Achieving master diver recognition

[flyboy08]

I qualify and I'm a card whore.....I'm contacting my LDS come Wednesday

 

[sbk12rs]

 

[cmrangel]

I got my Master Scuba diver ... not for anyone or to prove anything to anyone else ... but for myself.

Early on (after several OW dives and having decided I was hooked but needed to learn more), I decided what specialties and certifications I thought would be my "basic" training. These were chosen based on what I wanted to get out of diving and the type of diving that I liked.

I felt that getting the certifications through Rescue with additional training in Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Peak Perf Buoyancy, etc. was what I wanted to have to be a reasonably trained recreational diver. It so happens that it coincided with the requirements for the Master Scuba Diver. So, to me, getting it signaled that I had completed what I had set out for myself for this "Basic" training and that I had accomplished that goal and that I had a reasonable foundation of training for the diving I want to do.

 

[JamesBon92007]

No, not quite. The five specialties must indeed be from PADI, but the OW and the AOW and the Rescue can be the equivalents from other organizations. See the Master Scuba Diver Application, attached. OW agency is in fact not even asked for.

It's fine to be a snob about "just another card" and "gives you nothing extra" but it is a recognition that the diver has put in some time and effort, and has probably learned a bunch of useful stuff. The card may get the diver a little better seat on a dive boat and a better insta-buddy.

i give the card away to any students who have completed their requirements with me....which usually means the fifth specialty, or the 50th dive, or the Rescue cert. No one has laughed at it or refused it yet, and I see them using it afterwards.

From what I have read the are quite a few variables allowed so basically one person who has a PADI Master Diver card may have completely different training and experience from someone else with the same card. The exception seems to be, like you said, OW, AOW, and Rescue requirements. It sounds like the same is true with the NAUI Master Diver card. Personally I would think it would have more validity if more specific courses and training were required. Such things as Fish Identifier, Underwater Videographer, and Naturalist qualify. That isn't exactly what comes to mind when I think of a Master Diver. Edward3c said: "The only Master Diver qualification that's worth anything is ScotSAC's. It's a CMAS 3* equivalent." Judging from his user name he probably has the particular qualification but I'm unfamiliar with it. I'm guessing that Fish Identifier is not a qualifying course in this case.

Please don't misunderstand me--I think it's great if someone wants to take a bunch of courses and learn more about their hobby or occupation. You never know when a small, seemingly irrelevant bit of knowledge will prove useful. The more courses people take and the more gear they buy the more choices there will be and the more likely it will be that the industry will stay alive. But it seems to me it would be helpful if you knew what someone's specific qualifications were by looking at their Master Card.

Regardless of whether or not I have a Master Scuba Diver card most dive ops seem to be more interested in such things as: how long since my last dive, have I done a night dive before, do I have any health issues, etc. One time I was put on the "kiddie boat" because I had not dove for 3 months.

 

[Clark Fletcher]

Don't do it for anyone else. Do it for yourself. If you want a MSD cert go for it.

As far as NOT gaining more respect because you've completed a MSD cert, that may true coming from folks of similar experience levels. However, from my perspective as a novice diver just getting back into the sport, I can tell you that I have a great deal of respect for the folks in our dive circle that are Master Scuba Divers, Dive Masters, and even folks who are close to finishing their MSD certs. I see those folks as mentors and even though they aren't certified instructors, I look to them for guidance with regards to improving my diving abilities.

 

[MichaelMc]

From what I have read the are quite a few variables allowed so basically one person who has a PADI Master Diver card may have completely different training and experience from someone else with the same card. The exception seems to be, like you said, OW, AOW, and Rescue requirements. It sounds like the same is true with the NAUI Master Diver card

Actually NAUI's Master Scuba Diver is a specific class that is 23 hours of academics and 8 dives including Emergency/Rescue, Deep/SimDeco, LimVis/Night, Nav, Search/Recovery, + 3 elective dives. Naui rescue is a separate class that Master does not actually require, though Naui requires rescue skills from OW on, and Master requires AOW. Master was apparently meant as all the leadership content except the leading/teaching parts. (Though except the stand alone rescue class itself; and some personal water skills have been harder in DM than Master. Master, rescue, and now leadership prep FIT, are prerequisites for AI/DM, plus Nitrox, O2, and professional diver first aid)

 

[Scuba Scott]

Thank you for the advice. I will surely work to get more experience
To me, the card acts like a milestone or goal? Whichever the case, more diving = becoming a better diver. Cheers!

Good for you!
Dive certification is set up to offer something for everyone. Some people just want the minimum cert to do what they want to do and some people like to collect cards. Sure you can just dive and get more experience but the card proves you did it.
I wish people would stop discouraging people from their individual goals. Don't like it? Don't do it but don't ruin someone else's enjoyment.
I sometimes get a raised eyebrow at dive shops as an instructor when I ask for logbook stamps or stickers like they are something only new divers want. I like them and I don't care who knows it.
Let's dive safe and after that you do what makes you happy.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Actually NAUI's Master Scuba Diver is a specific class that is 23 hours of academics and 8 dives including Emergency/Rescue, Deep/SimDeco, LimVis/Night, Nav, Search/Recovery, + 3 elective dives. Naui rescue is a separate class that Master does not actually require, though Naui requires rescue skills from OW on, and Master requires AOW. Master was apparently meant as all the leadership content except the leading/teaching parts. (Though except the stand alone rescue class itself; and some personal water skills have been harder in DM than Master. Master, rescue, and now leadership prep FIT, are prerequisites for AI/DM, plus Nitrox, O2, and professional diver first aid)

Thanks for the clear explanation. In the past it was my understanding that the NAUI Master card required 10 separate courses but more recently when I looked it up it appeared that the requirements had been reduced somewhat. Perhaps I was on the "abbreviated" web page.

 

[Bob DBF]

I wish people would stop discouraging people from their individual goals. Don't like it? Don't do it but don't ruin someone else's enjoyment.

I actually doubt that it would discourage anyone, just keep them quiet on an internet forum.

After 48 years diving, I certified MSD. I had some "extra" cash and wanted to do Rescue (only did the Sonoma County Dive Rescue Workshops) and a couple of certs, about the same time my daughter had certified and was kind of working on being a SSI Dive Con. To encourage her to finish the training, I bet her I could be a MSD before she could certify Dive Con. I won the bet, but I also won when she certified Dive Con and a bit later as a PADI DM. The good news is when I would visit and compare progress, we got to dive together.

As a historical note:
The Sonoma County Dive Rescue Workshop was an offshoot of the LA County Dive Rescue Workshop which was developed for diver safety. It was a two day class run by volunteer instructors and DMs which basically covered the modern Rescue Diver cert, both in and out of the water. During the crossover when Rescue Diver was a brand new cert, there were a few workshops where a Rescue card was issued by the instructors. It is now disbanded and a part of history as anyone wanting Rescue training can go to any LDS and sign up to be trained.




Bob

 

[Blasto]

... I can tell you that I have a great deal of respect for the folks in our dive circle that are Master Scuba Divers, Dive Masters, and even folks who are close to finishing their MSD certs.

The thing is that the gap between padi MSD and DM is really wide (DM are self-reliant, trained in the use of everything required for a dive, pass a tough fitness test, etc), but the gap between AOW and MSD is rather narrow and variable. Also, there's no rational reason to seek the padi MSD rating, which makes it look vain.