Divemaster Certification

[watergal]

Hi, foothillsdiver and welcome! Nice to have you here

You sure have a lot of interagency experience. Just wondering, how long does it take to complete the YMCA or SSI DM course?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Oh, my family was....surprised, shall we say, to hear about the after Thanksgiving dinner activites. Thanks.

 

[neil]

Originally posted by foothillsdiver
ACHU,
I always forget something.
To work with an Instructor or a Dive Shop you would need to be certified in the same agency. All the agencies require the Dms to be "in-house" certified. You can be a Dm or Instructor for several agencies just remember that you will have to renew with each one each year and this does get $$$$$.

Foothillsdiver

Actually:
If you are a NAUI instructor you can use a certified leader from any recognized agency to assist you, and that includes influencing ratios. If you are a PADI instructor, only PADI leaders qualify as assistants. Go figure. So my wife, who is a NAUI instructor, couldn't assist me with my PADI classes until she became a PADI DM. Best DM candidate ever!

Neil

 

[foothillsdiver]

I will take your word for the Naui rules. that is one agency I know little about. Funny how the agencies are stronger in some regions of the US than in others. Here we have mostly PADI and SSI. I think I am one of only several Y Instructors in SC. I leave NASDS out because they are now part of SSI.
Have you noticed that SDI is the strongest up and coming agency. I think they are going to give Padi and the rest a big headache for the next few years. Of course I am a little prejudiced as Britt GIlliam is one of my heros.

ANYWAY, GOD I LOVE DIVING !!!!!!!!!



Foothilldiver

 

[Rick Murchison]

SSI has neither DM nor AI ratings, but what's called a "Dive Control Specialist" - a professional dive leader qualified as both DM and AI. DiveCons are also qualified to be Scuba Ranger and Snorkeling instructors. The course is composed of 12 classroom and 12 practical sessions - some classroom, some pool, some open water. Prerequisites include First Aid/CPR, O2 administration, Master and Rescue Diver, and 60 logged dives. Minimum age is 18.
Rick

 

[Greg G.]

I would recommend at the very least going on a few fun dives up here first, since one's exposure gear is going to be very different and will take some getting used to, especially dry suits.

Originally posted by TexasMike
Greg...

Very interesting point. So even if you happen to have a full DM cert from a particular region, would you suggest going back to being "supervised" for a particular period to get to know the new conditions before hanging out the Shingle and going it on your own?