Divemaster or go Technical Divemaster?

[Daylonious]

All -

I was considering taking a divemaster class at my local shop when I was hunting around on the internet and found a Technical Divemaster certification.

I wanted to ask what the major differences were, and what the pre-reqs are for the Tech Divemaster class and who offers it.

If I'm progessing on tech (got my adv.nitrox and deco last summer) - should I skip the 'regular' divemaster class and focus on the tech one?

Thanks!

D.

 

[cyklon_300]

use a tech DM cert?

I know of only one commercial tech trip that went out in the TX gulf area last year. I can't see where any of those that participated would have wanted/needed a tech DM.

 

[gcbryan]

I think it's to help with the gearing up process, hooking on the stage bottles, taking care of the hang line, etc.

It seems to me the question would be do you want to teach? Do you want to teach OW students or help on tech dives? You say you are progressing on tech. Does that mean you are mostly interested in doing tech dives or do you want to be teaching tech classes someday?

 

[Bobby]

You have to have the Recreational DM rating in order to become a tech DM. You will need to be certified in the courses that you want to participate in on the tech level. Most divers that move on to the tech DM do it to learn more and sharpen their skills and/or have a desire to teach some day and want to get more class exposure. If you are looking at the tech DM for income then you will be disappointed, most tech instructors do not pay their DM's and boats for the most part do not pay any extra for a tech DM. When I am teching tech classes if I have a tech DM they make out well if I can get their gas and entrance/boat fees covered.

Bobby

 

[TekDiveGirl]

Bobby covered it all pretty well. Though when working for an instructor I expect my expences (boat/entrance fees etc) to be covered.

Some ops will pay more for a tech DM if one is required for that particular dive location. But if you are looking at doing this for a money making proposition - keep your day job. If you are doing it because you love it - enjoy working with people - want to have the opportunity to work with instructors/students and improve by all means go for it. The amount of opportunities to assist tech classes and work tech charters is waaaaaaay lower than at the recreational level.

 

[Hoosier]

Tech DM... It sounds cool.... Depending on your goal, I prefer Tech DM to just Rec. DM because it isn't my main business (teach scuba stuff) at all.

 

[Diver0001]

who offers it.

IANTD. TDI probably has something similar.

should I skip the 'regular' divemaster class and focus on the tech one?

Depends on your goals. Working as a DM for beginning divers will train you in dealing with different things than working with experienced divers does. Both have their charms but if you want the snot trained out of you for dealing with every evil trick Murphy can think of then go for the recreational DM.

And the market for tech DM's is bound to be very small. Where I live the tek instructors all team-teach with other instructors. Even in an area of the world where tek training is common the number of tek DM's can be counted on ..... mmmmm ...... zero fingers.

You're not likely to get a lot of experience as a tek DM and the experience you do get isn't likely to be as blood-curdling as you would get as a "run of the mill" DM. It looks more macho on your CV but that's it.

R..

 

[matt_unique]

I can't find the written details online but as I recall you need to be a recreational DM before you an go for the technical DM.

--Matt

 

[TekDiveGirl]

I can't find the written details online but as I recall you need to be a recreational DM before you an go for the technical DM.

--Matt

This is accurate --

 

[Daylonious]

Well, eventually I'd like to be able to teach / assist on technical dives. But I think you guys have answered the question for me, go the rec DM route, parallel with my ext range and trimix classes, then get the technical certification for DM.

Okay, got that all sorted - now that the next 2 years is planned out for me... ;-)

D.