Dive master questions

[Shipwreckscanada]

After a dive master course, what is needed to stay cirtified?


Do I need to pass an exam once a year to stay cirtified?


If I teach diving, do I need to get a special insurance and who pays for it, me or the dive center?


What else do I need to know before taking this course?

 

[decompression]

Which Agency?

Generally, pay your membership dues and carry liability insurance and your good.
Some agencies require you to teach a certain amount of courses and attend update workshops, I prefer this as it keeps instructors current.

The paying for liability insurance can be you or your dive shop or both, depends. Some agencies allow independents and others require you to be associated with a shop.

More than likely as a DM, you won't be teaching a lot of courses, more assisting with courses. Being a tank monkey and babysitting students in the water. It's where you pay your dues but also a great opportunity to work with lots of instructors and emulate the positives you see.



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[John A Lewis]

More than likely as a DM, you won't be teaching a lot of courses, more assisting with courses. Being a tank monkey and babysitting students in the water. It's where you pay your dues but also a great opportunity to work with lots of instructors and emulate the positives you see.

Second that. Work on being the best DM you can, do that for at least a season, then see if you want to become an instructor.

 

[Shipwreckscanada]

Thanks for your replies,

So if I understand, a dive master and an instructor are not the same. I’m looking for some detailed information on the web about this and can only find advertisement. I would like to read up on it before I go to a dive shop, any suggestions?

I’m already master scuba diver with PADI so I’m thinking of staying with them.

 

[John A Lewis]

I’m already master scuba diver with PADI so I’m thinking of staying with them.

Try Divemaster Course | PADI for an overview.

 

[mmerriman]

as a padi DM, to stay current you pay your PADI dues, and stay insured (location dependant). Part of your membership agreement says that you'll read training updates as they are published. There is not requirement for additional courses as long as your membership doesn't lapse.

Active Status​

Active status authorizes PADI Divemasters to perform the dutiesof a PADI certified assistant and conduct courses as outlined.​

Requirements​

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PADI Membership Renewal and dues for the currentyear on file at your PADI Office.​

2.​

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Agree to PADI Membership and License Agreements.​

3.​

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Proof of current professional liability insurance asrequired by your PADI Office (​

See the Pros’ Site at padi.com).​

4.​

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One of the following verified by your PADI Office:• Became a PADI Divemaster the previous year, or​

• Renewed in Active Status the previous year,​

or​

• Met Active Status requirements as defined by your​

PADI Office.

 

[decompression]

Thanks for your replies,

So if I understand, a dive master and an instructor are not the same. I’m looking for some detailed information on the web about this and can only find advertisement. I would like to read up on it before I go to a dive shop, any suggestions?

I’m already master scuba diver with PADI so I’m thinking of staying with them.

PADI is a safe choice due to its size and recognizability.

A DM is more like a beginning assistant, you assist instructors and are under their supervision. More commonly DM's are dive guides, you look after qualified divers on a tour underwater. There are a few courses you may teach.

An assistant instructor is more like a teachers aid, you have more responsibility and more of a role in teaching, however, still under a instructor's supervision.

You may be able to locate an old copy of an instructor's manual on DVD (pm me) and this will go into detail of the roles and responsibilities of dive professionals are.


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[sheeper]

PADI is a safe choice due to its size and recognizability.

in truth though a DM program with any major agency is good. PADI is neither better or worse. NAUI, SDI, SSI, and others all offer DM programs. You need to find a good instructor that you like and can work with. Training is not about the agency...it is about the instructor

 

[scoobydrew]

Answers in order:
After a dive master course, what is needed to stay cirtified?
As others have stated already, this depends on which agency you do your DM course with. As far as PADI goes, you don't need to do anything other than pay your yearly membership dues.

Do I need to pass an exam once a year to stay cirtified?
Again, I can only answer as far as PADI is concerned and thats a No.


If I teach diving, do I need to get a special insurance and who pays for it, me or the dive center?
Bear in mind that if you become a DM then the courses you can teach are pretty limited. You can not teach and certify people to dive, to do this you need to be an instructor. As a DM you can assist with this education but thats all. With regards to your question about insurance, the answer depends on where geographically you want to work. Many places in the world have minimal requirements but America & Europe for example will require insurance of varying degrees in order to operate as a professional diver. Some dive centres pay staff insurance but most require you to foot the bill.

What else do I need to know before taking this course?
I'd say you need to know what it is you want to do and what you want to achieve. If you want to work full time as a professional recreational diver then the DM cert (with few exceptions) will not be enough, you need to be looking at instructor training. If you can identify exactly what you want to do with your dive training and certifications then work back from there, that'll give you an idea of the basics you need to do straight off the bat.

if you can elaborate a little on your goal then I'll try to offer more advice

 

[Carl_F]

After a dive master course, what is needed to stay cirtified?

Do I need to pass an exam once a year to stay cirtified?

If I teach diving, do I need to get a special insurance and who pays for it, me or the dive center?

What else do I need to know before taking this course?

For SSI, presuming you're certified as a Dive Control Specialist (equivalent to PADI DM) ...

Annual renewal requires that you're affiliated with an SSI Dive Center or Resort, pay the annual renewal fee, and carry liability insurance (this is generally with the Dive Center / Resort policy.)

No annual exam.

You won't be an instructor but as a certified assistant, you can assist in classes including teaching the classroom work and reviewing non-emergency skills in the pool under supervision. This requires no additional insurance beyond the liability insurance required to be an active Dive Control Specialist. Whether you pay for it or the shop / resort depends on the shop/resort policy and what you work out with them.

I recommend you find the shop / instructor that you're interested in working with and discuss their DM / DiveCon certification processes / policies.