Linedog
Contributor
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.
Last edited: