IMHO, any pro-level certification should be subject to external verification. PADI still neglect this.
For as long as any instructor can run a DM course without oversight and certify without verification, the system can be flouted and the qualification rendered meaningless.
I agree with this... I have almost finished the DM course and would like to know how "good" i am. The store I'm doing with are quite realistic and aren't a certification factory it would be nice for some constructive feedback from PADI (or even another instructor not connected to the shop).
so people are mentioning a lot about dealing with "real" students as a change? we were requiring to complete at least 2 full courses (OW and AOW) and help with a club day as a minimum. We were recommended to keep diving on courses as much as possible until we've filled out all the other requirements (which for me is the map and 60 dives)
not knowing what the course was like before i did it, I think there aren't too many skill areas that can be improved on unless you put DMC's in more unrealistic situations (we also completed a bailout and ditch and don for instructor pleasure ;-p ) search and rescue was fine, but as I recently completed my rescue course, not taxing.
my critisim comes mainly at the physical requirements of the DM course... while I'm a technically proficient swimmer and did a lot of racing during school I haven't done laps or really been active in going to a gym for a long time (10 years)... i would not consider myself fit. I missed out on a 4 by 10 seconds in the swim and easily achieved a 4 in the tow with a 5 in the tred water i had enough points to not bother with the snorkel (but obviously did).... I don't think I should have passed personally... but what it has done has gotten me back in the pool 3 times a week which is a good thing in the end i guess...
the only other thing is the theory which not being very strong generally on dive theory previous to the course i can't really comment on... there are probably a few too many "puff chapters" and not enough serious deco/physics, but whether this is necessary for a DM or not is questionable. Personally the fact that there is no major data detailing reverse profiling is bad, then telling DM's to inforce the no-reverse profiling policy is stupid... either show me data, or remove the requirement.
all in all, most people say the rescue course is the best PADI course they've done, but i think the DM has been great, whether or not i intend to continue to instructor.