Why is becoming a DM considered not worth it?

[Scuba-guy]

I don't have as much experience as most here do but I don't see an issue with what you want to do. I've known some folks who got into a DM internship where their labor around the dive center basically paid for all their requisite dives and training classes that would typically cost someone a lot of money.

Yes, working around the dive center makes you more familiar with how the business works and dealing with customers as some people have said. But you're also around a lot of instructors that know more than you, and if your willing to listen and ask the right questions, you can gain a lot of diving knowledge just from talking to them.

If you spend some time actually employed in that position, you will dive a LOT and get paid for it. Yes, you're basically a baby sitter for customers. But you know what you will gain in that process? A LOT of situational awareness about people around you on the dives. Your task loading skills will improve as well. Just getting in the water and doing a fun dive will help your skills but when you have to pay attention to yourself and everyone around you, you're just going to be a better diver.

I have all the requisite dives and certifications needed for DM but I would not do it because I have a full time job and live in an area where there isn't even a nearby dive shop or group to work for.

But if doing it gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to dive more or be a better diver for whatever personal reasons you have, I say go for it.

Lets talk frankly, it sucks to be a DM, it's a hard job with low pay. Thats why that job does not exist in the USA. In third world countries they can earn $30 a day, not bad when the average is $10. So they still exist in those places. In the USA they would have to be paid $360 per day, for it to be worth it and no one is paying that to them, that's why they don't exist.

 

[Wibble]

Lets talk frankly, it sucks to be a DM, it's a hard job with low pay. Thats why that job does not exist in the USA. In third world countries they can earn $30 a day, not bad when the average is $10. So they still exist in those places. In the USA they would have to be paid $360 per day, for it to be worth it and no one is paying that to them, that's why they don't exist.

You become a dive leader to be able to "live" the dream around diving. It is not a career, it is a lifestyle choice, generally when you're young as a way of travelling/backpacking.

 

[happy-diver]

Lets talk frankly, it sucks to be a DM, it's a hard job with low pay. Thats why that job does not exist in the USA. In third world countries they can earn $30 a day, not bad when the average is $10. So they still exist in those places. In the USA they would have to be paid $360 per day, for it to be worth it and no one is paying that to them, that's why they don't exist.

Man that's amazing, so then first world industry must have followed the Dive Master model, thanks for that

 

[Lorenzoid]

You become a dive leader to be able to "live" the dream around diving. It is not a career, it is a lifestyle choice, generally when you're young as a way of travelling/backpacking.

But even then, those young backpackers I have met who were leading dives were also qualified as instructors.

 

[robbiny]

I've read stories from others they (DM) were treated as a DM during fun dives lol

 

[WreckWriter]

Hello!
I just recently fell in love with diving, like I've never liked anything in my life before, and I was thinking about getting my DM.
I know the reasons to do it change if from person to person but I'm wondering why so many people say doing the DM if you don't plan to work is useless.

My position is that I quit my job to travel last year and I am not ready to go back to normal life yet. I am considering doing DM for the following reasons:
- I want to become a better diver and I want to challenge myself and learn more
- I want to spend a few months diving and volunteering at a dive shop. I do not exclude the idea of actually working in the field if I love it so much after the course, I am open and right now I don't know where life will take me
- I've got prices from a few places I've been diving at and doing the DM course is significantly cheaper (like half the cost) than just doing fun dives for the same amount of time


But apart from that, especially as it works out cheaper this way, why is everyone so against it?

Your opinion is welcome, thank you!

Most shops don't hire DMs. Instructors looking for work are a dime a dozen. DM is pretty only a stepping stone to instructor.

As far as learning to be a better diver, rescue is the class you get the most out of. DM, not much in actual techniques. Instructor, again, not much in techniques except for how to teach. Assistant instructor, worthless.

 

[BRT]

Lets talk frankly, it sucks to be a DM, it's a hard job with low pay. Thats why that job does not exist in the USA. In third world countries they can earn $30 a day, not bad when the average is $10. So they still exist in those places. In the USA they would have to be paid $360 per day, for it to be worth it and no one is paying that to them, that's why they don't exist.

In the Puget Sound it would be impossible most of the time for a DM to keep track of more than 1 person. I suspect California is the same.

 

[MB NZ]

I did it for a year. Got an apartment, truck, beer money and lots of diving. It certainly made me a more rounded diver. Not in the literal sense. Turns out that diving every day and carrying dive gear around gets you pretty fit. I enjoyed it, glad I did it, but it's not a career.

 

[Downwithdan]

I had 500 dives when the opportunity to do my DM course came my way. Did it improve my individidual dive skills as they relate to buoyancy, propulsion, etc? No. Did it improve my situational awareness, task loading, dive planning and dive leadership skills? Yes. Are there alternative, potentially more efficient methods to developing all of the above? Yes. But the selling point for me, and I believe a lot of others, was at the time i signed up for it the DM coursed offered an opportunity to live the beach bum lifestyle for a bit.

At the time, I had six weeks off work scheduled and was keen to dive as much as possible. I mentioned this to my LDS and they offered a DM internship with as much free diving as I could manage over that six week window, as an alternative to me paying for individual fun dives. End result, I did dozens of fun dives I couldn’t have otherwise afforded and which were worth many times over the cost of the DM course, and I walked away with a DM cert. Internship required I help out with washing gear, slinging tanks and setting up/packing down boats, but in reality paid staff did most of the work and my obligation amounted to about 60 minutes work (total) each day. End of the course, LDS offered me a paid casual position and I’ve been doing the odd shift here and there ever since.

Did the DM cert improve my skills in a manner that enabled me to become employed? Absolutely not. A DM cert is the theoretical (the Instructor cert is the practical) minimum requirement to permit you to obtain paid employment. It’s a barrier to entry, not a representation of skill or ability. A reputable LDS should be far more interested in your professional judgement, abilities in the water and abilities to manage customers. Nobody wants to hire someone who burns through air quicker than customers, makes questionable decisions or looks like a bag of *** underwater.

TLR - I defiantly found the DM course worthwhile but not from a perspective of it being an effective mechanism for improving individual dive skills. For me, I found that through lots of diving over an extended period, in a variety of conditions with a variety of buddies who were largely more experienced than me.

 

[Isa.nerwen]

Thanks all for the comments! For an update no-one request, I went for it and it was a great experience. And now I'm in instructor