Dive Master here i come

[gussys]

Thanks guys for all the good reading. I start my dive master class next week and this place has helped me with every question i have ever had. I know im a new diver and it might start a war over going into dive master so soon but i help out in a shop that me and the instructor just click. He was the one that thought i was ready. Ive been helping with the students in the pool for a while now and i just love watching them advance in there skills. I think that with time i will be up for instructor.

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

I met a guy a few weeks back that was going for his DM. He had been diving for less than 6 months and had never seen blue water. It scared the hell out of me.

Where all have you dove before?

When did you get certified?

I really believe that the cert agencies should change the requirements for DM.

 

[matt_unique]

From my years on this board I have found there is pretty much a general consensus that every agency has standards that are way too lax for virtually every scuba certification. Master Diver with 50 dives? Joke.... Dive Master program entry at 25 dives? Joke.... OW instructor at 100 dives? Joke.... etc.

Does not mean these folks are not outstanding divers - but the agency requirements are ridiculous. It is in spite of the lax standards and requirements some proceed to become extremely experienced divers who have been to scary deep dark places and have some real experience to share.

--Matt

 

[gussys]

I met a guy a few weeks back that was going for his DM. He had been diving for less than 6 months and had never seen blue water. It scared the hell out of me.

Where all have you dove before?

When did you get certified?

I really believe that the cert agencies should change the requirements for DM.

I normaly dive in fresh water and around here we end up in dark water ie less than 2ft vis very easy. I dove in the gulf of mexico this summer great experence there was limited vis as the huricane just came through. I have 62 loged dives that i count (i dont count traning dives). I got certified here and boy let me tell ya doing skils in 1-2ft vis on a good day was umm interesting. In my loged dives I got to go out with some of the local comerical divers doing work on the pipe lines in the local lake this to was a very interesting its nice to watch and experence how the pros do things. I am also a member of the San Juan search and recovedry team. All and all i just love to dive and i love passing along the experences and skills i have.

 

[Juls64]

Good Luck to you! If you feel you are ready and the instructor you have been working with thinks you are ready, then go for it! There are a great many divemasters who are simply helping with confined water students, making sure gear is assembled properly, making sure there is adequate equipment, assisting with proper weighting, and just being an extra pair of hands and eyes for the instructor. There are many with 25 dives who seem to have what it takes and will make great divemaster candidates and eventually will be great divemasters. Even in open water, if it is a site you are familiar with, and you are attentive and have good skills, there is nothing wrong with you beginning your divemaster training. You don't need "blue water" experience if you are doing all your diving in a black, cloudy lake or quarry and that is where you will be assisting.

Best of luck to you!

Julie

 

[Wildcard]

Good luck and get used to packing a lot of tanks around.

 

[gussys]

Good luck and get used to packing a lot of tanks around.

thanks every one. this board is a great place to use as a resource. In the new diver forum there is always questions that I think about how i would handle a student with that problem. Oh and packing tanks. We teach carry your own gear always. the DMs around here are realy there to help the instructors with the students.

 

[ae3753]

Best of luck! Seems like you have some good experience, and are ready for DM. That being said, definitely try to get as much diving experience as possible. Low vis is demanding, but so is cold water, currents, and rough surf entries. All challenging in different ways. And just because you can handle one condition well doesn't mean that you can handle everything.

Also, don't forget to get get some fun dives in too. DM, if done right, can be demanding. And while it's enjoyable to help students, sometime you do just want to scream and you question why you're diving. Just remember that DM is work. And that you need to take some time to recharge. Take your time, and you'll have a more enjoyable training.

Personally, I don't think that anyone should be official DMs until 200 dives and have shown that they have a variety of dive experiences. I recently completed all my DM training, and while I am capable of helping in classes and leading local tours, I feel that I still have a lot to learn and a lot to experience.

 

[Spoon]

good luck to you bro, i plan to take mine sometime next year.

 

[DementialFaith]

That's awesome, just remember to start making friends with the smaller students in the course from day one so you dont have to tow someone twice your size out of 20ft waves. Can tell you right now it's not all that fun.