Becoming a divemaster

[Maule]

Wow was I reading too much into these posts or do they sound quite negative to anyone else ???? Maybe that is just the way I interpreted them.

Nope, your weren't. They were very negative.

I just started DM training like last week. I'm not doing it for any other reason than to make me a better diver and, hopefully, a better person. On the plus side, I started jogging 3 weeks ago to get in better shape for my voyage into DM training. If I accomplish nothing else than getting in better shape, and I think I will get far more than this out of it, I will be extremely happy.

 

[scuba-charters]

My other option would be to sit on the Beach and become an alcoholic .

I'm not looking to make a living at it, just to have a little fun and have something to do. If I make a little spending money, that would be OK too.

Or even better yet... be a DM, retired, sit on the beach when not making pocket money and still become an alcoholic... or try real hard at it...:1poke:

 

[Louma]

I know plenty of DM's who don't want to be Instructors. They just like the idea of diving (usually for free!) and diving a lot! There is a saying "If you want to do a lot of dives, become a DM, if you want a lot of lousey dives --- become an Instructor." I liked the DM class, it was very physical, and I learned a lot. The advice about taking DIR-F, or cavern, cave, etc. is all good advice anything that makes you a better diver especially diving -- is good. That's why they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream, ford and chevy, BP/W and jacket BC's.

 

[Trixxie]

Guys was a generalization not a gender thing... The negativity is not in the DM itself, but more of the direction in which we took it. Probably better to say something in the direction of... I had more grandiose ideas of what a DM would have been. Now that I am one, reality has set in...

Gotcha- well hope my experience will be different. My instructor who is the CD at the dive shop says I am going to be very busy as a DM once I get my C-card and Ins. Maybe I will reach that point in the future where I want to do the IDC but for now I will be happy to work as a DM even if I have to schelp tanks (I look at that as less time I have to workout with actual weights ) I have also been offered to work (as they need it) with a LDS in SC when they run boat trips to the lake.

 

[Trixxie]

I know plenty of DM's who don't want to be Instructors. They just like the idea of diving (usually for free!) and diving a lot! There is a saying "If you want to do a lot of dives, become a DM, if you want a lot of lousey dives --- become an Instructor." I liked the DM class, it was very physical, and I learned a lot. The advice about taking DIR-F, or cavern, cave, etc. is all good advice anything that makes you a better diver especially diving -- is good. That's why they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream, ford and chevy, BP/W and jacket BC's.

Good points - yes free diving will be a great perk (or at cost anyways)

There is a saying "If you want to do a lot of dives, become a DM, if you want a lot of lousey dives --- become an Instructor."

:lol:

 

[SCOOBA PHAN]

I have also found it is not a bad way to meet women, although you women dm's may not be interested in following that path. Tom

 

[scuba-charters]

Good points - yes free diving will be a great perk (or at cost anyways)


:lol:

And that's where us experienced DM's look back a little disillusioned. Free dives are not the same if you're working. If the DM thinks that the free diving is fun, they aren't doing their job. This is where I speak from the view of being a charter owner. I have had some great DM's, but they were extremely hard to find. And, they all worked just as hard as me. Don't believe the "free diving:lol: " ploy. It's alot of hard work making sure that noone has trouble or dies, much less, making sure that everyone enjoys themselves. I average about 4 life saving rescues per year.

 

[JohnW]

Or even better yet... be a DM, retired, sit on the beach when not making pocket money and still become an alcoholic... or try real hard at it...:1poke:

Yes...I could combine Vocations. Good thinking

 

[drtheo]

This is one of the things that I love about this board. So much interaction and many great opinions. I have some thinking to do. Do they have DIR in Portugal? I live there so alot of the things they have in the states, they dont have here.

 

[TheRedHead]

For me, DM would mean a lot of easy recreational diving with students, very much the opposite of the kind of diving I want to pursue: deco, wreck penetration, caves, etc. I don't see the DM course furthing those goals. I think the OP needs to define his future goals before deciding on which path to take.