DM Expectations...

[nereas]

Many stores push the Dive Master class as just another profit center class. We do it a little different.

We do not market and aggressively attempt to sell our Dive Master class. When we see someone that has the potential, personality, and the drive....we then introduce them to the idea of becoming a Dive Master. We do charge a tuition for this and we let them know what the benefits are. Remember, we pay the insurance for our active Dive Masters, so we are very selective. We only want people that are REAL professionals.

From the time a person starts our apprenticeship, it takes about six months to complete. They then become an active, working professional with our classes.

Phil Ellis

Monsignor Ellis, my good man, you left out the fine print.

WHAT is the OBLIGATION thereafter?

One season or two?

I do not believe that you are in the business of giving away free D/M classes for nothing.

 

[nereas]

Becoming a working Dive Master is a pretty big responsibility. In our store, our Dive Masters spend about 6 months on their apprentice training program. We expect them to develop demonstration quality skills and be able to fully assist our instructors in our classes. In most cases, Dive Masters we teach continue to work with our classes after they complete their training.

In many stores, Dive Masters work for the fun of it. They simply love working with students and want to get lots of experience so they might eventually move on to the instructor level.

We have room for about 4 "active" Dive Masters in our teaching program. An active Dive Master is involved in at least one class per month for every month of the year. We compensate our Dive Masters on a per student basis, just like our instructors. Unfortunately, the compensation is not enough, but that happens to be the state of our industry at this time. Class prices simply do not provide enough money to compensate them as much as I would like. For our "active" Dive Masters, we also pay the insurance. All was ask of them is professionalism, being on time, understanding how important our customers are to us and treating them accordingly, and that they continue to learn. Thanks.

Phil Ellis

DDDH, let me help you read between the lines here.

You might get a free lunch from the instructor, or else some amount from the store that might barely cover your costs. In other words, D/Ms are not really paid anywhere for helping with classes. You are giving your time, and receiving in return the enjoyment of the activity, plus dates with pretty girls, is all.

As a D/M you can work on boats for tips. That is about all the compensation that a D/M is ever entitled to receive anywhere.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Wow, Phil!! Six months is WAY too long for the DM apprentice training program. What are you doing with/to them??

Three months, at most, should be the standard...

 

[nereas]

Wow, Phil!! Six months is WAY too long for the DM apprentice training program. What are you doing with/to them??

Three months, at most, should be the standard...

Some D/M candidates actually require 6 months. Others can do it more quickly in 2 or 3. It all depends on the constitutuion of the D/M candidate. But I do agree that a flat 6 month policy across the board is excessive.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Threads like this make me even happier I went to a zero to hero factory.

 

[nereas]

Threads like this make me even happier I went to a zero to hero factory.

So now, you are a certified D/M? Or instructor?

 

[Joe-Diver]

As a D/M you can work on boats for tips. That is about all the compensation that a D/M is ever entitled to receive anywhere.

That is not true, depending on the shop. I can bill, per student, for Scuba Review, Discover Scuba (when qualified), Discover Local Diving in addition to receiving compensation for leading any group trips I organize. I can also bill for EFR and any other DAN courses I'm qualified to teach. I can negotiate pricing for assisting an Instructor with private checkouts and classes.

 

[nereas]

That is not true, depending on the shop. I can bill, per student, for Scuba Review, Discover Scuba (when qualified), Discover Local Diving in addition to receiving compensation for leading any group trips I organize. I can also bill for EFR and any other DAN courses I'm qualified to teach. I can negotiate pricing for assisting an Instructor with private checkouts and classes.

Sorry, but I have never seen anyplace on this Earth (from Athens Greece to Tavenuni Fiji across Europe and the USA) where you can actually drum up any customers as a D/M for any of these. Normall the store owner simply tells you, "take this person diving," and it will be up to the diver how much he/she tips you.

And when you negotiate with an instructor, here is what he/she will normally offer you --> sandwich / pizza.

So I do not believe it, sorry.

 

[jchull]

Make sure you talk to someone who has gone through DM there first is my only piece of advice.

 

[philmayer]

plus dates with pretty girls, is all.

WOOHOO! I'm in!