Leave My Gear Alone or Do It?

[snagel]

There's a couple threads that touch on this, but I'm interested in knowing how many people prefer to set up their own gear when on a chartered dive boat. I mean, I've been on several and I for one would prefer to set up my own gear and the majority of people I know feel the same. I understand that typically boat captains and boat hands are working for tips and beleive this is a service. I like that they will grab my gear and help me out of the water, but again when it comes to setting it up, let me do it. Who feels the same or different?

Snagel

[JCAT]

The only time anyone touches my gear is if I must take it off in the water due to very small boat size.

[JimHar99]

I'll do any gear setup myself. This way I know it's been done the way I like it. Same thing when it comes to breaking down the gear and rinsing after the dives.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

These types of polls are not scientific (of course!) so your data will be skewed. Only people who care enough to vote will be represented. I suspect people with the attitude 'don't touch my gear!' will be over-represented since they care more about the issue. Nevertheless, it's how I feel. Don't touch my gear.

Offshore NC, it's a moot point anyway. Everyone sets up their own gear. If you asked for help doing it, I'm not sure you'd even get to dive. It would be a big red flag, though I suppose if you were a cute female you could get away with it.

[scubadiver888]

I've only been on one boat dive where the crew set up everyone's gear. They loaded our gear on the dive boat, took us in the shop to look around. By the time we went out to get on the boat, all our gear was set up. Everyone thought this was kind of weird and EVERYONE spent time checking their gear and making minor adjustments.

I tip for helping me with my gear on or taking my fins as I get back in the boat. I don't mind someone handling my gear but I'm going to double check it anyways.

[TX1Chica]

While in Cozumel on dive boats the DM's set up my gear for me and I let them...it was nice. I check it before I get it in the water to make sure ever thing is working. But I'm a girl and diving is not a competition for me like it really seems to be for a lot of men. I just dive because its fun and I like to see the pretty things under the water. While in Bonaire, I tote my own stuff in and out of the truck and the water and put my own gear together no problem....I can do it but if someone else wants to do it while I relax on vacation, thats ok too. Its nice to be taken care of sometimes.

[Warren]

I always set up my own gear... Always...

[Flfiremedic]

I'll set people's gear up...esp on a private charter, but I would never let anyone touch mine.....

[Damselfish]

I prefer to set up my own gear, and if there is no good reason they should respect your wishes.

I do only tropical diving these days, and I almost always set it up the first time at least. I actually don't think I've seen any op that didn't want you to do that (except maybe one or two, and those were cases where their boats were set up lousy and they insisted it worked better for them to do it. Didn't like those situations too much.)

If I'm at a resort that's into the service thing I don't mind if they swap tanks, I just check. Some resorts wash your gear to store overnight and set it up on a tank the next morning, I don't make a big deal of that either, it's not worth it. Again I just check. For your typical rec setup well, it's not like it's rocket science. If the crew is so incompetent they can't do that right there's bigger issues and I wouldn't want to be diving with them anyway. Some places are really good about doing it perfectly and some I am always fixing the position on the tank or something and they never catch on.

[mm2002]

I've not been on any dive charters yet, but I know for a fact that nobody is going to set up my gear for me. No way. Nope. Notta. Never!