Posted by jlyle on May 02, 2005 at 07:45:10:
In Reply to: Re: DM's. Do they help, or are they just a figure head? posted by Jim on May 01, 2005 at 22:47:40:
Tim,
IMHO, It was inexcuseable for the DM's to simply walk off without asking about an air bill. But, give them a break. DM's are "slave labor"; worse than that - slaves don't have to pay their own way.
I became a DM for the joy of diving and working with the newbies, not as a stepping stone to becoming an instructor. My annual PADI membership, insurance, transportation, equipment, parking, air-fills, etc. were expenses that far exceded any return from working as a DM. The LDS I worked for gave us store vouchers for $30 in return for a full day's work on a dive boat. In all the years of working as a DM - I never received a tip, always paid for my food, always tipped the crew, and was very grateful when the boat gave me free air.
I stopped working as a DM when it stopped being fun, but that's another story.
Jim (jlyle)