Dive Master Candidate Journal

[jviehe]

Did some more diving over the weekend and assisted with a rescue class. Got to play the victim quite a lot, and had a ball. Also did my emergency assistance plan, which Ill post when I have it typed up. Basically a map of the area with routes and numbers for nearby hospitals, etc. I still need to map a dive site, do some pool stuff, and take all the tests, but I think Im moving along well and learning a lot. Ill post some pics in another thread.

 

[jviehe]

Well, yesterday, I took part in my first OW pool session. We had 10 students split into 2 groups, and 2 DMs along, as well as myself and another DM candidate. Everything went smooth as we showed the students how to set up gear, and then ran the fitness tests. One student had trouble during the swim, and I had to jump in and help her to the side, but everyone else made it.

After we did some the initial skills int he shallow, we took them to the deep end to swim around, and I tried to get the students to work on buoyancy by hovering, but itll take practice of course.

On the mask removal skill, one of the students had trouble (not the same one), and I helped them individually, then the instructor ran them through it again and he did fine. Everyone else did well, and the SI even added to the course and had the students do no mask swiming.

The rest of the day went fine, and everybody did their skills well. One of the excercises for DMs is to share air with someone and swap all your gear. I practed that with the other candidate and we did it well in 7.5mins. After 7 hours in the pool, though, I had had enough, and was glad to finally go home. Its quite a grind.

 

[jviehe]

Getting close to finishing now. I have finished reading the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, and am going through the workbook to test my dive theory knowledge. Thursday I went with the instructor and another candidate to the pool, and did the 400m swim (in 9:30!), and then the 15min tread with hand out of the water the last 2 mins. NO problems there.

This weekend, I went with an OW class for checkout dives. We dove a spring on saturday, and swam out into the hydrilla infested run, where I was made to scout out the way by crawling over it. Ah the life of a DM. Everyone did fine.

After noticing conditions were bad for most of florida, we headed for vortex springs on sunday for the final day of checkouts. As we got there early, I dully got the paperwork filled out and ready before the instructor showed up. Also gave the dive breifing. There were about 4 other classes in the spring before us. We had 4 students and 2 non student divers with us. One of the studetns had ear trouble, so we had her wait on her own at the surface, after I escorted her to shore. Then after the 3 studetns finished there checkouts, we did hers alone. 2nd dive went fine as well and all passed.

One thing I learned here was in regards to the 2 non students along. One was a students husband, and so he liked to take care of her too much, and I advised him to let her do it on her own so she would learn. We also had a friend along who was buddied up with a student, but that wasnt communicated fully so he would sometimes wander off. Basically we just need to make sure those people along with a class who are not students understand their role better, which is to observe but not interact.

Ill have some pics later. Next up I still have to do a few more excerices and take the exams, then Im done.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Congrats on your swims and good luck on finishing soon. I just finished all of my written work and only have the pool work (swims & equipment exchange) to go.

Nice posts, by the way.

Grier

 

[jviehe]

Yes, Im still working on it. After a long break during which many of the dive sites have been flooded, plus time away for DEMA, I finally got a few more things done. Sunday I attempted to do my survey project, but the site I chose was flooded so no go. Last night however, I got back in the pool and demonstrated the basic skills with emphasis on being able to have people learn it by watching me. Its a lot harder when you have to do it that way. For example, when demonstrating the CESA in the pool, I was taught to do it slower, hum loud so they know Im doing it, and because Im going horizontal rather than vertical, I had to adjust bouyancy better.

Anyway, we got through it, and I was amazed at how easy some skills come to me 100 dives later, when back in OW they seemed so hard. We also did our task loading, buddy breathing gear swap excercise, which was a bit crazy, but not too bad.

Next up I still need to finish one of the fitness tests, take all the exams and complete the survey project.

 

[CBulla]

your nearly there buddy

 

[jviehe]

Ok, Im nearly done now. While at Ginnie last weekend, i did my mapping project, which consisted of counting kick cycles to measure distances, using the compass to get directions, and measuring depth with my computer. I made notations on my wet notes. Once dry I drew it all out on paper, and added in the land features. Ill see if I can scan it in.

Last night I took my exams, and missed 1 or 2 on each exam, but otherwise passed them all. They are pretty easy, though theres a trick question here and there.

I still need to finish my rescue excercise, which I will do wednesday, and then im done! Finally!

 

[hermosadive]

Well, thats a discussion for another thread. In regards to DM training, I would think its safe to teach students to use computers because in reality they do not fail that often.

It appears that you are quick to direct the students away from the recommended training protocol. Introducing new divers to the computer is not a bad thing, but it sounds like you think the tables are trivial and a waste of time. That concerns me.

In your first post you mentioned that DM would require a mindset change. Sounds like you may need to revisit that though again.

 

[OneBrightGator]

I don't think he was doing any of that actually. There's a difference between learning the tables and understanding decompression theory, understanding one does not mean under the other. I personally believe students should understand some deco theory before we talk about the tables. Since most students who progress to be active divers buy computers it's important to understand how they relate to deco theory and tables and should be included in and OW class.

My thoughts are that forward thinking is something we need in diving instruction and divemasters who think outside the box are an asset to any instructor and his/her class.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

I can't see the harm in teaching tables, even if you plan to use a computer for most of your dives. I still use my tables, even though I dive with a computer, just to keep my skills sharp and so that I'll remain aware of the places where my computer lets me move into areas that would be beyond a table dive. Also, I've had a computer fail due to operator error (doh!), and having my tables handy kept me from having to abort my dive.

I feel that, as an advanced practice diver (I'm a new DM), it's my responsibility to share as much diving knowledge with new divers (including students) as they seem ready to assimilate. Tables have been an integral part of dive training for a very long time, and to omit their use in training is a disadvantage to your students.

Like OneBrightGator said above, I'd like to see a little more deco theory taught at the beginning, just to give a better appreciation for the issues involved.

Just a few thougths,
Grier