Why would you ever want to become Dive Masters?

[syonker]

To all,

Mpscubatoytech is actually my preferred dive buddy in Colorado, and I'll vouch for the fact that he has indeed been a DiveCon and equipment technician (among other things, too many to mention here) for quite some time and is truly expert at the role.

As I said above, I am finishing the DiveCon program now, and have been really impressed with the training, materials, and approach that SSI provides therein.

On a side note, SSI is debuting a "Divemaster" program now that (from what I've been told) is a near mirror to that of PADI, so it seems the two agencies recognize the value of the DM program with roughly the same approach.

Regards,


-Muck Diver Extrordinaire

 

[Baracuda Smile]

I have been a certified PADI Divemaster since 2007. I am now going through NAUI Divemaster and although the techincal training is more what a NAUI Divemaster can do and conduct is very similar.

 

[psychocabbage]

The wife wants to get her instructors cert. I would only get a DM cert if she really needed help. Otherwise, I have 0 desire to do so.

We are planning a working retirement in the dive industry and I will just handle the business end.

She does feel, after watching several instuctors, that many do not know how to effectively "TEACH" as much as they regurgitate information. She was a teacher for 7 years dealing primarily with special needs so she has her reasons for thinking the way she does. I tend to agree with her.

 

[divezonescuba]

If all they did was climb all over you, you had it easy. I equate my rescue course closer to hand to hand combat underwater. They first told us that if we were going to lose it, just to go limp, so that they would stop. However, it never quite reached that point. In retrospect, all the mask removals, regulator grabbing, and thrashing was good training for the future.

I am almost finished with my DM training and I am glad that the rescue course was so demanding. During the course, I had to exercise the rescue training on a panicked diver that bolted to the surface during a regulator exchange exercise.

I am on the fence with respect to going on to AI and Instructor even though my profession is in education. So contrary to some of the other posters, you don't need to go further than DM just because you might be interested in teaching others. As a DM candidate, I have gotten more than that by just assisting with the classes during my internship phase.

In summary, I would say that DM will improve your diving skills, give you a sense of satisfaction of helping others, and better prepare you for responding to emergencies than just the rescue course. You also get special discounts on gear although I have yet to exercise that benefit.

 

[Web Monkey]

The wife wants to get her instructors cert. I would only get a DM cert if she really needed help. Otherwise, I have 0 desire to do so.

I'd probably have to recommend not going for your DM. Most certification agencies don't allow stabbing the students.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4031779-post23.html

Terry

 

[--tom--]

I think the many previous posts give great reasons to become a DM. Desire to help. Being able to share a new diver's excitement in the most mundane items, etc.

I will comment that being a DM has helped to become a more aware diver. I have assisted quite a few new divers; you view situations differently. The rescue class talked about diverting accidents. I now almost feel the trouble before it starts. I see problems more quickly, and address them much more gracefully. I position myself to handle "issues" before they are problems & I am constantly learning. I am more thorough in my buddy checks. I don't dive with an ego any more, it's too dangerous.

It's all of that, plus the super-power cape and decoder ring matches my eyes, so I really look cool.

 

[Divenomad]

I did it to expiate my many sins.

Seriously, I did it to meet attractive members of the opposite sex. This did not work out as I had supposed. In fact, the legions of dive Fangirls:girl: failed to appear entirely, much to my consternation. Apparently, snot running from my nose after my dives is not attractive, I have no idea why not.:depressed:

It was suggested that perhaps I had come for the waters. I was misinformed.:shocked2:

All joking aside, I had an idea it was to improve my skills. A friend noted that on the beach, I was treated as a DM even if I was not one, I got a lot of questions and requests for advice and such. I just naturally fall into these sorts of jobs or positions or whatever you want to call it. It seemed a natural thing to do.I have no idea why this occurs, but it does. I have a friend, an excellent instructor, who sits and grins because i get approached by less experienced folks all the time, and he does not, even though he "outranks" me.

But he still gets all the girls.:gondolalove:

Nomad ;-)

 

[Baracuda Smile]

1. Assist Instructors from everything from Open Water pool session. I can help train DM candidates. This includes tieing off the dive buoy and assisting and demonstrating skills
2. Lead Local Dives (Dive & Drive) Also lead tourist to local shore dive sites
3. Scuba Review for divers that need a refresher
4. DM on a boat provide briefings and lead dives to include drift dives
5. Discover Scuba
6. Training new DM's how to set anchors and handle the ropes on a boat

I find Divemastering extremely rewarding. I love working with new divers. I love to see the excitement in their eyes when they see all the cool stuff in the ocean. I pour a lot of time and effort to make the time I spend with students and clients to make sure everyone is safe, and they have a great time. I love diving and I hope to introduce diving to someone and my hope is that they will love diving also. As far as other rewards I get key man pricing at the dive shop, free air fills, and get paid reasonably for my work. In fact I have been given 1 liter bottles of Habu Saki (over $100) for scuba refresher, free lunches, and large monetary tips.

Divemastering reminds me so much of Jumpmastering (which I also do) where you are the ultimate safety and people are literally trusting you with their lives. It is an awesome responsibility yet when well trained and well executed It gives you a huge sense of accomplishment.

So these rewards for just going diving that I would be doing anyway are the benefit to being a Divemaster.

Further more you get respect no matter where you go in the world when you are around the water. A Divemaster is a life guard, a scuba diver, a rescue diver, and an advanced diver, a professional all rolled into one word Divemaster.

The next step I am ready for Instructor, but I don't have time because I am having so much fun being a Divemaster.