DM or Master Diver????

[Cacia]

I did my DM so that resorts would leave me alone on dives and give me a longer leash.

I have my MD also but have never used it for anything except what I took out of a few classes, which I guess, is the point.

 

[jagfish]

Coming in on this late, but training progression comparison...

PADI:
Master Diver (5 different dives, no test, card)
DM (professional, where the majority of knowledge develpment takes place)

NAUI:
Master Diver (8 different dives, test, where the majority of knowledge development happens in the NAUI progression)
DM (professional level)

The NAUI Master Diver seems to be a great program for the diver who wants to be all they can be, but not go pro.

 

[spankey]

quoet -
Ummmm....not to dis or anything, but what the heck is a "shark specialty"?

Is that a shark feeding dive?
- quote

a shark specialty is where you learn the in's and out's of sharks their anatomy etc and the do's and dont's. It is being done by one of the industry leaders here in South Africa who does research for the Shark Project.

 

[Jason Ooi]

Well done Jag

Coming in on this late, but training progression comparison...

PADI:
Master Diver (5 different dives, no test, card)
DM (professional, where the majority of knowledge develpment takes place)

NAUI:
Master Diver (8 different dives, test, where the majority of knowledge development happens in the NAUI progression)
DM (professional level)

The NAUI Master Diver seems to be a great program for the diver who wants to be all they can be, but not go pro.

 

[alcina]

Just to clarify Jag's summary...I believe those are different specialties, not dives...each specialty has a specific number of dives in it (from none to ??)

 

[Cacia]

And, some of them have tests, even though no comprehensive exam.

 

[Jason Ooi]

NAUI Master Diver
Skill requirements

1. Deep dives/simulated decompression diving
2. Emergency procedures
3. Rescue
4. Limited Visibility
5. Night diving
6. Underwater navigation
7. Search and recovery - light salvage

Academic requirements

1. Applied Sciences
2. Diving Equipments
3. Diving Risk
4. Diving Environments

 

[BarryNL]

You don't have to show the DM card when diving as a tourist. I have a friend who is an instructor and he dives with his OW card. No one would know you are a DM unless you tell them.

I'd say you should show your Rescue card - what's the point in having rescue skills if no-one knows to call on you for help?

 

[spankey]

at the end of the day its all about your ability in the water. I would suggest the NAUI Master Diver and then get your dive count up. Once you feel you are 100% comfortable in the water and are able to help prevent/solve most issues with yourself and others, you should then only look at going the leadership (DM) route.

well this is my 2 cents

 

[matt_unique]

Coming in on this late, but training progression comparison...

PADI:
Master Diver (5 different dives, no test, card)
DM (professional, where the majority of knowledge develpment takes place)

NAUI:
Master Diver (8 different dives, test, where the majority of knowledge development happens in the NAUI progression)
DM (professional level)

The NAUI Master Diver seems to be a great program for the diver who wants to be all they can be, but not go pro.

To clairfy a bit here, the PADI MSD requires you to have 50 lifetime dives, your certs through Rescue, then to complete 5 specialities. You can choose Ice, Night, Deep, etc. or you can choose the fluffy courses. So what you get it what you put into it.

The NAUI from all accounts has a good test but requires only AOW and the no minimum number of dives. There is no remote comparison to what you could get out of the PADI MSD compared to the NAUI MSD.

As a DM you will be doing pool work and OW checkout dives from a beach for the majority of your time - this is a fact. I know some DM's that are good divers, but they did not get there from what they did as a DM otherwise their experience would be limited to 20' shore dives.

--Matt