Have been doing DM as a candidate forever it seems like. Every time I schedule some time to get things done it gets pushed back in favor of newbies who may buy alot of gear. If you want to DM be prepared to get taken advantage of alot. Yeah there are some perks, free air, gear discounts, etc. But does it all work out. Last weekend I assisted with 8 OW students I got 2 nitrox tanks and 2 regualr air fills( worth about 30 bucks). The weekend cost me 80 for hotel room(2 nights), 68.00 gas round trip(145 miles one way to the lake), 20 bucks for food for the potluck (which it seemed others brought stuff I could not eat), and another 15 in order to eat. so for roughly 175 bucks I got to do 8 dives, three of which I actually enjoyed when a DIR buddy showed up and we took off while the newbies, instructor, and other DM candidates "talked about diving" while we actually dove. Otherwise I would not have gotten into the water until after 11:30 am( we got to the lake at 8:30). I also got to hang off the platform while the newbies did skills in 90 degree water fighting to stay awake it seemed like. At one point I had to have one of the others take over and get out of the water because after watching number 6 do mask clearing and fin pivot I got so bored that I was no longer an asset due to my lack of attention and therefore rather than endanger anyone I new it was time for me to get out. Maybe it's because of how long it taking me or because of how many I see here on the board getting DM in 2,4, or even 6 months since I joined that I've gotten real disillusioned with the whole thing. I'm having more fun and learning more diving with a couple guys who are very experienced and one who has taken and passed fundies and they have helped me to enjoy it again. Diving as a DM every time we went was getting real old, being told I could not solo was getting real old, getting those "looks" when I wanted to practice shooting a bag, switching to my pony for an ascent, or carrying a reel and lift bag just because I wanted to get used to the configuration and determine where to carry them on my setup was getting a little annoying. No I don't need all that stuff when working with OW students but I don't plan on just diving with students. It's one of the reasons I have stopped going to every pool session unless I'm able to work on some skills of my own. I've been trying to get a couple swims in for months and evry time it's been the same. Well class ran over and we don't have time for your timed swims. Or after working an 8 hour shift then helping in the pool for 3 hours it was ok time for 800 yd swim! Yeah like I'm really ready for this now! Did it anyway but dang!
Sorry for the rant but it's gotten to the point where if it was not for the time and money already invested I'd be saying screw it and going Diver0001's route. I just got off the phone last night with another instructor(TDI) about doing my advanced nitrox and deco. When I finally do finish DM I'll get the insurance to recoup some of my investment in the form of small income and tax writeoffs but at this point even that is iffy.
And master diver. if it's PADI I stopped worrying about that card when, again it's taken forever for my lds to get my paperwork sent in to get the cards I've earned to get the cert. I've got my rescue, I've got the signatures and dates in my logbook in courses completed for deep, uw nav, drysuit, nitrox and equip specialist. Those were what I felt would help the most in going for DM and they have. But when I see that you can get the rating with deep, uw nav, and stuff like bugeye mask, naturalist, boat?(c'mon now!), drift diver?, god knows what other money making specialty they'll come up with , it just does not seem to mean very much to have it.
:monkeydan
