Dive master course?

[NeoDiver]

Hello everyone;

I'm thinking about getting my dive master. I've heard different things from different people telling me how hard it was etc... what I really need is an an honest opinion and a realistic view on how long it might take and how difficult it is to get it.

I'm counting on you guys.

NeoDiver

 

[Michael Schlink]

Which agency are you thinking of? What do you plan to do with the DM training. There are several facets of a DM job. Supervising dive operations such as working at a resort or on a liveaboard or assisting with teaching class at your local LDS. Also DM for some is a step in the direction of becoming an instructor. Depending on the shop/instructor and the location your training could take from a few weeks to a few months or more. I spent about 6 months during my DM "internship" but my DM course was geared towards becoming an instructor. My DM course was one of the funest(sic) things I have ever done. I have lifelong friends that I made during that time. Since then I have traveled all over with some of those friends and made some very memorable dives. I didn't ever think it was hard, just fun. The classroom material is easy,-- dive theory, gas laws, equipment repairs all great information. The pool work requires some swimming endurance but anyone that is in good shape won't have any trouble. Working with students can be some of the most rewarding time spent. Have fun and enjoy-M

 

[dweeb]

As with any endeavor, if you're worried about how hard it is, then it's too hard for you. The difficulty of an achievement is a function more of you than of the achievement. Either you want to do it, or you don't.
Make a decision, and carry it out. How many DM's have you met from the planet Krypton? If other normal humans can do it, what do you think is
so deficient in you that you might find it too hard. As to how long it takes, there are places that will take you from Rescue to Instructor in a week. It's a function of what percentage of your time you are willing to allocate. Once again, decide if it's important to you, then either do it or don't. Stop wringing your hands, make a decision, and execute.

 

[NEWreckDiver]

Hello everyone;

I'm thinking about getting my dive master. I've heard different things from different people telling me how hard it was etc... what I really need is an an honest opinion and a realistic view on how long it might take and how difficult it is to get it.

I'm counting on you guys.

NeoDiver

This will take a lot of time and commitment on your part. There will be difficult parts that will make you question your reasons for doing this, but if you really want it, you will get through it. Just make sure that you skills are up to par. They need to be demonstration quality.

If it was easy then everyone would be a DM.

It will be very rewarding once you complete it. Just don't rush it.

Good Luck to you

 

[adjuster-jd]

Demonstration quality skills??? Are you saying that one should have demonstration quality skills BEFORE entering the DM course, or after completing it?
I thought that one of the things the DM course taught was developing your skills to that level.
Having not yet enrolled in the DM program I could be wrong..

 

[NEWreckDiver]

Demonstration quality skills??? Are you saying that one should have demonstration quality skills BEFORE entering the DM course, or after completing it?
I thought that one of the things the DM course taught was developing your skills to that level.
Having not yet enrolled in the DM program I could be wrong..

They will help you hone your skills, but they need to be pretty good when you start. But to pass, they need to be right on or very close. Dive experience is the key here. If you haven't been diving for a while, you may want to re-think this.

I have seen folks take the course and once they get started they realize that aren't ready and never end up finishing.

 

[durian]

I have done many things in my life that I knew would be hard and still did them successfully. When I look back it was those more difficult tasks that I now value the most. I use to do this 100km (62 mile) trek in Hong Kong's New Territories. It had to be done in teams of 4 in less than 48 hours. We crossed over 20 peaks without any sleep. That was very hard and I completed it 3 times. If it wasn't a little challenging and difficult it would not have been half the fun. I think questioning the difficulty of something is a wise question. I sure do not want to make my decision to do things rest on if they are easy for me! When things are difficult we meet the challenge and grow.

 

[Snowbear]

As with any endeavor, if you're worried about how hard it is, then it's too hard for you.

Sorry dweeb, but this attitude doesn't work for me. I was worried that going to college would be too hard for me. I did it anyway and somehow managed to get a diploma out of the deal. I was worried that being a firefighter would be too hard. I tried anyway - survived the testing process and the academy and found out though difficult, not to hard for me. Same with climbing Denali. Same with Skydiving. Same with DM class. Same with DIRf class. Same with many challenges - nothing wrong with being apprehensive about something. If you don't try, how will you ever know if you can do it or not?

 

[diverbrian]

They will help you hone your skills, but they need to be pretty good when you start. But to pass, they need to be right on or very close. Dive experience is the key here. If you haven't been diving for a while, you may want to re-think this.

I have seen folks take the course and once they get started they realize that aren't ready and never end up finishing.

You skills can be great and still need to be changed for demonstration.

One DM on this board pointed out that he had about a thousand dives prior to his DM. He had to learn to slow down in the pool in order to show students mask clearing because he was so fluid that the students didn't see how it was done.

So, the instructors will work with you to make your skills "demonstration" quality. How slowly you do something in demonstration may be far different than in actual events. For most divers seldom practiced skills are greatly improved from demonstrating them for students so often. At least it was that way for me when I did my internship last spring/summer.

 

[Warren_L]

You skills can be great and still need to be changed for demonstration.

One DM on this board pointed out that he had about a thousand dives prior to his DM. He had to learn to slow down in the pool in order to show students mask clearing because he was so fluid that the students didn't see how it was done.

So, the instructors will work with you to make your skills "demonstration" quality. How slowly you do something in demonstration may be far different than in actual events. For most divers seldom practiced skills are greatly improved from demonstrating them for students so often. At least it was that way for me when I did my internship last spring/summer.

That's exactly right - I remember in my DM course, in doing the demonstration quality skills, we were taught to do them painfully slow. Then do them slower than that.