Divemaster class?

[rr75]

I'm looking to start a divemaster course. For background, I'd eventually like to teach somewhere down the road. I've done about 50 dives so far, mostly in cold, rough Monterey shore entries, with some night, deep, and tropical boat dives thrown in for fun. I make about 6-10 dives a month, love the water, own my gear, and just finished my rescue class a few months ago on vacation. I even bought the books and video for the DM course.

I'm working to improve my time for the swim tests (I'm decent, but know I can improve inside of a few weeks of regular practice), and there are a couple skills (from the 20-skill circuit) that I want to practice before doing them for a test. So here's my question: should I wait to improve my swim times and know all of the skills inside-out before I start the DM class, or is the improvement part of the class? I've heard answers both ways, and am curious to hear others' opinions. Either way, I suspect it would only be a matter of weeks, since I'm in the water a lot and swim a few nights a week.

Also, on a somewhat-related note, does anyone have suggestions for a PADI shop (or specific instructor) they recommend for teaching the divemaster program in the San Francisco Bay Area (somewhere between SF and Monterey)? Feel free to send me a PM if you do...I have a few shops in mind, but I haven't heard opinions either way on any of them. (And I've thought about taking time off and just doing the DM class in Hawaii, but that just sounds too perfect...)

 

[Michael Schlink]

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the speed you swim as long as it is not too slow. I still "swim" the instructor test and can consistently make it around 10 min. or so. Endurance is far more important than speed and you will build that with a regular swimming routine. Your skills can not be too good, there is no such thing.
You will need to develop "demonstration" quality skills. That means not only can you clear your mask VERY well but you will need to be able to do it in a manner that a student that is just learning how can see every step you do to clear your mask. Your instructor should/will help you with these skills. If you are trying to prepare yourself for your upcoming DM course, continue to swim several times a week and practice any and all skills especially Bouyancy, OOA, and Mask. Good Luck and most of all have fun, I met some of my best friends and had the best time during my DM course.-Dive Safe-Dive Alot-M

 

[Zippsy]

It's great that you want to take the DM course and that you are looking for advice and instructor referrals. If I were you though, I would stay in shape but, more importantly, work on getting some more diving experience. You'll be a better DM with that added experience, have an easier time in the course and be appreciated more. I've said a thousand times, if I don't know the people, I'd rather dive with an OW diver with 300 dives than a DM with 100. Good luck and have fun.

 

[in_cavediver]

I'm working to improve my time for the swim tests (I'm decent, but know I can improve inside of a few weeks of regular practice), and there are a couple skills (from the 20-skill circuit) that I want to practice before doing them for a test. So here's my question: should I wait to improve my swim times and know all of the skills inside-out before I start the DM class, or is the improvement part of the class? I've heard answers both ways, and am curious to hear others' opinions. Either way, I suspect it would only be a matter of weeks, since I'm in the water a lot and swim a few nights a week.

The first question you should ask yourself is "Where do I think I will be teaching diving?". If you answered well, its where I live of course, then you should really do you divemaster training at home, where your will eventually take your students when you finish the instructor course. (You did say you wanted to be an instructor)

Now, as for the skills and the swims. I'll second the motion for a good normal physical fitness plan and to concentrate on endurance, not speed. All you have to do is pass. It doesn't have to be pretty (swim tests). It is far more important that you have the stamina/endurance. As for the skills, you should have ample time to develop those in the time frame of your class. You should of course make sure you can still do them at a most basic level!

Last and in my opinion most importantly, absorb all you can while taking this class. You are there to serve as a certified assistant to the instructor (after certification). You need to concentrate on the students and identifing the problems they are about to have. This takes expierence. Be sure to get it. I took 9 months to finish my divemaster. Why, I wanted to make sure that I was comfortable in my ability to handle a group a 6 students alone if the instuctor had to escort a student to the surface. I wanted to be sure I was capable and comfortable taking 2 students on a tour with indirect supervision. In the end, I had a great instructor to work with/for and learned a ton during this.

Just my thoughts

Mike

 

[crpntr133]

I do have to agree with most of the posts here. Don't worry about the time but do keep swimming laps. I have seen many DM classes and they all are different but one thing that is constant is the fact that you have to have stamina. The last class that I helped with had a man that smoked for 18 years and had very poor lung capacity, he made it through.
Word of advice, when you do the equipment exchange do the mask last. Everybody tries to do it first and it is a pain in the butt that way. If you do it last then the person without the reg can don the mask and clear as they are surfacing. Be sure to use a weight belt or you will tend to float to the surface during BC exchange while everything else is on bottom.

 

[Allen42]

I do have to agree with most of the posts here. Don't worry about the time but do keep swimming laps. I have seen many DM classes and they all are different but one thing that is constant is the fact that you have to have stamina. The last class that I helped with had a man that smoked for 18 years and had very poor lung capacity, he made it through.
Word of advice, when you do the equipment exchange do the mask last. Everybody tries to do it first and it is a pain in the butt that way. If you do it last then the person without the reg can don the mask and clear as they are surfacing. Be sure to use a weight belt or you will tend to float to the surface during BC exchange while everything else is on bottom.

No fair! Why shouldn't he have the fun of looking as foolish as we did?
:smileysto

 

[GeekDiver]

RR75

I'm heading the same direction as you are. I have been diving(cert) for over 2 yrs and have a bit over 70 Logged dives (my computers have logged over a hundred) I am now heading down the DM path. I have paid for my course and have been working through the book and hopefully will actualy start the class some time as soon as I can work the schedule out with my instructor. I wonder about how much of the class is self study and working ahead as well working on stamina/getting in shape for the class.

I would like to hear from others who have already been down this road on how there course progressed, what they liked, disliked and what prep for the class they did.


Geek

 

[eab]

I started my DM class back in September, and am still chipping away at things slowly. I'm under tha PADI system. And not only are the rules/regs/requirements different by certifying agency, they differ from shop to shop as well. I say figure out how you best study, and choose something that fits your style.

My class has three main pieces -- written tests, watermanship skills and an internship.

I've got 4 of the 8 written exams behind me. Passing score is 75%, and I have to say the physics one has been my most difficult test to date.

I'm practicing the watermanship skills now. And I'll say you have to be in SWIMMING shape! I can do a 90 minute kickboxing class, but couldn't finish the 400 yard swim. Since starting my practice I can now finish that, but also have shaved 4 minutes off my snorkel time. Hopefully the pressure of being timed will help too.

The internship was very enlightening. I had to work an open water class, including all classroom, pool sessions, and open water check out dives. I had to run a divemaster led activity, which in my case was a scuba refresher. Yes, make sure those skills are demonstration level quality! I also had to assist with a continuing education class. Finally I had to supervise certified divers in open water.

Certainly I am not the pinnacle of knowledge, but I will answer any specific questions if I can.

Hope that helps.

 

[voop]

RR75

I'm heading the same direction as you are. I have been diving(cert) for over 2 yrs and have a bit over 70 Logged dives (my computers have logged over a hundred) I am now heading down the DM path. I have paid for my course and have been working through the book and hopefully will actualy start the class some time as soon as I can work the schedule out with my instructor. I wonder about how much of the class is self study and working ahead as well working on stamina/getting in shape for the class.

I would like to hear from others who have already been down this road on how there course progressed, what they liked, disliked and what prep for the class they did.


Geek

You know, there are many different progressions possible on the DM-course. When I did my DM, it was "academics heavy" with a lot of dive theory, physiology, psychology, deco theory, equipment (we took RB's and regs apart -- and put back together), and so on -- a whole lot more than the standards required. I believe that if you put it all together, it would make for something like 50h classroom or thereabouts -- but as I said, we covered a lot of extra stuff. On the other hand, the "working with student divers" part was toned down a lot. This weighting was done in agreement between myself and my CD at the time, since (i) it corresponded with my interrests at the time and (ii) I was continuing into AI/IDC relatively soon after the DM where I would get an overdose of "dealing with students"

I've got a good friend who just went through his DM, and who weighted differently: he'd do "just the required" academics, and spend forever working with student divers etc. -- he didn't have much interrest for the classroom stuff. However since he came from a different diving-background and crossed over to do his DM, he spent a lot of time in the pool praticing the 20 skills to be able to do them in accordance with standards, spent a lot of time "tagging along" on courses etc.

It would seem to me that if the instructor/CD is worth his salt, he'll shape your DM course to satisfy your desires and your needs, so unless you go through a "DM factory", it'll be difficult to say how *your* course will look.

That said, of the pratical exercises I thought the mapping exercise to be one of the most interresting. I was mapping a sand-patch with a few piles of rocks scattered. The distance between the rock-piles by far exceeded the viz, and there was a current to account for -- it was a fun challenge getting a map which was accurate

The equipment exchange.....well, my opinion is that the best idea is to make a good plan in advance: who takes off the equipment in which order, who holds it, who puts it on etc. If you get a chance to do it with another DM candidate, then try to do it twice in the pool -- you'll notice that the first time you'll bounce around the pool like a crazy person, the second time you'll be able to do it almost stationary.

My final thought is, that if you've done "only" 70 dives, then I'd suggest that you try your best to get as much water-time scheduled as possible. While 70 dives are within standards (at least for some agencies), more is always better Besides, clocking up water-time is fun, no?

 

[Diver0001]

<snip> should I wait to improve my swim times and know all of the skills inside-out before I start the DM class, or is the improvement part of the class?

Improvement in swim times is pointless. You just need to achieve the goal. There is a points system and you need a certain number of points to pass. If you're not the fastest swimmer it doesnt' matter as long as ytou can make it up on another part.

Improvement in skills is (in my opinion) not part of the DM course. Improvement in *demonstrating* skills is. As harsh as this may sound, if you can't perform the skills proficiently going in then you're not ready for DM. You need to use the DM course to learn how to demonstrate them, not how to perform them. Having said that at the rate you're diving it won't take long to sharpen up so spend a couple of months on it and see how you feel about your skills after giving them some TLC.

R..