Divemaster or just Dive!!!

[mckinness]

I'm going to be back in West Palm Beach for 8 days with nothing to do but dive. I cant decide if I should pursue the DM training or just dive. I will be back in March for a week as well. I'm gonna spend most of my time in the water either way. I usually dive at JDC in Jupiter but dont mind hooking up with locals and diving from Jupiter to Key Largo, beach,boat etc! Any advise would be appreciated!!!

 

[Rhone Man]

8 days is a very short time to do your DM. It took me 9 months first time I did it, and 13 months second time. Don't underestimate the amount of study time for the exams etc.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yes, DM is tough. Continually diving is also important so you keep the "basics" in shape. 8 days in my opinion is about enough time to just crack open the DM books.

 

[jeckyll]

Why do you want your DM?

 

[ff1diver]

I am not going to tell you not to take the course...I will ask why? If you are doing this certification only to get the c-card then you would not be a divemaster working for me. I can teach a divemaster course in 8 days and certify the person as so...but my divemaster candidates who work for me, spend at least 6 months to a year to achieve their certification. And they are the very best!!! Because of this it does not take them long to be instructors after a few years with this certification!
Let me ask...When you dive...
1. do you plan your dive and dive your plan? Do notify other divers in your group or buddy it is time to go up or do you push the limits?
2. are constantly observing other divers getting ready to make sure they are assembling their gear properly?
3. do you find yourself thinking about what diving problems could occur before they happen and not afraid to offer advise to that diver?
4. do you find yourself always lending a helping hand to divers you do not know?
5. do you yourself error on the side of safety even though it is not popular with the dive group?
6. do you find yourself being in the back of the group thinking constantly what to do if an emergency arises?
These are just a few questions to answer but in no way does this make anyone a DM but maybe it is a start. Great DM's come from experience and common sense, and some book work. I don't look at how many dives the dive master candidate has in the begining, but the experience he or she recieves from my class is priceless. And no he or she can not get that in 8 days!

I would recommend spending these 8 days you are taking diving and being observant to what was suggested. After those 8 days ask yourself if you are ready to commit to a professional line of diving.

Good luck!

 

[gcbryan]

If you have 8 days in sunny Florida when you could be diving why would you want to take DM training? If you like to dive...dive. If you like to help instructors teach more than you like to dive then maybe the DM thing is for you.

 

[Stout]

8 days is a very short time to do your DM. It took me 9 months first time I did it, and 13 months second time. Don't underestimate the amount of study time for the exams etc.

Out of curiosity, why did you do your DM twice ?

 

[openmindOW]

Don't try to cram DM into 8 days. Dive. Take some other course, such as Deep Diver or Nitrox or Rescue. Spend the rest of your time diving.

 

[Bogie]

Just dive and have fun.

It takes quite a commitment time and effort to properly achieve Dive Master Certification

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

My Key Largo DM cert took 6 days. I have been working pretty much continuously as a dive instructor, wherever I have wanted, for the last 9 years, starting less than 6 months after that DM cert. I did not however just do DM.