DM or Master Diver????

[BarryNL]

As a rescue diver, wouldn't you be prepared to observe when someone needs help? Just asking.

Well, for example, if two divers surface rapidly and shout for help the DM on board may ask you to go out to one diver while he goes to the other if he knows you're rescue trained. If he doesn't he may decide to go and help both divers himself - which means a less rapid or successful rescue.

It's even worse if you're sunning yourself on the upper deck and don't even notice what's going on. If no-one knows you're a rescue diver no-ones going to come and find you.

 

[HowardE]

Well, for example, if two divers surface rapidly and shout for help the DM on board may ask you to go out to one diver while he goes to the other if he knows you're rescue trained. If he doesn't he may decide to go and help both divers himself - which means a less rapid or successful rescue.

It's even worse if you're sunning yourself on the upper deck and don't even notice what's going on. If no-one knows you're a rescue diver no-ones going to come and find you.

So do you seriously think that in a real situation that a boat would allow it's liability to be on the line for someone that has a rescue diver card?

 

[BarryNL]

So do you seriously think that in a real situation that a boat would allow it's liability to be on the line for someone that has a rescue diver card?

A dive club chartered boat - definitely. A dive shop charter boat - maybe. If not then PADI is telling DMs something completely different to what they're telling rescue divers.

 

[HowardE]

A dive club chartered boat - definitely. A dive shop charter boat - maybe. If not then PADI is telling DMs something completely different to what they're telling rescue divers.

I doubt that would be the case in the U.S. - I may be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that a dive operation would take that kind of risk...

 

[TheRedHead]

I'm sure that if it came down to it... you'd make the rescue. As would I. The only thing I wouldn't be able to do is CPR, since I'm not CPR certified, and that is serious. I would expect that any boat staff would be fully trained in CPR and O2.

I believe that when a dive accident requires CPR, the outcome is usually going to be fatal. I liked the fact that in the case of SSI's course, the emphasis is on preventing stress that leads to panic which leads to accidents.

Sure, I would do everything possible to rescue someone. I have simply never had that situation arise.

My comment regarding the "value" of the card with unknown DMs came from a conversation with a large resort manager on how they place diver's on boats: new, experienced, expert and he told me that he places no stock in AOW cards. He felt that rescue divers were more likely to keep themselves out of trouble. But all unknown divers have to make at least one dive on the "new" boat, even if they are instructors.

 

[Thalassamania]

Note that those requirements are to be learned or performed at the level of a NAUI Instructor.

 

[Charlie59]

For PADI the masterdiver card is just for show. You don't do anything extra to get it except pay $35.

If you have any interest in becoming an instructor or working on a boat, then do the DM course. It makes you a better diver, but at the cost of alot of time and money.

With small kids you might want to wait to take the DM course when they are older and can be involved in diving.

 

[BiggDawg]

For PADI the masterdiver card is just for show. You don't do anything extra to get it except pay $35.

That is rather disingenuous.

Once the requirements have been met there is the need to pay to receive the card, sure. That's like saying that once you have finished college, you have to pay an application fee for graduation and a diploma (which you do.)

The requirements are many, and adjustable to your interests. A minimum of 50 dives along with Five specialty certifications in addition to Rescue Diver certification (which, itself, requires that you have OW, AOW, CPR, and First Aid).

Those five specialties each have (for the most part) multiple required dives, as well as books, classroom, and many have tests as well. No, there is not one comprehensive written test, since that would require a specific curriculum in those five specialty certs. Instead of one final test, there are up to five final tests.

The requirements can be heavy, even if a candidate were to try to pick the easiest (who said "fluff" before) specialties (Okay, Boat Diver is not that tough...), there are not five fluff specialties generally available. And, that is beyond Rescue Diver which is not fluff.

So, once you fulfill all of the requirements, there is no additional requirement save for applying for (and paying the application fee) for the certification. But, the same could be said for a neurosurgeon: Once he/she completes the requirements, there are no further requirements save for paying for the license and/or diploma.

 

[BiggDawg]

For PADI the masterdiver card is just for show.

Well, that's not really true, either. However, that is what people who do not have one seem to think.

I can tell you that, as a rule, the MSD gets more respect than DM in many cases. I have had instructors, DM's, and LDS owners tell me that, in their opinion, MSD takes more to get than DM.

Both start with Rescue Diver. DM requires 50 logged dives, as does MSD. DM requires one long involved course of study. MSD requires at least five generally shorter, less involved, but five courses of study, each of which has a book almost as long and in depth as my DM book.

Basically, DM is for professionals, or professional wannabes, and the next step toward Instructor. MSD is for non-professionals who want to take their AOW or Rescue to the next level, but have day jobs.

It is important that, at least for PADI, except to the extent that you log more qualifying dives, DM does not get you any closer to MSD, and MSD does not get you any closer to DM.

 

[7milehi]

For PADI the masterdiver card is just for show. You don't do anything extra to get it except pay $35.

WRONG !! If you get your MD from PADI this year you will get a small backpack and a certificate suitable for framing.

I'm getting my MD this year so I can get the backpack:lol:

The real reason I'm getting it is I can place MD at the end of my name :lol: :lol::shakehead