Scuba_Peter
New
Hello community! First, I apologize if this post is misplaced or answered elsewhere, but I'm such a goof when it comes to forums... Also, I would assume this post would be better placed under "going pro" but the rules say that you have to be a certified DM or beyond to post, which isn't quite the case (yet) for me.
So, here's my question in a nutshell. I started diving a couple years ago, and love it! And when I mean love it, I mean I'd LOVE for it to be a part of my career. So, I'm trying to follow the steps to become a Divemaster, so I can start working in the field, and then in the future I'll hopefully go further.
At the moment, I'm beginning my Rescue Diver training, and would love to train as a DM asap. Basically, my question is how to best go about DM training. Here's what I've gathered so far, and what I'd like to consult the dive community about:
I've learned that many places offer "internships", (or other similar type deals) but to me they don't sound like a fair trade. Also, my main dive instructor here in Madrid told me that they're generally not worth it... His logic seems reasonable: he says that you're basically paying them to work for them, and along the way become a Divemaster, which isn't a fair trade. To be honest, I wouldn't even mind doing it if it weren't for the fact that I'm young and don't have 2,000 dollars laying around for something like that. Now he told me that adversely, a "nice" dive shop would exchange work for the Divemaster training, and he even mentioned himself as being one who does that.
So, that's the skinny on what I've come to understand about becoming a DM. My situation is this: my work contract expires at the end of the school year, and thus I need to work this summer. My goal is to kill several birds with one stone, which is why I'm looking into exchanging work for Divemaster training deal. Since I'll be free this summer, I would love to fulfill two areas I've been yearning to fulfill, which are traveling and advancing my dive training. Now the catch is I'd have to somehow do that while working, just so I can eat and have a place to sleep until the fall.
To sum it up, my question is this, would it be possible to find some sort of summer job in a dive center that would allow me to exchange work for divemaster training? And not to be greedy, but would it even be reasonable to hope for that, plus either living accommodations or a small wage to make sure I'm fed and have a place to sleep? (I must add that I'd be willing to work my back off if that could ever be arranged). If that is too much to look for, what suggestions do you the community have based on what I've said? Could an alternative be working in exchange for dives and/or a small wage? I'm basically a typical youth-- I've got tons of time and energy to bust my back for a good dive center, but I don't have lots of money to dump into one of those nicely outlined DM internship summer programs. So even if I can't be a Divemaster, even just working for a dive shop could be a great opportunity to get my foot in the door, as well as continue diving... wouldn't it?
And as a small side note, I get the impression that this sort of deal is possible, based on some threads I've read here, particularly some of the things people are saying in this one, under the "Go Pro" section: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2 .
So thank you dive community for your time and willingness to give me insight!! Happy diving to all!!!
-Peter
So, here's my question in a nutshell. I started diving a couple years ago, and love it! And when I mean love it, I mean I'd LOVE for it to be a part of my career. So, I'm trying to follow the steps to become a Divemaster, so I can start working in the field, and then in the future I'll hopefully go further.
At the moment, I'm beginning my Rescue Diver training, and would love to train as a DM asap. Basically, my question is how to best go about DM training. Here's what I've gathered so far, and what I'd like to consult the dive community about:
I've learned that many places offer "internships", (or other similar type deals) but to me they don't sound like a fair trade. Also, my main dive instructor here in Madrid told me that they're generally not worth it... His logic seems reasonable: he says that you're basically paying them to work for them, and along the way become a Divemaster, which isn't a fair trade. To be honest, I wouldn't even mind doing it if it weren't for the fact that I'm young and don't have 2,000 dollars laying around for something like that. Now he told me that adversely, a "nice" dive shop would exchange work for the Divemaster training, and he even mentioned himself as being one who does that.
So, that's the skinny on what I've come to understand about becoming a DM. My situation is this: my work contract expires at the end of the school year, and thus I need to work this summer. My goal is to kill several birds with one stone, which is why I'm looking into exchanging work for Divemaster training deal. Since I'll be free this summer, I would love to fulfill two areas I've been yearning to fulfill, which are traveling and advancing my dive training. Now the catch is I'd have to somehow do that while working, just so I can eat and have a place to sleep until the fall.
To sum it up, my question is this, would it be possible to find some sort of summer job in a dive center that would allow me to exchange work for divemaster training? And not to be greedy, but would it even be reasonable to hope for that, plus either living accommodations or a small wage to make sure I'm fed and have a place to sleep? (I must add that I'd be willing to work my back off if that could ever be arranged). If that is too much to look for, what suggestions do you the community have based on what I've said? Could an alternative be working in exchange for dives and/or a small wage? I'm basically a typical youth-- I've got tons of time and energy to bust my back for a good dive center, but I don't have lots of money to dump into one of those nicely outlined DM internship summer programs. So even if I can't be a Divemaster, even just working for a dive shop could be a great opportunity to get my foot in the door, as well as continue diving... wouldn't it?
And as a small side note, I get the impression that this sort of deal is possible, based on some threads I've read here, particularly some of the things people are saying in this one, under the "Go Pro" section: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2 .
So thank you dive community for your time and willingness to give me insight!! Happy diving to all!!!
-Peter