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My first exposure to diving was in the aftermath of my 1982 OW when I was dropped off, by same dive shop that trained me, in cold, deep water 100 miles off California mainland at San Clemente Island with about 20 other divers. We were all at liberty to fend for ourselves, including die. One man got bent and was airlifted out by helicopter. Later when I moved to the Florida Keys I never, on multiple boat trips (for the company I worked for) saw a divemaster get in the water, they just cut you loose while they ate sandwiches on boat or yelled angry instructions at you while you were on surface. So, I just figured this is how boat diving is around the world - you pay a bunch of money and then the crew takes you out, points at the water and then listens to music on board while divers do their thing.
Now, I'm re-entering diving after 30 years and my Cayman Islands dive shop promises me and my wife valet service on an eight passenger boat - basically, that each dive is led by, presumably, a dive master, who even personally escorts low-on-air divers back to boat.
That all sounds great but I'm wondering:
Now, I'm re-entering diving after 30 years and my Cayman Islands dive shop promises me and my wife valet service on an eight passenger boat - basically, that each dive is led by, presumably, a dive master, who even personally escorts low-on-air divers back to boat.
That all sounds great but I'm wondering:
- How does that look in reality - how does even a conscientious dive shop manage eight different divers (they try to assemble trips with similar skill levels) in the water? I mean one lady is having trouble de-fogging her mask, one guy wants to go deeper than plan, one idiot is sitting on top of a coral head, one fool wants to spend 10 minutes photographing one Moray Eel, etc. It's seems to me like it will be like herding cats.
- What is the industry standard, today, for small group boat dives? It seems to me a "dive master" should be in the water with paying customers on every dive instead of tanning on the boat, but that was not the case in my in 1980's diving experiences. Has industry changed?
- What should a well managed small group boat dive look like? What should a well managed two tank trip look like?
- What are some of your stories of poorly managed dives?