Posted by Walt on May 02, 2005 at 10:08:28:
In Reply to: Re: DM's. Do they help, or are they just a figure head? posted by Captain Tim on May 02, 2005 at 08:24:24:
You mentioned two of the best DM's in your post - there are plenty others who are professional and cetainly not on any ego trip. Many of the best are 'old school' or work for the boat. There are also new DM's who follow in these footsteps and do a great job - they are the ones who check the valves at the gate, count you out, count you in, and quietly counsel "divers with issues". God bless them!
But as with any job, there will always be hot shots who are on ego trips. Part of the problem is the mass production of DM's by agencies more interested in numbers and revenues than quality. (I've even met some "asst. instructors" who have fewer than 20 dives.) Sure there will be altruistic people who genuinely want to be good DM's and who are professional, but there will also be the losers who see the DM as a power position and who will bring that sort of attitude with them. Having a master instructor back that type of attitude is a bigger problem.
I guess setting a firm policy and sticking to it is the way to go and it sounds like you have one.
As for treatment of passengers and crew, about the only thing you can do is to tell them they are welcome on your boat only if they improve their attitude. Guess you could always spit on thier hamburger next time...at least you'd maybe feel a little better.