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I worked at a dive shop part time on weekends for several years. One of our instructors said he would take my wife and me from AOW through AI if we helped out with classes. It was a two year internship, and our only costs were the books and cards.
Our shop would charter one boat each month and we would work as DMs on the boat, unpaid. Most times we could squeeze in one dive each, but not always. Once we didn't sell enough spots, so we had to pay for our own spots and still work. We never received a cent for any of our time as DMs. After a year of working boats I decided not to renew my DM card. I've been happy ever since.
I hear ya. And sorry if I seemed critical. Seems like you got with a nasty instructor. I just have this pet peave about DMs working for free, which is, apparently, par for the course in the U.S. (and maybe Canada?). I'm lucky to occasionally work for an owner who pays. Sorry I got into diving so late in life, as I really enjoy being a DM, for as long as it will last-- physically....