least? If they expect you to pay and work for them for free then that is totally unreasonable.

 

[DiverDownD3]

Basically sounds like to me that he's pushing part of his job onto you. Dive op either needs to put another guide in the water or pay you for your services

 

[Colliam7]

During a surface interval I explained to him my goals of getting some more photographs and not to be assigned to stay in the back of the group. He explained that he LEADS the dive and cannot keep an eye out for the beginner divers at all times.

At which time you can say, 'I certainly understand. I am sure you will find another diver willing to fulfill that role. Unfortunately, I cannot - I am here on vacation, and I plan to take a lot of photos.'

If an operator asks me - once, m-a-y-b-e twice - for help with a group, I MIGHT agree, if it does not inconvenience my plans for the dive - which I AM PAYING FOR. If it does inconvenience me, or the request becomes a de facto expectation, I simply do not agree to 'be the tail', or whatever.

 

[mmmbelows]

A couple of years ago a group of us went diving in Roatan. One of our friends has a long standing relationship with a particular dive op. The skills of our dive group range from beginner to advanced. I enjoy slow dives, exploring reefs and taking pics. While respecting the buddy system, it always seems that I am the last one in the group. So what is the problem? Our dive master for the week in Roatan singled me out to act as "the tail of the group". Ordinarily not an issue except that after following everybody else through swim throughs and looking under coral heads, the sand was so mucked up that it was impossible to get a decent photo. During a surface interval I explained to him my goals of getting some more photographs and not to be assigned to stay in the back of the group. He explained that he LEADS the dive and cannot keep an eye out for the beginner divers at all times. Thus, I was yet again relegated to the back of the group.

We are returning to Roatan in a few weeks. I know my friend wants to use this dive op again. I just want to know what other divers think of this. Am I being petty? Is this common practice? If this annoys any of fellow Scubaboarders, how would you handle this? Thanks in advance.

That's not common at all, I've never heard of anybody doing that. Sounds like whatever this long term, special relationship your friend has with this operator now for some reason includes you acting as an unqualified, unpaid dive master.

Just man up with him if you get that 'assignment' again and tell him no thanks and ignore it once you're underwater. If it comes up after that have a talk with and set him straight. Nobody certified on the dive should even need that dive master to pay any attention to them in the first place, he is there to simply lead you all along the route.

 

[redacted]

If I am not leading a dive, then I prefer to be last. I don't usually do swim throughs so that is not a problem. I get to see everything anybody else finds plus whatever I find that only my buddy and I may see. If someone stirs up the bottom I just take a different line. If someone insists on getting behind me, that is fine also. I think all divers in a group should make some effort to keep track of all the other divers.

 

[morecowbells]

Thank you everybody for the input on what realistic expectations should be. In the past I have been very fortunate in choosing wonderful dive ops. I wanted to make sure I wasn't just whining if this is more common practice elsewhere. I was never comped or offered a discount. Seeing that this is indeed not a common practice, I will send the dive op an email requesting another DM. I will be sure to let you know if I get stuck with the dud again.

 

[agilis]

You are the paying customer. Don't be intimidated. Position yourself off to one side. Instead of following swim parallel to the group. If the DM does't like it let him complain all he wants, but you do what you want. I speak from long experience. if you lose contact no big deal. You can locate the group by looking up toward the surface where the bubble storm is. Diving should not be a group activity.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Coincidentally on Roatan, my wife and I found ourselves at the back of the group, not because the DM asked us to do so, but because we like to take our time and see things. We often couldn't see much after the people in front of us silted things up. What it taught us was that we don't enjoy diving in groups with people of unknown abilities. If a dive op can't put us with the non-silters, I'm going to choose a different dive op. And if a DM were to ask me to act as a sweep in the rear of the group, I would let him know I plan to stay far behind, and if I get separated ....