Role of a Dive Master

[Jim Lapenta]

Most of this is what the boat crew is for. Obviously I assist in this issue, but it is not my primary role when DMing. It's incredibly annoying that this has become the role of the DM on most American charters.



Often times it is up to the DM to be sure the divers are in or out of the water at a certain time. Keep in mind we're diving the same boats and the same sites every day. We have a schedule to follow. Our employers expect that we make that schedule. This is especially true on a liveaboard when we're doing 5 dives a day. If you gave me the "one finger salute" after I told you we need to surface or to rejoin your group or buddy... you wouldn't be diving anymore.

You would never have to tell me to rejoin my buddy if I had one. When diving as buddies separation is not an option. I understand there is a schedule. If you set that as one hour I will be out in that or less. I don't need you to tell time for me. But if on that site I find the area around the mooring or anchor intertesting I will not be following someone to see a sea horse that may or may not be there. I know what interests me better than you do.

If there is an emergency there will or should be a recall signal. I will heed that immediately. I keep track of my own air pressure as well. If I am told I have an hour dive and a couple air hogs drain their tanks in one half that I'm not surfacing for them. If that's your boat's policy I will know that before hand and not be on it in the first place. I do not dive with anyone that treats me like a baby or like an incompetent diver or assumes I need to be told everything to do. I also try very hard to avoid boats that put DM's or Guides in the water. And when I have had occaision to use one that does it takes about 10 minutes before they allow me to do my own thing.

 

[Dyno Bill]

As stated earlier in this post it is from hard to nearly impossible to know how someone reacts to something without having more intimate knowledge about them. I have had someone be offended by my trying to be helpful because they had the I'm certified so I know attitude. I found subtle checks and the like to be a lot easier on ego's I guess. I read Jim's post offering a warning to new divers and it is well thought out and a good read for anyone enjoying the ocean. he only problem is it's sometimes to know who talks the talk and who actually walks the walk. I do feel being physically as well as mentally fit is or should be a requirement for diving, and obviously a few notches above that for a DM or instructor.
Bill

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Agreed but how do you tell if a diver is fit or not? I have seen instructors and DM's who appear to be shall we say "having less than a perfect physique" who could probably run a mile or two and not break a real sweat. Others may be panting after walking a flight of steps.

 

[TSandM]

Tim, this answer is solely in the context of the role of the DM on a charter boat, because that is what your question seems to be about.

I'm sure the employer of a resort diving DM wants that person to be aware of safety, and to watch for any major issues that could lead to a problem. That almost certainly includes doing a quick visual check of people's gear, checking that tanks are on, and keeping an eye on the divers to make sure nobody looks as though they are overstressed or overfaced. In the water, it's my experience that most guides keep a watchful eye over the group, as well.

But there is an implication in your question that the DM is responsible for your safety, and I think that is both unfair and unrealistic. If one person takes a group of ten or twelve divers into the water, how can he possibly be responsible for all of them? He can't monitor everyone's gas, he can't supervise everyone's buoyancy, and if he is to do any guiding at all, he can't be watching everyone all the time, to make sure no one strays.

Once you have been given your certification card, you are a certified diver. That means YOU are responsible for yourself when you dive. If you are very new or unsure, it is YOUR responsibility to request or to hire more assistance, if you need it. It is your responsibility to set up, or at least fully check your equipment. (And I almost NEVER see anybody diving off tropical charter boats do a buddy check, or go through any kind of dive plan.) It is your responsibility to make sure your tank is full, and that it is on. It is your responsibility to understand the dive briefing, and to request more information, if you feel it is not thorough. It is your responsibility to stay with the guide, if you don't feel confident navigating the proposed dive (or if the rules of the boat require it).

The divemaster should be like the air bags in your car. He's there if he's needed, but many things should be done properly to avoid ever needing to use him for anything more than the guiding services he routinely provides.

 

[Poggus]

You would never have to tell me to rejoin my buddy if I had one. When diving as buddies separation is not an option. I understand there is a schedule. If you set that as one hour I will be out in that or less. I don't need you to tell time for me. But if on that site I find the area around the mooring or anchor intertesting I will not be following someone to see a sea horse that may or may not be there. I know what interests me better than you do.

If there is an emergency there will or should be a recall signal. I will heed that immediately. I keep track of my own air pressure as well. If I am told I have an hour dive and a couple air hogs drain their tanks in one half that I'm not surfacing for them. If that's your boat's policy I will know that before hand and not be on it in the first place. I do not dive with anyone that treats me like a baby or like an incompetent diver or assumes I need to be told everything to do. I also try very hard to avoid boats that put DM's or Guides in the water. And when I have had occaision to use one that does it takes about 10 minutes before they allow me to do my own thing.

We're obviously talking about diving in different conditions. Most of the sites I've worked as a DM on would make a "diver recall" impossible. Very strong currents required a boat pickup after every dive (whether it be the main or the dingy). This is the very reason why a DM would enter the water with small groups of customers (no more than 4). We know the sites and we know where we're going to end up. The captain expects you to be where you say you'll be.

I wouldn't want to work on a boat where I'm not in the water, because then I'm just a boat boy.

 

[vladimir]

That almost certainly includes doing a quick visual check of people's gear, checking that tanks are on, and keeping an eye on the divers to make sure nobody looks as though they are overstressed or overfaced.

Thanks Lynne, it's not often that my vocabulary gets stretched. For any other non-equestrians, "overfaced" seems to be used in this context to mean "pushed beyond their capabilities."

 

[nielsent]

Agreed but how do you tell if a diver is fit or not? I have seen instructors and DM's who appear to be shall we say "having less than a perfect physique" who could probably run a mile or two and not break a real sweat. Others may be panting after walking a flight of steps.

Agreed, never really thought of myself as much to look at, 220lbs and 6'2" I have a bit of a gut. That don't mean that I am in poor shape. I am still can swim 600 yards in 15 minutes, run two miles, and pack my double LP120's around like they aren't there.

However, on that note, appearances apply not just to fitness. The other thing I have to deal with as a DM is intimidated students and divers. I can come off as large and intimidating because I can be very quiet and don't smile a whole lot, and take my work seriously. But this is usually short lived however, as this is only an appearance, I am a very amusing goofball.

 

[jvevea]

Yeah yeah yeah. That is not stressed nearly as much in other agencies. Everything in PADI is sell the next class. We teach that the big job is to be a role model.

Just to clarify... I intended to have my irony hat on when I posted that.

 

[TSandM]

I'm unlike Jim. I don't mind a guide in an unfamiliar place. I would have missed a LOT of tiny, cryptic animals in Indonesia, without the guides to spot them and point them out. Just as, when I escort out of town divers around our local dive sites, I can show them the octopus under a log, or find the warbonnet inside of the piling. There's nothing like local knowledge to help you see more on a dive. That's MY biggest perception of the role of the "DM" (who, in Indonesia, wasn't a DM at all, but just a guide) -- that, and knowing how to get to where the most interesting things are.

 

[SolarStorm]

It would be a lot easier for you to divide by 15 than for the divemaster to keep track of each diver's unit preference, I would think.

As far as I know (and I admit I am green) there are two primary units Bar and PSI. Both my daughter and I have less than 50 dives, but are reasonably competent. We do do buddy checks, have gone to the pool to practice and take our fun and safety seriously. However, I would not expect the diver's under a DM to convert. Why take a newish diver out of their comfort zone? We are responsible for our own air and safety. If we are used to reading PSI leave it. If everything is fine, then the conversion would be no problem, but what if an emergency arises? I count on my daughter (my buddy) to get me out of trouble before the DM. If during that recovery one of miss reads bar and PSI in a stressful situation, that could be bad.

As the discussion goes on what makes a good DM? for me:

• Create a dive plan and tell me about it.
• Ensure the correct group is together. IE Jim and the new guy (me) might want to be in different groups. Dont be afraid to say, "This dive isnt for you" either to me or the experienced guy.
• Do the visual safety checks, ask if you want to check my gear.
• Lead me to all of the really cool stuff. Preferably tell me about the cool stuff predive so I know what you are up to. (see above)
• Be prepared to help when a "situation" arises.
• Let me dive my dive. If we are a small group, and all have similar goals, work to our goals.