DIR setup for DM certification??

[MikeFerrara]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the part of the DM course which covers sales techniques for diveshop equipment. I guess just being a virtual dive shop indentured servant as a requirement for the course isn't enough, now you have to make sure that you are also fully versed in sales and marketing techniques for the shop's gear...

yeah...that sounds like it has a great deal to do with teaching others to dive.

It's really pretty simple.
The primary reason that a dive shop exists is t sell equipment. A primary part of every ones job at the dive shop is to sell equipment. The primary purpose of conducting a class is to sell equipment. If very many classes are conducted without selling equipment there won't be any more classes.

The reason that there is such a thing as a key-man or key-person discount is because students tend to buy similar equipment to what their instructors and divemasters are using. In other words the shop (and manufacturer) will sell what the DM is wearing.

From a business standpoint you could be the best DM in the world but you'll do a shop nothing but financial harm if your actions and words don't help the shop sell equipment or worse help sell some other equipment.

I do all my diving in a Hogarthian configuration but when I had a shop that's what I sold. Why wouldn't I sell what I think is the best? Why would I use anything except what I think is best?

Some shop owners, instructors and DM's wear whatever they're selling this month because they know it'll help sell it.

 

[bcsean]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the part of the DM course which covers sales techniques for diveshop equipment. I guess just being a virtual dive shop indentured servant as a requirement for the course isn't enough, now you have to make sure that you are also fully versed in sales and marketing techniques for the shop's gear...

There is no part in the course for this. And I didn't try to say sales techniques, all I'm saying is they want me to know about what they sell. I am working for the shop, and if they don't sell gear they go under. It's just the way the business works.

I understand what you're saying bwerb, and honestly, I'm gonna be totally honest with the students. I'll tell them why I went with my setup if they want to know, and if they ask about a integrated BC setup, then I'll tell them about that.

 

[kalvyn]

NAUI does require instructors to carry a snorkel ... but I plan to carry it in my pocket.

Really? My NAUI instructor only wore his snorkle for the snorkle skills portion of the pool sessions, and the freedive (first OW dive). Otherwise, we left them where they belong... in the gear bag. Maybe he was carrying it "in his pocket", if you know what I mean.

Jimmie

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Really? My NAUI instructor only wore his snorkle for the snorkle skills portion of the pool sessions, and the freedive (first OW dive). Otherwise, we left them where they belong... in the gear bag. Maybe he was carrying it "in his pocket", if you know what I mean.

Jimmie

The S & P says you have to have one ... it doesn't specify that you have to wear it.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[sharkmasterbc]

First off why would you want to work for a shop that does not sell the kind of gear you think is best ? Then it sells itself because you as the DM or Instructor have students emulate not only your behaviour, but they will natrually buy the gear you deem the best. So give them the information in an unbiased way tell them the advantages disadvantages of both styles.
I have never had a problem demonstrating a skill in a longhose bp/wing setup. My course director also uses a hogarthian setup in OW. If the shop is not open to different configs then maybe its time to go elsewhere.
my 2 bubbles

 

[bwerb]

Mike, Sean...

I know "why" the DM's are asked to wear shop equipment. Where I think it's extremely silly however is that if I am a DM candidate taking a class...during which time I am basically an unpaid employee of the shop and a student myself...why would I be required to be a swimming advertisement of the shops latest and greatest gear? It's not in my top 10 reasons to take the class to get additional sales and marketing experience. If I want to take a DM class simply to broaden my horizons or to work on a diveboat etc., then why is it a requirement of a class I'm taking as a student that I spend a huge chunk of my time and effort to work as someone else's sales department?

I would give a very rough analogy to...I dunno...a class in basic house framing or something in which I had to use the tools which the school sold instead of the ones I already had. A hammer is a hammer, a tool belt is a tool belt. I'm not there to learn how to promote the hammers the school sells, I'm there to learn how to supervise others in the use of hammers.

 

[junior diver]

My DM wasn't allowed to, he wasn't even allowed a long hose, so he said his long hose was his octopus and put his short hose in his mouth all the time, he wasn't happy,

 

[boomx5]

I have a friend who went through the PADI DM course, and the local shop he went through let him use his DIR setup for the class.

 

[DennisS]

Are we alowed to use an backplate/ wing for the Divemasters certification???

We? Have you asked the shop where you are taking training to see if you are allowed to use BP/Wing.

 

[eod]

I borrowed the standard PADI gear (stab jacket, reg with octopus) when I did the skills portion of the DM. The biggest reason for doing that is that when I am going to assist in classes I have to have the same gear as the instructor, and in the small town I live there are only one dive shop (a very good though) and none of the instructors teach with a DIR setup even tough some of them dive it otherwise. Another reason is that long hose and snorkel isn't a good combination, and I had to have a snorkel.