DM and instructor progression.

[Pullmyfinger]

The NASE and agency threads have given me a lot to think about in terms of what I might want to do (or not) with diving.

Not considering agency, what do think a diver should have accomplished before starting a Dive Master course? and then on to Instructor development?

Naturally there are the concerns about the number of dives someone should have, which I also want opinions on. But more importantly, what do you experienced instructors think about what skills a diver should possess, and what type of dive experience should they have? Diving conditions? Travel to different areas?, etc.?

My thoughts are that I should be certified well above what I would be setting a goal to teach.

I have opinions about the different agencies, and the different attitudes that instructors have...it doesn't take long after reading instructors posts on this forum.

I'm trying to get an opinion on where I should be, before starting a Dive Master course, and then what I should achieve or what experience I should gain before looking towards an IDC.

My location will largely determine the agency that I would take training with. I'm trying to begin with the end in mind before I start.

I am considering starting a Dive Master course early next year, and want to gather opinions so that I can form an opinion on when and how to approach this.

Thank you,

-Mitch

 

[graham_s]

In my opinion, (and this is only my opinion), you should have several years of regular diving, in a variety of conditions, and be thoroughly comfortable under water.
Excellent buoyancy control is a must.

 

[TSandM]

As someone who waited until she had over 800 dives to do her DM, I have definite opinions about this. I think anyone in the professional category should have absolutely exemplary skills, and should be able to be a role model for excellent diving at all times. This includes being able to do all the required skills while stable and neutral in the water column. In addition, anyone working with students should have excellent situational awareness and tolerance for task-loading, because these things WILL be tested by students (who can be very unpredictable). Broad experience and some maturity in the sport is certainly desirable, but not as critical as the other things. I don't think DM training tests tolerance for task-loading OR situational awareness enough.

 

[Wookie]

Not just excellent skills, but a wide range of skills. I have over 6000 dives and have never made a shore entry in surf. How would I ever teach that? I can fall off a boat 20 different ways, but have less than 10 total fresh water dives lifetime. Get some varied experience.

 

[TSandM]

Wookie, there is some definite truth to that . . . but for example, we don't discuss surf entries in open water classes here in Seattle, because we don't have surf -- not really anywhere that people commonly dive. By the time folks are headed out to the remote places where surf is found, they are (or should be) experienced enough to have gotten advice or looked up information about how to do surf entries. I think it is NICE if dive staff can answer student questions about other areas or conditions, but I no longer think it is necessary. They do have to have very good knowledge of local diving, and in particular, the areas where they are teaching.

 

[DCBC]

The skills and experience that you require to teach and what you feel you should have before teaching can be entirely different things. What experience you require may also be different when seen through the eyes of an employer. Just because you are certified with an Agency, doesn't mean that a particular dive store owner wants you to be teaching through his facility...

Obviously the more experience you have, the higher your in-water and teaching competence, the more you will succeed as an instructor. Prior to certification, you have to ask yourself what Agency you want to affiliate with. Perhaps your plan will be to have multiple affiliations. There are great differences in the training philosophies of certification agencies. I would suggest that you really investigate what these are. Ask yourself why you want to teach and choose an Agency that is in sync with your ideals. I point this out, as it would seem that you are questioning this within your post and this is the first question that must be addressed.

 

[phoenix31tt]

from a beginners perspective... the actual drive, desire and competency to TEACH... many instructors are great with their skills and have tonnes of diving experience but they simply are not good teachers/instructors... so make sure that you are good at that as well...

 

[oreocookie]

At the risk of sounding hypocritical, I'm tempted to think that prospective instructors should have more experience than I currently do, and I'm waiting for padi to process my OWSI paperwork right now. That being said, I'm not sure I'll ever be completely satisfied with my skills as a diver, I'll probably always find something I can do better, but there is nothing in the way I aspire to teach (skills while hovering for example) that is beyond my current skill or comfort level.

Would I be able to teach a surf entry? No, but none of my local diving has much surf, and the places I would want to work seem to be mainly boat diving. If it were to become necessary, I'd get a reasonable amount of experience with it before considering trying to teach it.

 

[Hank49]

from a beginners perspective... the actual drive, desire and competency to TEACH... many instructors are great with their skills and have tonnes of diving experience but they simply are not good teachers/instructors... so make sure that you are good at that as well...

That's very true. The best coaches and managers weren't necessarily the best players.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Thanks for the opinions.
I'm just trying to get some ideas of the various things to consider before deciding on what to do.

I have a variety of diving experience, and feel comfortable starting a DM course in terms of personal skill and in the water confidence.

I'm a spearfisherman (free diving), so I spend time in the water doing this in addition to scuba diving.
I've done cold water/dry suit dives here in Japan, and in Alaska.
I've done some drift dives during a couple of trips to Palau, and one trip to Yap. That's the extent of my drift diving experience however.
I do a lot of night dives here locally, and while I was living on Guam.
As Wookie mentioned, exiting and re-entering through surf is an area where I don't have any experience to speak of. I've only recently start doing this, and it's only at one site here in Japan.
I have a (gasp!) Solo Diver cert, and have done some solo dives.
My in the water skills are good, and the dive training that I've taken to date, are beyond the DM level....which I personally feel is important.
I have 170 dives. I sort of have 200 as the number of dives I should have before starting DM training....more important than a number of dives, I want to make sure I have the depth and variety of dive experience that a person considering a DM course should have.

With the attitude of beginning with the end in mind.....I'm just trying to get a handle on what experience level a diver should have before thinking about becoming an instructor.

My personal thoughts at this point is that it should be about 400 dives, and a hell of a lot more experience than I currently have.

Anyway, I'm just trying to map things out in my mind and go from there.

There's plenty to think about.

I really appreciate the feedback!

Thank you,
Mitch

---------- Post Merged at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 05:06 PM ----------

The skills and experience that you require to teach and what you feel you should have before teaching can be entirely different things. What experience you require may also be different when seen through the eyes of an employer. Just because you are certified with an Agency, doesn't mean that a particular dive store owner wants you to be teaching through his facility...

Obviously the more experience you have, the higher your in-water and teaching competence, the more you will succeed as an instructor. Prior to certification, you have to ask yourself what Agency you want to affiliate with. Perhaps your plan will be to have multiple affiliations. There are great differences in the training philosophies of certification agencies. I would suggest that you really investigate what these are. Ask yourself why you want to teach and choose an Agency that is in sync with your ideals. I point this out, as it would seem that you are questioning this within your post and this is the first question that must be addressed.

That is true, I am considering which agency as well. There's really no way to separate it, from the decision process.
I can take the DM course here in Iwakuni with one agency, or I can travel to Okinawa and take it with another agency. So, the agency is certainly a big part of the decision.
I'm leaning towards traveling to Okinawa for various reasons.

It's something I want to start working towards, but I'm in no real hurry.
I just want to make sure I'm doing all of the things I should before starting anything.


Thank you,
Mitch