Divemaster course

[salibandy]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of doing the PADI divemaster course. Before I go and sign up for the course, what questions should I be asking the shop providing the course?

Also, I come from an SSI background. Would it be more difficult to complete the divemaster course because of this?

 

[LowVizWiz]

Request access to the Going Pro forum and read up. Tons of info to soak in.

 

[JayJudge]

My questions to a shop would be about how they do the training-simulated students or real. SSI doesn't do tables does it? The physics is usually the hardest part for most people, followed by the RDP/Wheel. Find out how much classroom you can expect from the shop, if they have someone to help if you get stuck, etc.
-J

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The divemaster course is much more of a mentorship. It is much more involved than any recreational course you've taken. Alot of academics, water skills, stamina testing and then an internship.

Make sure it's an internship. IMO I think the option of coming out of a Divemaster course having done virtually NO work with actual students is just bunk. Absolutely go the internship route. Work with real students in real instructional settings. IMO there is no other option even though PADI does allow a "simulated student" approach.

As far as being SSI trained my advice would be the same as for any agency ... get a detailed course outline or syllabus. Read it ... thoroughly. Compare it to your training and experience and honestly assess where you're at in terms of what will be required. Also, talk honestly with you instructor about your background and any possible gaps that will need to be closed.

Most important ... meet the instructor. If possible, take a course with the instructor. Make sure this is a person you work well with and can learn under. In a mentorship type program like divemaster the relationship between the student and instructor becomes extremely critical.

 

[tahoeguy]

I completed my DM in May (PADI) it was a great course and I was fortunate to have a excelent instructor. The internship in the only way to go. I feel it has made me a much better diver, not only with dealing with newbies but also very self relient. The gear exschange while buddy breathing in the pool in a blast!

Go for it, and have fun, GOOD LUCK!

TG

 

[Colliam7]

I am thinking of doing the PADI divemaster course. Before I go and sign up for the course, what questions should I be asking the shop providing the course?

As several replies have indicated, you should ask about the instructional format (for theory and pool skills), and about the approach to the experiential portion. To that, I would add questions about what is expected of the DMC in the experiential portion, whether you will be a solo DM candidate or part of a class, and what the usual time to completion of DM training has been in the particular environment in which you will be training. Some environments approach DM theory as a self-study course - you do the reading and we administer the exams, and if you pass, fine. I don't care for that approach, whether it is with a class of one or a class of 6. While independent learning is always to be encouraged, an entirely hands-off approach is really not instruction. I liked having a hands-on instructor in the pool to offer advice on skills techniques that he had found functional and dysfunctional while working with students. I fully agree with the 'actual vs simulated' student comments. If the LDS where you are planning to take the course is not doing enough OW / AOW / Rescue training to offer you internships with actual students, you might consider looking elsewhere. Simulation is valuable but not a substitute for real-life student experiences.

Your role and status as a DMC should be known up front. I expected to be a bit of a scut puppy when helping with classes, and didn't mind doing it at all. Slepping tanks and gear, handling shore duties that allow instructors to focus on instruction - all that is a reasonable expectation, and not a problem (when agreed up front). In one AOW class, I took my drysuit inflator hose off my reg and gave it to the instructor, who had forgotten hers, and made do with a bit of squeeze so we could complete the Deep dive. In one recent case, I had a DMC say that he wasn't 'free labor', he was 'here to learn' when I asked him to position tanks prior to a class. That was simply a 'failure to communicate' which was quickly corrected. But, there can be an excess of use of DMCs as free labor, to the point of extending DM training to get more out of the candidate, and you should ask about how long the program will last. Finally, I really enjoyed being one of a group of learners. It was fun, and we helped each other in the pool, helped with classes. Being one of several is not essential, and one-on-one mentoring is fine. I just found it to be enjoyable.

 

[katdiver]

Check up on your current level of certification, you'll need to be at least rescue diver standard with cpr/first aid qualified as a pre requisite.

The DM course is good and detailed and will take you through all the aspects of theory, dive skill, dealing with certified divers, working as part of the instructional team. It's here where you get to grips with the basics, which if you work on will put you in good stead for eventual instructor rating, or if DM is as far as you want to go, a valued member of the team. Enjoy!