Divemaster courses around the world (cultural differences and expectations)

[coralreefer_1]

Hello all. This post is just a general query about divemaster courses all of the globe, and more specifically how they are taught, and more to the point...what is typically included in them.

I began scuba training just over 2 years ago. All of my training has been done here in South Korea where I have been living and working for more than 12 years.

IN a few weeks I will begin a divemaster course. All of my training up until now has been with the very same PADI instructor. However for divemaster I will do the course with an SDI instructor.

The reason I chose to do so is because the SDI instructor is a gutyt i have been borring air tanks from all of last year nearly every weekend to do Dive Against Debris cleanups, but more importantly is an actual resort on the beach with guests, boats, etc etc. My previous instructor is a shop in my city far from the ocean, and everything we do is contracted through some other beachside resort. After investigation and reacing all over the net about what a divemaster course is, I decided I could get more experience with an instructor running an actual dive operation.

Here is the part I am curious about however. So many things I have read on the internet and here seemed to suggest that along with the actual training, the "other type of experience and "knowledge" to be gleaned from a divemaster course by default are things such a very basic guest management, maybe some basic knowledge of sea/boat navigation,some basic repairs tank fueling system/boat, local marine laws...etc etc. I guess I thought these and many other such things were typically included in divemaster training even though they may not be part of the actual textbook material.

Those are all reasons I decided to do my divemaster course with this instructor, to get more general dive operation knowledge and experience than i previous instructor could offer. Though when I sat down and finalized the details to begin the DM course, the SDI instructor more or less told me that here in Korea, what he called " knowhow" ( the things i mentioned above) is somewhat protected information not to be shared with others other than family or close friends. I would have assumed if someone is paying for the course, such things might be gleaned from time spent itself, or shared by instructor...but apparently not here in Korea. In my case he said he would share this kind of info and "knowhow" despite it not being a normal thing to do here if I also share and very lightly teach him some English.


So I was just curious ( and sorry guys for the long post). I wonder if there are other countries/cultures where such practical out of water skills and info is protected from even paying students as a result of cultural norms?

 

[sheeper]

Our DM classes take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. The SDI "book" knowledge is only part of the program.
DM candidates spend time with our experienced DMs and instructors and learn about what it is like to participate in this industry as a professional.
Yes....there is a lot of "extra" knowledge that we include. It is certainly not secret or protected.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Think of a divemaster being like an underwater lifeguard. If you take a lifeguard class from any agency anywhere in the world you will learn basic rescue skills and how to perform the duties and responsibilities required of a lifeguard. All divemaster courses from all agencies will focus on rescue skills and the KSA's required for leading dives and assisting with classes. The core competencies should be relatively universal if a program is conducted to standards by a competent instructor.

When a lifeguard gets hired at a beach, pool, or waterpark, the new hire is usually orientated through in-service training specific to that aquatic facility and over time gains the experience needed to be proficient in the job at that facility. Even lifeguards working in the same location may have entirely different experiences. A lifeguard working at a busy Dade County beach would become proficient in dealing with the general public and watching large crowds, while a lifeguard just a mile up the road working at private beach resort would be working with a smaller beach-going population which would expect to be treated more like guests. Still, on the same stretch of sand another lifeguard might be employed by an event staffing agency watching celebrities or models on the beach one day and dealing with a Spartan race the next.

Divemasters are no different. One Florida Keys operator might put their DM's to work leading snorkeling tours, helping with open water classes, crewing on boats, and guiding dives while another might rarely have their DM's touch water and act mainly as boat crew/surface support.

I cannot imagine what "secret sauce" might exist in the job of divemaster that would be the keys to any kingdom that couldn't be unlocked by learning people skills, acting professionally, and doing the job the way your employer asks you to perform it.