Andy DavisScuba Q and A: The Difference Between a Divemaster and Dive Guide
Andy Davis Technical Diving Blog
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • About Andy
    • About RAID
    • Why Andy?
    • Training FAQs
    • Course Schedule
    • Course Prices
    • Student Reviews
    • Subic Bay Info
      • Dive Sites of Subic Bay
      • Travel to Subic Bay
      • History of Subic Bay
    • Philippines Travel Info
      • Philippines Travel Advice
      • Diving Emergency Info
      • Diving Philippines
      • Coron Shipwrecks
      • Subic Bay Wrecks
      • Diving Anilao/Batangas
  • Sidemount Courses
    • RAID Sidemount
    • Sidemount Performance Diver
    • Sidemount Clinics
  • Tech Courses
    • Tech Performance Diver
    • RAID Deco40 Trimix
    • RAID Deco50 Trimix
    • RAID Deco60 Trimix
    • Technical Sidemount
    • Technical Wreck
  • Wreck Courses
    • Basic Wreck
    • Wreck Performance Diver
    • Advanced Wreck
    • Technical Wreck
    • Penetration Protocols Clinic
  • RAID Courses
    • RAID Nitrox
    • RAID Sidemount
    • RAID Advanced35
    • RAID Deep40
    • RAID Performance Diver
    • RAID Deco40 Trimix
    • RAID Deco50 Trimix
    • RAID Deco60 Trimix
    • Master Rescue
    • Basic Wreck
    • Advanced Wreck
    • Clinics, Workshops & Mentoring
  • Blog
    • Author Bio
    • Latest News & Events
    • Articles Archive
    • Tech Diving Articles
    • Sidemount Articles
    • Travel to Subic Bay
    • Wreck Diving Articles
    • Travel to Subic Bay
    • Kit Reviews
    • Beginners Articles
    • Exclusive Course Notes
    • Andy's Buoyancy Masterclass
    • Knowledgebase
    • Tech Pre-Reading
    • Scuba Theory Links
  • Contact
Scuba Q and A: The Difference Between a Divemaster and Dive Guide
Filed Under: Scuba Diving Q and A by Andy Davis
August 7, 2019

Originally posted 2019-08-07 21:06:39.

Question: What is the difference between a Dive Guide and a Divemaster? 

Both RSTC and ISO describe Open Water qualification as an “autonomous level” qualification.

‘Autonomous’ means that the qualified diver DOES NOT REQUIRE SUPERVISION relative to the level of their qualification.

Consequently, it should be appropriate for a “Dive Guide” to accompany them purely to provide specific local site knowledge and flora/fauna identification.

This contrasts with a ‘Dive Master’, who holds professional qualification and assumes some duty-of-care over the accompanied divers.

“Dive Guide” is a role or job, wheras “Divemaster” describes a professional qualification.

A Divemaster can function in the role of a Dive Guide, but a Dive Guide needn’t be qualified as a Divemaster if accompanying autonomous level divers.

Sadly however, many sub-standard diving qualification courses FAIL to actually train students to a truly autonomous level.

As a consequence, it’s become commonly PERCEIVED that a Divemaster is necessary to accompany divers and fulfill a responsiblity to preserve their safey.

In esssence, a Divemaster has increasingly become the de-facto dive industry safety compensation for the increasing trend to certify incompetent and under-proficient divers, who were not faithfully qualified to operate as autonomous divers.

What Others Are Reading

Scuba Q and A: Do You Need A Diving Certification?
Scuba Q and A: Diver Stress, Relationships and Comfort Zones
Scuba Q and A: Why Do Deep Divers Use Helium?
A Guide To Expert Scuba Diving Skills Development
  • Search Blog

  • Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS Feed
    • Email
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
  • Recent Blog Posts

    • Why do tech divers use two computers? July 24, 2020
    • The Two Schools of Sidemount Diving Heritage August 7, 2019
    • Technical Diving Skills | Valve Shut-down Drill Explained August 7, 2019
  • Click to search catagories

  • Sidemount Articles

    • A Guide to Modern Sidemount Diving
      sidemount-technical-wreck-courses-philippines
    • A List of Sidemount Regulator Sets
      Apeks Sidemount Regulators
    • How To Set Up Sidemount Loop Bungees
      Sidemount Loop Bungee Set Up copyright 2019 Andy Davis
    • A Look at Sidemount Stowage Solutions | Pouches & Pockets
    • Ultimate Guide: How To Set Up Your Sidemount Harness
      Sidemount Harness Set Up copyright 2019 Andy Davis
  • Tech Diving Articles

    • Types of Decompression Sickness (DCS)
    • How to Tie a Regulator Bungee Necklace
      how to tie a regulator bungee necklace 1
    • Goal Setting for Technical Diving Training
      sidemount technical diving training course subic bay
    • Gradient Factor Comparison Using A Simple 60m Trimix Dive Case-Study
    • Are You A Prestigious Diver?
      prestige diving
  • Wreck Diving Articles

    • Technical Wreck Penetration – A Question Of Experience
      technical wreck penetration training course
    • Relocating a Lost Guideline | Skills for Wreck Divers
      advanced wreck diving philippines
    • Top Ten Wreck Diving Tips For Safer Wreck Penetration Dives
      technical wreck diving tips
    • Explaining the Technical Wreck Course – Approaches To Advanced Wreck Diving
      scubatechphilippines-sidemount-technical-wreck-subic bay
    • How To Evaluate A Wreck Diving Course?
      technical-wreck-diving-philippines
  • Beginners Articles

    • Learning Scuba Diving Skills On Your Knees – Negative Habitual Response Conditioning
      scuba-diving-skills-trim-buoyancy
    • 8 Factors To Consider When Purchasing Your Scuba Diving Regulator
      choosing scuba regulator diving tips
    • Are Some Scuba Courses more Equal than Others?
      cheap quality scuba courses
    • How to Judge Your Diving Ascent Rate Without a Dive Computer
      Scuba diving skills and techniques
    • A Guide To Expert Scuba Diving Skills Development
      Autonomous Progressive Scuba Skill Development
  • Dive Industry Analysis

    • The Changing Tech Community Landscape
    • The Desperate Dive Shop
      Desperate Dive Shop
    • An Evaluation of the Modern Scuba Diving Training Industry
      Diving Commitment Retention Demographics Scuba Diving Industry
  • Subscribe

    Subscribe posts via RSS
    Subscribe posts via Atom
    Subscribe posts via RDF
Copyright by Scuba Tech Philippines ©2011 & Site Map & Blog Site Map
[ Back to top ]
If you are finding this site interesting.........
Please like my page on Facebook!
Subscribe!