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--I think this weekend I'll do a musician gig for someone without pay because music is so much fun......
Where I live, divemaster's are in short supply, to the point where shop employees are trained for free. One is because they make almost no money and two, will divemaster for the instructor for a year or so for free. I am paying full boat for my training, that is fine by me as when I am done I will not "owe" anyone. My buddy, who is a DM is constantly being asked to DM for classes, pool and OW. I am not going into this to make money or become rich, can't do that here. I know instructors make very little off the average OW student, their extra money comes in the advanced classes. In the advanced class there is little or no need for a DM, unlike the large group a instructor might have for an average OW class. My instructor tells me that he hands all his tips to his DM's, and it should pay for their insurance for the year. Here comes the delicate part, could a DM charge for their services? I know you can do just about anything but, with gas at $3.79 a gallon and pool and OW sessions kinda taking up a whole weekend, would some kind of reimbursement be allowed? I am pursuing my DM not for the money as I have a full time job already, the reason I am paying full price. I am pursuing DM because I really love diving and want to share it with others. At the end of the day I really don't want to be in the red just to help out instructors, I know most instructors here teach for the love of it also. But I also don't want my love of the sport to become a business and over shadow the fun. Yes I will be getting free air, (I'm an semi active diver so I get free air anyhow) and discounts on gear, how much more gear do I really need? But I guess it all comes down to the joy of seeing the look on peoples faces as they take their first breath underwater. Arg I can tell this is going to be a challenge already.
There is unfortunately a difference between what 'should' be and reality. Should DMs be paid? Of course. They are assisting with a paid training course. Then again, should open water class cost $199? Heck no!! The industry has the whole training model all outa wack. They use it as a means to gain customers and sell gear, not as a means to cover their cost and make a little bit of money. Until that changes, shops won't be able to pay staff (instructors and divemasters) what they're worth.
I personally DM essentially for free. I've been DMing since Feb 2009 and have NEVER broken even let alone made money. Why do I keep doing it? Who the heck knows?! Probably because I like working with students and helping them become better divers. I like to be on the 'inside' for some insane reason. I might someday become an instructor and therefore want to keep my membership, knowledge and skills current. Those are the main reasons, but it still makes no sense that I actually PAY for the 'right' to be a DM rather than work for fair pay. I'm actually part of the problem! All of us who work for nothing are part of the problem.
Too many allowed into the pro ranks as well. DM's should be selected not looked at as source of student revenue. I have seen a number of posters and divers told during their OW checkouts that they would make great DM's. Really? Those 2 classroom and 3 pool sessions (maybe 3) and 4 20 minute dives tell you this? All they need to do is take AOW the next weekend, UW Nav the weekend after that, PPB in two weeks, then do the deep class, night diver, manatee wrangler and boat diver, and then rescue. While you are paying for that come work at the shop for free, rinse gear, shlep tanks, and wash the truck. For that you get the priviedge of paying me 400 for your DM course, giving the agency another 500 for 100 bucks worth of materials, and then you can assist with classes for the next six months for air fills, a 10% discount on gear (even though when buying your BC and regs you used to get 15%), and BTW you need to buy all new gear since we changed lines and you must be a billboard for the shop. And schmucks fall for it. I know. I did to a point.
Then I woke up.
Becoming a DM should be like getting a job. Apply, interview, assess, test, evaluate, and then you start the class. Learning you pay for. Working for me I pay you. Even as a DMC. Maybe it's gear at cost, free air or if air has to be paid for I pay for it. Lunch, Dinner, share the room. Once a DM if I require you to use a certain brand of gear I'm supplying it. Otherwise use whatever you want as long as it's safe and you can demo skills in it. Assist with classes? Student tuition provides pay for DM. Hopefully I have enough students to use you. Bring me students (friends, family. co-workers) ? You get $25 per person on top of regular pay.
Will I accept you? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on your skills, attitude, personality, ability to work with people, and if I actually need a DM. I'm not taking someone's money if I can't use them and at least give them a proper internship with real students.