WOW big changes to PADI DM for July 2011

[Divemastersintraining]

Alot of +/- changes here... Whats your take on it?

 

[DevonDiver]

Care to let us know what you are talking about? any links?

 

[Divemastersintraining]

sure .. theres a bit so give me a few hours and ill post ...if someone beats me to listing it all that would be nice too lol.

 

[kaerius]

I eyed through it, the biggest changes that caught my eye were:

* 40 instead of 20 logged dives to start the course(still 60 to finish)
* New deep dive and search and recovery portions(the specialties apparently count as credit towards these, but the bulletin didn't specify in what way)
* eLearning, weee
* Need for one 5 in the demonstrations and need to demonstrate skin diving skills
* Less practical assessments?

 

[Divemastersintraining]

Get ready ... here we go!!

Candidates must have 40 (instead of 20) logged dives. Sixty dives are still required for certification.

The Deep Diver and Search and Recovery Diver specialty courses are highly recommended now for those who may be Divemaster-bound. New required Deep and Search and Recovery Practical Application Skills.

Knowledge Reviews
• Supervising Diving Activities
• Assisting with Student Divers
• Diver Safety and Risk Management
• Divemaster-Conducted Programs
• Specialized Skills and Activities
• Business of Diving and Your Diving Career
• Awareness of the Dive Environment
• Dive Theory Review

Revised Divemaster Final Exam

Revised Divemaster Video
Skill 1 — Dive Site Setup and Management
Skill 2 — Mapping Project (remains unchanged)
Skill 3 — Dive Briefing
Skill 4* — Search and Recovery Scenario
Skill 5* — Deep Dive Scenario

What has changed is that there is no longer an Option A and B (internship or roleplay). In the new workshops, candidates take turns leading, demonstrating and conducting, while other candidates act as participants (role-play).

Workshop 1 — Scuba Review in Confined Water
Workshop 2 — Skin Diver Course and Snorkelling Supervision
Workshop 3 — Discover Scuba Diving Program in Confined Water
Workshop 4 — Discover Scuba Diving Program Additional Open Water Dive
Workshop 5 — Discover Local Diving in Open Water

New assessments
Assessment 1 — Open Water Diver Students in Confined Water
Assessment 2 — Open Water Diver Students in Open Water
Assessment 3 — Continuing Education Student Divers in Open Water
Assessment 4 — Certified Divers in Open Water

Revised materials
• Divemaster Manual – revised
• Divemaster Video – revised with all new footage, including a Demonstration Quality Skills
• Divemaster Online (new) PADI Divemaster Manual online.
• Divemaster Course Lesson Guides and Presentation Notes (new)
• Instructor Cue Cards for Divemaster Course (new)
• Divemaster Slates – revised slightly to match course content.
• Divemaster Final Exam
Required implementation of the new materials in English is 1 July 2011.

 

[String]

Its being trialled here currently with a few DMTs.

I do like minimum dive number being upped, the S&R, deep and other additions as i think they're needed.
On the whole its a good thing!

Sadly still doesn't stop the issue of instructors signing up their mates without actually doing the course though!

 

[FlyinV]

I hope they don't take away the internship option.

I am just finishing up my DM program (internship option) and I think being involved with actual classes with actual new open water students is much more beneficial to a DMC then role playing with other DMCs.

We have role played with each other for practice but it is nothing like the responsibility you feel when your working with real open water students (under the direct supervision of an instructor of course)

 

[Peter Guy]

Divemaster Video – revised with all new footage, including a Demonstration Quality Skills

I wonder if they'll do the demonstrations being horizontal and neutrally bouyant OR negative, vertical and on their knees?

 

[TMHeimer]

The changes seem pretty good. I particularly like the inclusion of Demonstration Quality of skills on the video. I have only to get these in shape to finish, and have long suggested at least a list with photos on this would have helped folks like me with not so good memories--The OW manual does a good job showing how to DO the skills. Inclusion of some Deep is very good, since many charter dives go below 100 feet. Not so sure about Search & Recovery, as this seems out of the normal range of everyday diving--maybe akin to DPV dives? Snorkelling Supervision is good, as is Skin Diver Course--however in cold climates like here these would have to be restricted to Pool only unless done with at least 7 mil wetsuit & weights. I like the minimum number of dives being upped--maybe the number needed to finish should also be raised- I had 22 when I did Rescue, and that was way too early. I had 148 STARTING DMC and MAYBE that was enough.

 

[DevonDiver]

Does this mean that all DMs will now be auto-qualified to conduct DSDs?