Divemaster Question

[NJScubaDoc]

Calling all Divemasters!

I was just wondering what was involved in your becomming a Dive Master.

Thanks

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Working on DM now. What's been involved so far is ALOT of studying, alot of helping out in the pool, at the lake, and in the shop. Trying to work on my stamina for the swims between working two jobs, and helping get a new shop location open. More studying and class sessions. Just finished one up tonight in fact on physiology, and effects of pressure. Also did some deco work. My instructor and I are planning a dive to locate a hole in the bottom of the lake where we dive. Depth will not be a problem 118-120 ft however it is an altitude dive (3500ft so 4000ft alt adjustment making it 139 ft) but it may require some extra time in locating it along with the depth adjustment that will necessitate deco stops. Also discussing how the shop will run. Planning ow and aow classes, setting up rescue course scenarios, and more studying. So far have about 6 mos in, not in a real hurry and also picked up 3 more specialties during this time. All this for no pay except air fills and lots of experience with different personalities, backgrounds, skill levels, and ages from 13 to 60+, In short, I'm having a blast and lovin every minute of it.

 

[Diver0001]

Calling all Divemasters!

I was just wondering what was involved in your becomming a Dive Master.

Thanks

You will need to read some theory. As a minimum the Divemaster book, The Encyclopedia and some sniffing around in the Standards.

The theory is split into modules for physics, physiology, deco theory and PADI standards and there are separate tests for each element. You'll also have to learn the wheel if you don't know it and these days they'll probably make you learn how that eRDP works too

You'll need to take a swim test and do a fair amount of pool work to learn how to demonstrate skills. There is also an interesting task loading test to do in the pool. I don't remember how many pool sessions this takes but in the case of my DM course it was at least 10.

A mapping project. This seems to be somewhat regionally dependent but you'll be asked to make a map of a dive site and write a site sketch. How long it takes you to map it will depend on a number of factors but my buddy and I did something like 12 dives to map our site and the original plan was to do 20. If you have good viz this will obviously work in your favor.

You'll need to do some scenarios (dress rehearsals) in OW for all the programmes and activities that the DM will do. This involves learning how to guide other divers, do briefings, learning how to assist with various courses, learning how to deal with difficult clients, that kind of thing.

Then once you have done all that you'll be allowed to assist as a DMC with a number of courses. You'll probably have to do the OW course at least once, plus 4 or 5 scuba reviews, and assisting with courses and DSD's in OW. How long this takes seems to depend a lot on the dive centre. The shop where I work does it like this and it takes a couple of months. Some shops try to do this in a weekend. In total, a thorough DM course will probably take a minimum of 3 months if you bust your balls. More typical is 6 months. Again, some shops try to do it in a week or 2.

Does that help?

R..

 

[NJScubaDoc]

Very much so! Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Ian T]

and carrying a lot of tanks...

 

[Diver0001]

and carrying a lot of tanks...

Only dumb DM's carry a lot of tanks. Smart ones delegate. :14:

I learned this lesson in Mexico. I was diving there with a friend of mine and we had arranged a fishing boat. The owner of the shop where we were wasn't there so he had given us the key. We had the shop open one morning and this French guy (it's always the French guys...) came in and wanted to dive. We told him the shop was closed and that we were customers and whatever but he really wanted to tag along so we said ok. The shop owner's girlfriend was there too and she got him to pay part of the boat and that made it cheaper for us, which was nice.

So anyway, this guy then proceeded to stack his stuff at the door and took off down to the beach to wait at the boat! I was floored and a little irritated and carried his stuff down to the boat (including two tanks for him) so we could get moving. I said something to the girlfriend and she decided to come along to dive with this guy, which was nice because I was *not* planning on holding his hand all day after that.

On the last trip down to the boat she says to me "you're not very smart. next time just say that you're leaving with or without him in 10 minutes and he'll be on time".

DUH. :weakest:

R..

 

[The Kraken]

It is my considered opinion that a D/M is not anyone's batman, cabana boy, trail slave or any other type of menial servant.

A diver should be responsible for her/his own gear, and that includes getting it to/from the dive site or dive boat.

If help is needed, then one, with valid cause, should request it, not expect it.

If I have to carry the tank then I get to use the contents.

the K

 

[Diver0001]

Well....Cabana boy doesn't sound too bad....

R..

 

[xSandman3]

I was just wondering what was involved in your becomming a Dive Master.

Like everyone else said, lotsa theory, etc. There are 4 stamina tests:

1. Tread/Float for 15 minutes, the last two with your hands out of the water.
2. 400 yard timed swim, any combination of strokes.
3. 800 yard timed snorkel.
4. 100 yard tired diver tow.

Funny story - I did 3 and 4 the same day at a local high school pool. After the tired diver tow, my instructor and I were figuring out how many laps of the 25 yard pool I would need to do to make 800 yards for the snorkel. Brilliant me did the math backwards, and decided 32 laps/64 lengths was right...so after snorkeling 1600 yards and taking 34 minutes to do it, I was feeling pretty depressed (anything over 19 minutes is a 1 of 5 score). Took me an entire month to finally get smart enough to use a calculator.

Anyway, I just finished DM a week ago, and the training was great.

 

[kensuguro]

JimLap>>
I'm in DM training as well.. I have to say your training is muc more challenging and advanced than what I'm doing now. I'm only two months in, and I do pools and just getting started on the books.. but so far, nothing in terms of helping with the shop or planning classes or anything like that. Sounds like you're really becoming a part of the shop.

By the way, are you heading into instructor after DM?

Also, I did my stamina tread/float with a wetsuit on so it was pretty easy. I tried with no wetsuit once, and I could barely last 4 minutes!