This has been my experience in the Caribbean for many years.  And in
most places competition between dive operations is such that you do not
have to tolerate such policies.

In Grand Cayman a couple years ago in advance of a live aboard trip
Kuty, Dennis Jensen, Al Kirkland (I think Al was on this dive?) and I
decided to do an afternoon dive with Red Sail.  It was a small party on
board that included some snorkelers, a family on a "discover scuba" dive
and us.  The dive master didn't care about us except that he wanted us
back on the boat in 45 minutes.  70 minutes later when we arrived at the
boat the DM wasn't happy.  The other members of the party didn't seem to
care as they snorkeled and played in the water.

Most of us ignored the DM, so he focused his anger on Kuty. :)  Although
Kuty doesn't like to boast, he's former Mossad.  Needless to say, a near
tragedy was barely averted when I informed our little group, in no
uncertain terms, that I did not intend to spend the first evening of my
vacation disposing of a body!

Dive safe,

Don

Andy M Johnson wrote:

>
> >This type of thing, AIUI, is now the rule in the Red Sea. You dive with
> >a guide, as a group, buddied, or not at all:
> Not that I've noticed, and I've been there a few times. Normally the
> DM is glad for us to bugger off on our own as it is less people for
> her/him  to watch out for.
>   Cheers........
>