Dive Master Requirements

[alcina]

I have to say I was very unimpressed by the dive masters abilities.

They may have the book work down but their skills need some work. I guess this is proof that some instructors are in it just for the money.

Were they dive masters or were they doing training for the dm?

I would hope that by the time someone decides to their dm training they have the basics down, but the reality is the instructor for dms often gets to clean up the mess left by lazy divers and lazy previous instructors. A whole bunch of time is spent getting the dm candidate up to speed before going on to the things they are meant to be learning in the first place.

 

[JungleJoe]

Caseybird,

No need to be so harsh, "Lack of qualifications" sheesh.... I dive for fun, have been doing so for about 25 years. Am in the water pretty much every weekend at least for 1 dive. That includes when we are ice'd over. So I have alot of dives under my belt, still learning tho, you never stop learning. I love new toys, so when the puters came out, yeah I bought one, then upgraded etc..

So I can't understand your harshness, I am not the arrogent type, I don't have to prove anything to anyone, nor do I brag. I dive, and I dive because I love to and I happy to help anyone who is interested in it, or is learning it and is a new diver.

I just pointed out the "liability factor" for those who may not of thought of that in the 1st place. As for laywers, yeah, if I was in the same lake at the same time, I'd probably be included as would anyone else no matter what their cert. If something did go bad for someone, I hope I'd be nearby, as I have been 3 times over the years, cept the person didn't die, because someone was there to help. I hope there never is a 4th time, but if you were in the same situation, you'd go to assist if you had the skills which I would assume you do.

JBD, I am sure this topic has been talked about, albet I am new to this board. Nowadays ppl can sue for no reason, and sue anyone they want. I know there is liability for anything you do, even if you are acting as a "good samaritin" etc.. I am in law enforcement so the standards are even more so for us than a non-public sector employee or citizen. Thanks for the post tho.


For ppl that want to be instructors or dm's etc.. go fer it !!!


For ppl that are bitter and harsh.... EASE UP EH ?????? Go dive somewhere !

Sheesh

 

[mheaster]

You can always look around and find exceptionally good and exceptionally bad people that have completed minimum qualifications. I have met PHD's that seem dumber than dog*&%$ !!!!

I will state from personal experience and 260+ Dives now, that the PADI Divemaster curriculum is extremely well designed and the candidates are at least EXPOSED to a lot of knowledge requirements and the scenarios ( I personally underwent the internship route) provide a great opportunity to begin your professional career. Whether every candidate retains, can adequatelky apply and constantly demonstrates perfected diving skill sis then up to each INDIVIDUAL Divemaster!

I think the actual Internship option better prepares the candidate than does the class senario option.

 

[alcina]

As I look at it, I went and picked up the Master Diver cert, it at least shows I have experience and I have NO LIABILITY !!!

Not picking on anyone here, but we all need to realise that this simply isn't the case.

Master Diver ratings can have, through various agencies, with very little experience at all. And you can get this rating with lots of experience but no real skill.

As always, the c-card in the hand is not a reliable indicator of diving competence.

 

[JungleJoe]

Very true Alcina, it's quality that matters in a diver... are they totally comfortable in all conditions etc. I actually wanted master diver since most of my other cards had pix of me when I was a teenager, and I did not want to get a "new" old card... Tis more fun learning new things, testing your mind etc. The rescue course took a long time, but i learned alot and was a great refresher that is for sure.

 

[ChrisA]

I am currently a DIT (Divemaster In Training) with a local dive club, and am doing DM as an internship. I will have you know the instruction is costing me $0 except for course materials,.

I am currentluy in another program like this, in that the cost is $0 except for expenses. In my opinion you will always get better instruiction in a zero cost class. The instructors are clearly teaching because they want to share what they know and like teaching. It is pretty clear they are not just trying to get done with theclass and take the next one and make a buck.

If ever I can I'd do the same, teach if expenses are covered. I have a good enough day job.

I think we all know there are DM and Instructor mills that turn students through with only the bare PADI required minimums.

 

[JungleJoe]

Chris, Yeah I agree, it's a shame that there are such things as "diver mills". My instructor is old school, you need to learn the skills , not know the book, and you need to be able to demonstrate your new skills, if you can't you don't pass. His OW is 2x a week for 5 weeks, then the dives. He loses business to alot of shops because he will not offer a quickie weekend cert. They charge the same as he does, but they do it in a weekend. I don't think those divers have the skill's vs ppl that take the "old style" longer course.... Those ppl have a better set of skills after their training.

 

[ChrisA]

As I look at it, I went and picked up the Master Diver cert, it at least shows I have experience and I have NO LIABILITY !!!!

You may have picked up some experiance along the way but one can obtain a PADI master diver card with ANY five specialy cards. I think it is possable to get five cards and do ZERO dives. Let's see.. Nitrox, no dives. and then there is the National Geographic and project Awre and some tropical reef related specialty. There are at least five classromm only cards you can pick up. It would be a pretty stupid trick only usfull so you could have a story to tell.

I actually heard first hand from a person who was a past president of PADI that the current program was a result of a marketing study done by a profesional marketing consulting firm. PM for details if you want. (Note Nothing wrong with this. Marketing is good if more divers take moe trainning.)

 

[JungleJoe]

You have to have rescue, no way around that one, and you need at least OW

 

[caseybird]

Caseybird,

No need to be so harsh, "Lack of qualifications" sheesh.... I dive for fun, have been doing so for about 25 years. Am in the water pretty much every weekend at least for 1 dive. That includes when we are ice'd over. So I have alot of dives under my belt, still learning tho, you never stop learning. I love new toys, so when the puters came out, yeah I bought one, then upgraded etc..
Sheesh

Well, Joe old buddy,
Of course, everyone on SB is a great diver, but if you're not a certified instructor, you're not qualified to teach. I don't believe you lack of teaching credentials will shield you from liability in event of an accident. It seems like a weak legal theory: "Your Honor, I didn't know what I was doing! I'm innocent!" However, you feel differently. Good luck.