SSI Divemaster?

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I can give facts and real specifics after Friday about the dive-con program with ssi. I'm attending a meeting specifically for that Friday evening.
 
Divecon- is ssi's entry level into professional status and as such they are required to be insured - assist the instructor - they are allowed to preform minor duty's such as leading dives - and are basically dedicated highly trained grunts for the instructor. they generally receive no monetary compensation for their labors. but they are a essential part of day to day dive operations. divemaster's certification is a skills level certification and not a professional certification.

Chris ssi instructor
 
they are allowed to preform minor duty's such as leading dives - and are basically dedicated highly trained grunts for the instructor.

The only thing I would add to this is a Divecon does more than just lead dives. They are allowed to teach skills in the pool under the supervision of an instructor and certain specialties like Equipment Techniques, Boat Diving, Photography & Digital Underwater Photography and Shark Diver.

Again, SSI really needs to consider changing the name of Divemaster to something that isn't going to be mistaken for someone other than a dive guide with a higher recognition level.
 
DD99, You are absolutely correct, and I apologize for being remiss for not mentioning all of the other duties that a dive con can preform.as I said dive cons are a invaluable link in ssi's chain. I agree with you when it comes to the dive master name maybe they should call it .... scuba master!!!
 
I HAVE THE LOWDOWN STRAIGHT FROM SSI. tHEY HAVE A MASTERDIVER PROGRAM NOW, AND IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH DIVEMASTER CERTIFICATION WHICH THEY DON'T REALLY DO.
MASTERDIVER REQUIRES OWD CERT, 50 DIVES, STRESS AND RESCUE TRAINING, FOUR EXTRA COURSES OF YOUR CHOICE AND CDPR FIRST AID TRAINING.
DIVE-CON IS THE ENTRY LEVEL FOR THE INSTRUCTOR COURSES, BUT IS ALSO DONE AS A STAND ALONE LEVEL.
tO BE A DIVE-CON REQUIRES
PRRE-START
18 YRS OLD OR MORE
LOGGED AT LEAST 50 OW DIVES
BE CERTIFIED AT THE DIVE GUIDE LEVEL OR EQUIVILANT (I.E DIVEMASTER OR MASTERDIVER)
STRESS AND RESCUE CERTIFIED
LOGGED EXPERIENCE IN NAVIGATION, NIGHT DIVING, DEEP DIVING AND SEARCH AND RECOVERY

TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A DIVE CON
CPR AND FIRST AID CERTIFIED
MEDICAL EXAM
SERVE APPRENTICESHIP TIME AND DO PRACTICE TEACHING
COMPLETE WATERMANSHIP EVALUATION (CAN U SWIM?)
LOGGED 60+ DIVES WITH NO LESS THAN 25 HOURS INVOLVED IN THE DIVES
TRAINED IN SUPPLYING OXYGEN
FINAL EXAM WITH NO LESS THAN %90
EIGHT CLASS SESSIONS, ONE POOL ABOUT 70 HOURS FOR THAT

A DIVE-CON CAN
CONDUCT SCUBA SKILLS UPDATES, GIVE UNDERWATER TOURS TO CERTIFIED DIVERS, ASSIST INSTRUCTORS WITH POOL AND CLASSROOM TRAINING, ASSIST STUDENTS UNDER SUPERVISION OF AN INSTRUCTOR IN CLASSROOM, POOL
MEET THE CRITERIA TO ACT AS A CERTIFIED ASSISTANT
CONDUCT SOME SPECIALTY TRAINING CLASSES

A DIVE-CON MAY NOT
TEACH OWD WITHOUT THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF AN INSTRUCTOR
CONDUCT STUDENTS OW SKILLS EVALUATION OR PRACTICE EXERCISES INVOLVING ANY SELF AID OR EMERGENGY SKILLS THAT ARE DONE UNDERWATER USING SCUBA EQUIPMENT
ISSUE OWD CERTIFICATIONS

THIS IS STRAIGHT OFF THE PAPER THAT MY SSI SCHOOL/SHOP HANDED ME WHEN i SIGNED UP FOR DIVE-CON LAST NIGHT, THERE IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT OF INSURANCE, WHICH MY SHOP IS COVERING FOR ME.
 
I really hope I'm not sounding like a jerk, but that really isn't anything different than what has been stated before. The OP was asking about the Divemaster program, which has been pointed out is NOT a professional level and shouldn't be confused with DiveCon or any other agencies Divemaster program. SSI Divemaster is recognition level based on the Diveguide certification.

To clarify, SSI has had a Master Diver program for quite some time.

Good luck in your DiveCon adventure. It was one of the most rewarding courses I have taken
 
not a jerk, lol. I was just putting out what ssi gave me in black and white, I did mention what they require for their master level too.
 
Hmmmm...

DD99 can I ask for a bit more detail from you on your comment about SSI's use of the term "Dive Master".

Initially I agreed with you automatically, but as I think of it a bit more... I'm not so sure it is that different... not being as knowledgeable of other organization's "Dive Master" standards... what can another agency's Divemaster do that a "Dive Guide" can't? I know it "feels" different and those agencies call the "professional level" but... According to the new standards a Dive Guide (and Dive Master):

After certification Dive Guides may:
• Give underwater tours to certified scuba divers.
• Attend an SSI Dive Control Specialist Course after
having completed the Science of Diving Specialty
Program.
• Teach snorkel diving after having passed the Snorkel
Instructor Module.
• Issue Snorkel Diver certifications.
Dive Guides are required to work through an active
SSI Dive Center and, when necessary, with an active
SSI Instructor.
9. Dive Guides may not:
• Conduct the Scuba Skills Update program for
certified divers.
• Assist certified SSI Instructors with academic, pool,
and open water training.
• Take students in training on underwater tours.
• Teach Open Water Diver open water scuba diving.
• Issue Open Water Diver scuba certification.
• Act as a Certified Assistant.


While the terminology may be a bit confusing - is it not sort of like the following:

SSi Other

Dive Guide = Divermaster
Dive Master = Divemaster
Dive Con = Assistant Instructor
OW Instructor = Instructor
...multiple levels of instructor = instructor
Instructor Certifier = Course Director


Can you fill in what I am missing?


As far as needing insurance = if I were taking people out on a tour regularly (e.g. working doing it) and I am the one guiding them, I suspect that I'd want insurance to deal with the hazard of something happening to one of them and them pursuing legal action against me....


Thanks for your thoughts,
 
Page 35 of the 2009 SSI Training Standards has guidelines for "DIVE GUIDE" and Dive Master"

Must be 18 and have logged 50 dives with experience in Nav,Night,Deep and Search and Recovery and take the Stress and Rescue course (must be AOW) CPR training current plus the class work for "dive guide" (there is more but that gives you the idea the class work is recommened at 40 hours) what they can do? give underwater tours, assit students in and out of the water under indirect supervision of an instructor and teach snorkleing.

For Dive MASTER you must add the science of Diving
 
As an SSI Dive Con can anyone explain how you are compensated for your time,monies and investments into achieving your goal.

Thanks
 

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