Why do so many poorly skilled divers...

[Teamcasa]

Do you believe that this is in any way different from the legal profession, the medical profession, teachers, or, well, any other arena?
.... but no one becomes a good teacher after just reaching the "classroom assistant level."

I agree. Dive Instructors are no different than anyone else who chooses to instruct.
I did a six year stint as an instructor at a local college. I’ll never forget my first semester, it was horrific. (A whole other story!) However, after that I gained confidence and learned how to convey my skills and knowledge to the future technicians of the world. And I'm proud to say that some actually went on to be the very best.

A good dive instructor does not need to be the best diver in the world, they just need to be able to teach others how to be the best and instill in their charges the desire to continue learning.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I stand corrected. Thanks.

You were correct ... I was just relating how my personal experience pertained to what you said.

Thanks Bob. Sounds like you got your money's worth out of that class. I hear many say one should take the class as soon as possible but your example says you can take it at anytime and if the instructor is good he'll raise the bar according to your level.

Oh I got my money's worth ... once I got past wanting to burn my gear and find something else to do with my recreational time ...

I learned a lot from that class ... not just about diving, but also about how to teach a scuba class ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[diverdowndh]

I've played a set of drums around the Denver area for quite a few years myself... parties, weddings, local events, you name it. So, why wouldn't I go for a DM? I can't seem to do anything less than full-bore...

 

[PhilEllis]

I have a perfect wife, two great kids, a grandson and a host of other blessings, while day to day life just seems to get harder with every minute that passes. It's my opinion that God (remember that I said I believe in God) is trying to get me to grasp something a bit more fundamental...which for all my education, experience and, dare I say talents, I'm just to stupid to grasp.

Mike, you and I both know it isn't "stupid". Your God is just putting you through the crucible of life, preparing you for the kingdom come. Merry Christmas.

Phil Ellis

 

[MikeFerrara]

Merry Christmas.

Phil Ellis

Merry Christmas Phil and everybody.

 

[Bobyjimmie]

I think that they think the DM cert will make up for their lack of ability in some way.

 

[Teamcasa]

....I have a perfect wife, two great kids, a grandson and a host of other blessings, while day to day life just seems to get harder with every minute that passes. It's my opinion that God (remember that I said I believe in God) is trying to get me to grasp something a bit more fundamental...which for all my education, experience and, dare I say talents, I'm just to stupid to grasp.

Thanks Mike.

I sometimes forget that as divers, we are indeed born into the lucky gene pool.

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[rjack321]

Not quite that simplistic, but it pretty much describes my experience. I had about 900 dives, and had just finished my instructor's cert when I took Fundies (the first time). Furthermore, I'd been diving with DIR-trained divers for some time.

Unfortunately, DIR instructors will find creative ways to challenge you ... and mine was no exception. And quite frankly, I sucked ... I didn't at all live up to the expectation I set for myself. There's quite a difference between seeing divers who can really control their position and doing it in a DIR class ... where they task-load you to see if you can do it while you're concentrating on something else.

Took me about three months of steady practice till I felt like I could achieve the "bar" the instructor had set for me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Unfortunately? You (and most of us) have some weaknesses, whether illustrated for us in a class or not. Your's were illustrated so you could address them. I call that a success.

 

[gcbryan]

I think there's a certain ego thing going on in the question "How dare someone call themselves a professional when they're not as good as I am at <insert skill here>"

Being a DM (in PADI, not NAUI), means you have the skills to recognize another diver having problems and help in some way, can lead a dive, can assist in a class. Basically, you're at the level of a student teacher in school.

Do you go to your children's schools, notice the college junior helping with the class and ask "How dare this kid call themselves a teacher, they don't know nearly as much as I do?!"

Well, then, if it bothers you, belly up to the damn bar, get your professional certifications, and become part of the solution to the problem you see.

New DMs are people who are starting down the path of becoming a diver professional. Like all professions, there is a starting level where people learn the basics of doing that skill. (which is why I won't let interns or residents perform medical procedures on me, but that's another discussion ) And that can take a long time for some folks. Some people will never go beyond that point.

We all agree that the most important aspect of any class is the instructor, but we don't want a large pool of people competing to fill the next instructor slot becuase some of them don't have the skill level we believe (usually incorrectly) is necessary for their current level?

Personally, I wish every diver would pursue the DM certification as soon as they feel they're ready. Doing so would raise the level of diving in general and would give an even bigger pool of people to pursue instructor ratings.

Actually, you raise good points. A DM in one sense only has to be slightly better in dive skills than an OW student. As long as they can teach they may be adequate as a DM in being helpful to an instructor. I hadn't thought about it in quite that way.

My original post wasn't about newer divers trying to quickly move up the ladder to instructor however. What I didn't get was those who have been diving for awhile who are becoming DM's with no intention of instructing or even helping out as a DM for long. I'm curious why so many poor divers seem to want that DM cert.

Also I should point out that there are plenty of diving opportunities here so no one needs to become a DM just so they can be in the water while waiting for their next dive vacation to come around. Being a DM here takes away from other diving opportunities.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

In some cases it's likely because they recognize their shortcomings and think that a DM class will somehow help overcome them ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)