What separates the true dive professional from the others? Good question. The scuba industry has more than its share of scuba bums out there and I'm sure everyone has a great story about running into a scuba bum divemaster or instructor at one time or another. For me, attitude is everything - and so I don't forget that, I dive as often as I can in a non-professional role.
What is that makes me not want to dive with somebody? When the dive becomes about them. I have two great examples:
- Instructor in front of his students when asked if he ever just goes diving for fun replies "I only get in the water if I'm being paid?"
- Divemaster after surfacing from a dive says "That wasn't the best dive."
Now, in the cold light of the day, both of these comments taken slightly out of context seem pretty bad, BUT I hear them from professionals in this industry all the time.
Understanding that this is a recreational sport and that if people don't have fun, we're not doing what we should doesn't really fit with the attitude if as a dive professional you find yourself saying either one of those things.
So something I look for in our staff is professionals that can make even a not so good day diving fun - because it is just that, a day diving. For a lot of people that beats a day sitting behind a desk, or dealing with everything that somebody normally has to. For me it is the most fun I can have and still be working and that is the same passion I want in dive staff, either the ones working for the store, or the ones that are taking me out diving.
I am lucky - I work with a lot of people that have a great passion for scuba diving. And unfortunately, I also have a lot of opportunities in the industry to get reminded of what the wrong attitude is. As a diver, you should always expect service that caters to you and expect a positive attitude, and don't be afraid to be vocal if you don't get it. Greg
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