DM class - where?

[ChrisA]

I have a ton of vacation saved up at work. Enough that I've run into a "maximum accrual limit" and they are telling me I need to use some of it. Ok, not really a bad situation but my wife and both kids however are in school and can't get the time off.

So here is what I thought I'd do, find a scuba outfit, some place that can squeeze a DM class into a two week period. It would have to be a resort area that has students 7 days a week. Local DM classes take many weeks because they go slow and have to wait until there is an OW class so they can do an internship. I've heard of some "mills" that take money and issue cards. I'm not looking for that but I am looking for a place where I can work 24x7 and get the normal 6 week experience compressed into 2 weeks.

I don't care to much where. I figure anyplace that attracts divers would be OK and a change from our local dive conditions. I could just dive with a series of "insta-buddies" but I figure I'd rather work on something more chalanging and interact more with others.

One more thing: I'm cheap. Well not cheap but I can't blow to much on just me. I need to save some so I can take the wife and kids some other place later.

Some background on me: Been diving maybe 4 years almost five. I average about 100 dives a year (two a week), All local, mostly beach dives about 1/3rd at night or low viz. Have some c-cards from LA County, PADI and NAUI. The last ones were LA-ADP and NAUI Master Scuba Diver. I've taken a number of new divers on their first few dives or their first nighttime surf entry. If I'm going to be doing this kind of stuff I may as well have the formal training. I have little interest in working as a DM on a boat but would do that for free for a local dive club. I did borrow a PADI DM book, Nothing new in there for me. I think I'm OK with the list of UW skills but I'm one of the slowest swimmers I know, at the local 24 Hr.Fitness Center pool "everyone" passes me.

So, where should i consider going? Any place but So. Calif. (Florida, Asia, Mexico?) and cost (airfare on-site costs) do matter.

 

[herman]

Honestly, unless you intend to go on to instructor, just go some where and dive or take some advnaced classes. For the most part, DM training teaches you to teach, not how to dive. IMO, if you have no interest in being a working DM or Instructor, save the $1000 and use it for advanced training or just plain old diving.

 

[616fun]

If you really want to DM, I'd sign up at a local shop for an internship. My DM course took about 14 months locally due to my schedule and the availibility of classes to work with, BUT I got to work with actual students in the pool and in OW, and worked with 6 different instructors. From a learning point of view, I'm much more tactical. I walked away from my class much more prepared to be a DM than a 2 week resort course.

Of course this is my opinion and my experience. I can say that of my friends that are instructors all over the country, when they hear a DM say they did a 2 week resort DM their guard quickly goes up.

All that being said - I do plan to work with students and eventually become an instructor. If you wish to do the DM for the experience then a 2 week vacation to an exotic location diving sounds great

 

[Richesb]

Contact Hall's Dive Center in Marathon fla. That's their specialty.
They are a school with full dive facilities in the Florida Keys.

 

[itsjustme0770]

Utila- Cheap, beautiful and lots of places to learn to DM. Just my $.02

 

[robint]

Kona Hawaii, Jack's Diving Locker I have heard does it year-round.

 

[Ex-Aquanaut]

How about Thailand? We offer DM courses as deluxe 2-3 month internships or you can simply come here and knock out your course in 2 weeks. Best odds of getting the course done in that time is to get all the books and study before you arrive, then come here, take the exams and then get out on the boat everyday.

We are not a "mill" and do have students everyday. Especially this time of year (peak season has started with a bang here in Pattaya.) Plus you've got all the benefits onshore of a modern beach resort at stupidly low prices.

The DM course is $825 without materials and certification. (You pay PADI directly for your DM application.) If you're interested, take look at our websites at SCUBA DIVING PATTAYA * Aquanauts Dive Centre * Thailand PADI 5-Star IDC Courses, Classes, Lessons Trips Equipment Internships Jobs Instructor Training or (for internships) SCUBA DIVING INTERNSHIPS: Aquanauts Thailand Diving Jobs Scuba Careers PADI instructor Courses Divemaster

 

[Arizona]

"Especially this time of year (peak season has started with a bang here in Pattaya.) Plus you've got all the benefits onshore of a modern beach resort at stupidly low prices."

The season in Thailand runs a bit different than what you have written. For diving, you generally go to the Andaman (Phuket side) late October till May, and then the Gulf (Pattaya) from late May till October. I think Thailand could be a good option, but two weeks seems very unrealistic. The flight time seems to squash a 2 week plan pretty good regardless.

Find something that is closer to home to maximize your time. Besides, two weeks in Pattaya without the wife and kids could cause some issues...

IMO, I would go for other training such as cave diving in Florida or a wreck specialty if you only have two weeks.

Do the DMT close to home and properly, not rushed! You and your fellow divers will benefit greatly.

Good luck,

AZ

 

[Scared Silly]

Utila also came to mind but unless you hit the flights right it could be a two day journey. But then again I woud think about what you want to do as a DM. DM does teach you how to teach but it also teaches you how to lead (aka deck dork). I played DM for a while as a pool dork ;-). Mostly just to have fun at our local University program. I have certainly earned less money than it has cost me. But that was not why I did it. Today I have more interest in other types of diving.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I have a ton of vacation saved up at work. Enough that I've run into a "maximum accrual limit" and they are telling me I need to use some of it. Ok, not really a bad situation but my wife and both kids however are in school and can't get the time off.

HELLOOOO!!! Forced onto vacation? Wife and kids can't come? I see.
Clearly one faced with such a dilema should start by going directly to Vegas.