Divemaster recommendations?

[formernuke]

OP, dive master is not about becoming a better diver, you should be there already before starting the program.

A DM helps instructors, keeps track of divers, guides divers, acts a a safety diver on dives in case something happens... etc. A DM has a actual real legal responsibility to others. The only way you can get the experience to to this is with experience. Take time use your money to just dive in as many places and different conditions as you can. Then after a bunch of dives do rescue (I recommend all divers take it when ready). Dive more get more experience.

Why do I say this. Two weeks ago I was diving with a zero to hero DM. She turned her air on and had a leak, I could see why from across the boat, she was clueless.

I had an instructor from diveheart zero to hero, he only new HIS way and thought everything else was wrong, plus actually violated basic safety standards in his directions.

Knowing this comes with experience and trust me right now the dive Industry is being very shaken up with because of bad dive pros.

If you want to improve your skills find a good instructor (one who teaches to male better divers not to convert to his or her way) and take fundies. Even if you don't convert to DIR you will come out a better diver. Be ready though fundies has a very high failure rate, but even if you fail you will become a better diver.

Another option is find a good instructor and ask for 1 on 1 tutoring, no cert just becoming a better diver. It will be money well spent.

 

[Centrals]

OP is taken a yr off to pursuit his dream!!! What is wrong with that?
"Money is NOT an issue".
"no need for replies.....why do a divemaster....."

Please read what the OP requires and then suggested a place or two.

@Doc and @scubadada

 

[Scraps]

You may be able to get closer to the answer for yourself by considering the kind of vacation destination you want to work at.

Do you want a vacation mecca with dozens of high rise hotels along a busy strip where diving is just one of many diversions available for tourists? Do you want a fancy all-inclusive that is walled off from its community in the middle of nowhere where you will guide/ captive audiences who aren’t serious divers? Do you want a major dive center that does a ton of discover and ow classes? Do you want a medium-sized dive resort in a less developed community? Do you want a destination that is all about the diving where there is a community of young expat dive pros taking a gap year or decade? Is there a particular sort of diving you want to do?

Your answers will determine whether you’d be happier in Cancun/Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, further down the Mexican Riviera, the Bay Islands, the Greater Antilles, or Central America.

Best wishes,

 

[divedreaming89]

Thanks for all the replies people. Based on the answers other members got from their similar requests, I knew this would be a topic for discussion, although I really dont get why..
I have respect for you dive professionals and that you take pride in your work. But is it necessary to put this divemaster internship on such a pedestal? Becoming a DM is a 2-3 month long program. If I have the time and finances to just go to some paradise to do it, is it really so bad to want to do this "for fun"?

I'm currently solo-travelling, which is great and all, but a little lonely at times.
I'm really looking for to get into a community with likeminded people, make new friends for life, becoming a better diver ( and spanish-speaker) at the same time. Hope this can contribute for even more fruitful replies.

If you can think of other alternatives to a DM program, but which checks the similar kind of boxes I'm looking for, I'm all ears!

 

[divedreaming89]

You may be able to get closer to the answer for yourself by considering the kind of vacation destination you want to work at.

Do you want a vacation mecca with dozens of high rise hotels along a busy strip where diving is just one of many diversions available for tourists? Do you want a fancy all-inclusive that is walled off from its community in the middle of nowhere where you will guide/ captive audiences who aren’t serious divers? Do you want a major dive center that does a ton of discover and ow classes? Do you want a medium-sized dive resort in a less developed community? Do you want a destination that is all about the diving where there is a community of young expat dive pros taking a gap year or decade? Is there a particular sort of diving you want to do?

Your answers will determine whether you’d be happier in Cancun/Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, further down the Mexican Riviera, the Bay Islands, the Greater Antilles, or Central America.

Best wishes,

That last part I'm basically looking for the spanish/latino version of Koh Tao, Thailand

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Thanks for all the replies people. Based on the answers other members got from their similar requests, I knew this would be a topic for discussion, although I really dont get why..
I have respect for you dive professionals and that you take pride in your work. But is it necessary to put this divemaster internship on such a pedestal? Becoming a DM is a 2-3 month long program. If I have the time and finances to just go to some paradise to do it, is it really so bad to want to do this "for fun"?

I'm currently solo-travelling, which is great and all, but a little lonely at times.
I'm really looking for to get into a community with likeminded people, make new friends for life, becoming a better diver ( and spanish-speaker) at the same time. Hope this can contribute for even more fruitful replies.

If you can think of other alternatives to a DM program, but which checks the similar kind of boxes I'm looking for, I'm all ears!

Have you thought about getting a Captain's license. That's a better option if you don't do drugs

 

[lowwall]

That last part I'm basically looking for the spanish/latino version of Koh Tao, Thailand

That's Utila.

For a sleepier and farther off the beaten track option, look at Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.

If you want more people and more nightlife, then Playa Del Carmen.

Tenerife is another option if you are looking for a European vibe.

But I still don't see the point of a DM course. Choose your place, do some dives to find an instructor or shop you like, and take the rescue course. After that you can start thinking about what kind of advanced training you want, if any.

 

[BlueTrin]

If you can think of other alternatives to a DM program, but which checks the similar kind of boxes I'm looking for, I'm all ears!

@divedreaming89 DM is aimed at being a professional more than improving your core diving skills.

If your goal is to become an instructor then go for it, but if your goal is to become a better diver there are better classes than that. Better in the sense that you’d save time and money by removing all the instruction training.

IMHO if you just want to dive, go for AOW, do Nitrox, then maybe later add deep, and do alot of diving .

If you need a community, you can look for a dive club and join them for dives. Look for one which is active and doing a lot of dives that you like.

Whatever you choose I wish you the best, I love your enthusiasm.

(the above is my understanding from reading many threads and seeing what DMs do in a shop, caveat, I am not a DM, technically I am an BSAC assistant instructor, I guess that’s somehow similar to a DM but for bsac clubs, although I never spent much time teaching because I realised that I don’t have enough time to dive and teach, and I prefer diving )

 

[GrandWazoo]

That last part I'm basically looking for the spanish/latino version of Koh Tao, Thailand

I like your enthusiasm, I am a new diver as well, I did OW/AOW in Phuket, also got my nitrox cert. in Thailand. After that I spent 10 days in the Yucatan, Playa del Carmen, I did 4 ocean dives and then discovered the Cenotes, I plan on returning in December to the Yucatan to do more Cenote diving. I am also planning on returning to Thailand in January before I head to Raja Ampat in Indonesia.

I think that there is probably no place like Koh Tao anywhere, Thailand is unique in many ways, including that dive mecca. If you are insistent to do a DM in the Americas, my own research would be to do either the Yucatan or Utila, Honduras.

Having read all of the replies, I would agree to just travel and go diving if you have no intention of becoming a dive master permanently, the person I did my OW/AOW had 2000 dives and was excellent, personally, I would not take on the responsibility of DM without having logged hundreds, if not a thousand dives. I dove the Cenotes with a private guide who was a local and had 2000 dives at 15, he was 32 when I dove with him, so he probably had over 10,000 dives, I will return to dive with him in December.

You can meet divers anywhere there is great diving, you don't need to do the DM course, do drifts in Cozumel and multiple Cenote dives in the Mexico, then head to Honduras for a spell...travel, dive, rinse and repeat.

Best of luck whatever your decision you make

 

[Scraps]

That last part I'm basically looking for the spanish/latino version of Koh Tao, Thailand

Then you ought to check out Utila.

You may find that your only way to secure a position is to sign on for an internship that leads to instructor.