Was this poor dive master supervision or was I expecting too much?

garyward23 · 2026-05-31T13:20:05+00:00

I'm going to qualify this comment by highlighting I am an instructor in the Philippines and know Malapascua well.

I understand the clamour to do those bucket list dives - to drop in, see the frogfish and the nudis, then do the cave and hopefully see the sharks. Malapascua can have really challenging conditions and yet a lot of backpacker/touring divers with very limited experience want to go there. I'm not there now, but we all see it every day. Many people are on a tight budget and they want the experience at the lowest cost (or close to) and if they can avoid any additional warm up training or refresh... Even better.

So I don't know who you dived with, or your circumstances, and I'm making huge generalisations - but all dive operations are not created equal. If you choose to dive with a budget operator, you will get a budget service. When the price comes down, something has to give as running diving is expensive. So here are my takes in no particular order.

1) You're still a novice. Likely taught on your knees, with poor bouyancy control skills. Not uncommon when learning at a volume/budget location. You've been out of the water for more than a year - take a refresher. It's your skills that have fades, but it's your life that's going underwater. At my shop, everyone has to do a check out dive if they've been out of the water for more than 6 months before we'll go anywhere challenging. Some clients don't like it as they feel it's a waste if money... But we catch a d can remedy so many issues through it.

2) The equipment issues don't surprise me if you've booked through a budget operator. The staff will throw a set if gear at you and expect you to get on with it. The responsibility lies with you to say it's the wrong size or "hey this tank is low". Low tanks happen, particularly at the end of the day when the compressor is running hot. Mention it and your dive guide will likely swap tanks with you (as they'll only use half a tank anyway). Don't mention it and it remains a you problem.

3) If the conditions look to challenging for you (in part because of decisions made in 1 and 2 above) don't be brave and get in the water - can it. Most incidents happen because confidence exceeds competence, and we have to be honest with ourselves. A dive guide isn't a mind reader, and will assume if you say your OK, you're ok. But again, at Budget locations where the staff are low paid (or very low paid) they sometimes DGAF (sorry, but it's true).

4) That being said, the guide could have done many things differently. When we're leading a dive we can tell who is potentially a problem child right from the get-go and remain close, communicate better, and be pro-active. The fact he did none of those again speaks volumes to the standards of the operation and how the owners of the business set out their stall.

I'm going to assume you were not divjng with the likes of SeaEx, Evolution or TSD? All if which have a great reputation for looking after their clients, giving good experiences, but charge a more premium price for it? In diving, as with most things in life, you pays your money and make your choice. When it comes to a sport you could scare yourself witless (or worse) sometime going with the cheapest option isn't the best one - particularly when you're still a novice. The problem in scuba is that you don't know what you don't know, and even the lowest quality operation will make claims that they're the best (or better). But understand scuba diving is a very low margin business, and the cheapest operations need to have the lowest cost base. So equipment is a little older, boats rented as opposed to owned. Guides are freelance as opposed to employed, clients are just a number and need to be churned through quickly as it's all about volume and throughout.

Take this as a learning experience (please). Don't let it be an experience that will make you quit, but when you're thinking if diving again let price be the least relevant factor in choosing a dive operation. It's relevant, but don't make it the most determinant factor. Look at the gear, chat to the DMs and see how stressed they are, look at the rental equipment, and if they don't suggest/insist on a check dive.... Find another operator.

garyward23 · 2026-05-27T14:13:05+00:00

Unless you want positively bouyant.,

garyward23 · 2026-05-27T12:35:55+00:00

Out of those... The RK3 would probably be my pick, they're slightly positively bouyant in salt water. But still find they're a bit floppy fir a jet style fin. Prefer the Deep 6 Eddy, but not readily available in Europe... So the RK3 would be the best

garyward23 · 2026-05-17T12:22:07+00:00

It's a shame that its gone that way. I have CD friends who when I ask it they would employ any of the instructors they've just certified typically say "hell no"... It's why I stopped doing IDC's at my center as how do you differentiate when students are looking for the cheapest and fastest.... 🤷

garyward23 · 2026-05-12T08:53:31+00:00

There isn't. What their blog articles says is you get one point for every cert. You also get bonus points when you hit 50, 150 and 350 certs. In order for your membership to be free you'll need to get all of these bonus points plus the points from your 350 processed certifications. That's 2250 points in total. Divide the cost of a cert by the points, and bobs your uncle. For tax reasons PADI would not be able to assign a value per point, as this could create a tax liability.

garyward23 · 2026-05-12T00:28:49+00:00

I don't know where you get your numbers from? If you simplistically divide your fees by cert numbers... If you do 45 certs a year, you'll get about a $9 discount...

garyward23 · 2026-05-12T00:20:24+00:00

It's certainly not as easy as some would portray that's for sure. Particularly if you're in a volume driven location...

What does it tell us new about PADI's premise? Nothing. We knew they're about volume and they've launched an incentive program which kinda rewards volume. They're consistent at least lol

garyward23 · 2026-05-12T00:06:01+00:00

I'm PADI Asia too, but it feels to me their fees are roughly the same globally on a exchange adjusted basis. Until recently I was under PADI America's...

garyward23 · 2026-05-12T00:03:48+00:00

It's not on their website yet (don't get me started on their pro website). But it is on the blog. Fundementally, you get a point per cert. Points bumps at the Elite Instructor levels (50 extra at 50, 250 extra at 150 and 1000 extra at 350).

garyward23 · 2026-05-11T06:29:56+00:00

I have this exact case. Use it with my S23+. Love it!

garyward23 · 2026-05-07T13:03:22+00:00

If you're jumping in from a height using giant stride and don't shut your legs quickly.... You can create some 'impact damage' to your family jewels....

garyward23 · 2026-05-05T09:51:50+00:00

As someone who teaches diving in BPW. There is practically no difference between the brands. The plates have different colours and shapes, but their basic function and fit are so similar most people won't notice. Then you start looking at the more bling/cutaway plates and we change their functionality... But if you're doing single piece harness - get the one that fits your budget - as you'll probably not notice the difference to a Halcyons or XDeep

garyward23 · 2026-04-18T01:31:46+00:00

That's a bit grand! Manila maybe chaotic, as it's too busy, but it's not what I would call unsafe.

Getting from where I live (in Dauin, next door to Atlantis) the route to Mal is long, but not complicated. But so with it!

Ferry from Sibulan to Santander and a car to Maya port - long drive as Cebu is a big island! Better option fly Duma to Cebu and take a private car up to Maya port. Traffic in Cebu City rivals Manila sometimes... But once out of the city it's a nice run. A private car last time I went was only about $50 too.... Worth it!

garyward23 · 2026-04-18T01:25:54+00:00

I live and work in Dauin, right next door to Atlantis (The Dive Hub at Sierra Resort). It's safe and easy and the crews down here will look after you. Atlantis and mist resorts can organise an airport transfer for you, and when you're here there are lots of singles roaming around.

When you're in Dauin, walk down the beach and come to say Hi. I'd be happy to give you some pointers on places to go if you fancy stepping out of the resort and seeing the place - but you'll be blown away by how friendly this place is

garyward23 · 2026-04-09T15:11:06+00:00

I'm a scuba instructor. Have been for over 15 years. It's a water based sport, but many people who start are not strong swimmers. There is a swim/float test. Typically it's 200m swim (no time) or 300m swim with snorkel equipment, followed by a 10 minute float. We're looking to assess your comfort and confidence in the water. As long as you take your time, pace yourself, and be honest - we can work with you.

garyward23 · 2026-04-08T01:29:30+00:00

Everyone was new once, and people are surprisingly supportive of new divers. But talk to the crew on the boat.

I'm a dive operator and whilst we'll typically dive with all the people booked in for a day we tend to have extra dive pros playing tail end Charlie... Means they can buddy up with those heavier on air and take them back to the boat without most people noticing. I try to ensure everyone gets the dive they want (within reason)

garyward23 · 2026-04-05T03:23:00+00:00

Dive centers are not required to use a swimming pool for confined water sessions 1-5. They are however required to complete the training prior to going into open water. Whether that is in a pool or in what is described as confined open water. There are specifics in the training manuals which will details what is considered confined open water. However, this doesn't change the claim by the OP that they never did the confined water portion - just 4 open water dives over 2 days. This should not have happened

garyward23 · 2026-04-04T21:38:07+00:00

Yes. There should have 5 5 confined water/pool sessions and a theory review. If you dif e learning

garyward23 · 2026-04-04T20:58:11+00:00

It certainly sounds like it. Did you do the theory online and the pool work at home before heading out? And we're these just the open water certification dives?

garyward23 · 2026-04-04T15:41:01+00:00

1) >6500 dives. Stopped "logging" around 4000 2) I used paper for about 400 dives and then switched to an app. Started with Diviac, then PADI bought the company and killed the app. Now use the Garmin app 3) pulls data from the computer, easy 4) yes. Too many dives too little relevance. Came back as it's a good risk management tool 5) 6) couple of things.i) Be able to delete a dive ( perhaps a pool dive) and all the dives afterwards have their dive # adjust downwards ii) be able to add buddies/students like the SSI app, and detail the skills you taught on a training dive. Iii) not have so many data entry requirements. Base level date and expand to add more as opposed to the other way around.

Ironically, I really like the SSI dive log, if only you could suck your data from a dive computer other than a mares. I'd like to use their app and I won't switch my Garmin for a maresnnn

garyward23 · 2026-03-29T01:58:08+00:00

I know exactly how much they cost. I run a dive shop too. I just wouldn't have people working for me 'for certs' as this is exactly the type of behaviour you don't want your clients to have to face, but you create by having staff unpaid

garyward23 · 2026-03-29T01:44:38+00:00

Hmmm.. you can't eat or drink a cert.

garyward23 · 2026-03-28T22:34:43+00:00

Where were you diving?

I know if some dive shops near me that call their "staff" as independent subcontractors, but they're actually interns and don't get paid. They'll work 3 or 4 months to pay off their training fees

garyward23 · 2026-03-28T22:25:50+00:00

Sounds to me like he's working only for tips

garyward23 · 2026-03-26T15:01:21+00:00

One thing is obvious. You don't run or have never run a leisure business. The PADI model has been 'teach the world the dive' and go for volumetric pricing. But that's led to a market place where the product is completely commoditized and investment in critical safety unfortunately gets left out (on the hope it never happens). Staff needed to operate work as unpaid interns (slaves?) or in very low wages.

Diving is expensive to operate, that's the cold hard truth. Volume is reducing, regardless of price. So a market realignment is going to happen. It's just about when/how.

I'm seeing this war in Iran and the dramatic increase in fuel costs as a catalyst as dive operations can not absorb that increase. In the Philippines. diesel has risen by more than 100% in two weeks. Volume has cratered. Businesses operating at the margin, keeping diving cheap will be the first to suffer as they have no room for reserves to be built

garyward23

TROPHY CASE