Do you keep it active?

[randytay]

I wanted to make a poll but don't know how. Maybe someone experienced can pm me with details.

Basically, what I want to find out is, for those of you who are/was DM with agency X, and then proceed to become an instructor with agency Y, do you keep your DM in active status? If so, why? If not, why?

For those who are not in the above category, I am also interested to hear your opinion on the pros and cons of keeping the DM status active even though you have an instructor rating from another agency.

 

[ffdiver]

You have the option to do a crossover to the original agency and become an instructor for them.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

As soon as I did my crosover from PADI to YMCA at the the DM level I let it drop. Saw no need to pay if I was not going to be using it. Once I became an instructor I saw no reason to pay for a DM rating. Some shops might require you to be current if you are assisting with classes but if you are an insured professional at the instructor level I'd want them to pay the DM dues if they required it. I am now currently an instructor with SEI, CMAS, and just am beginning to aquire TDI instructor certs (I have the HOG technician instructor and will be adding others that I'm qualified for over time) and will be doing an SDI as well to offer the solo class. See no need to have a current DM rating although I hear in some places the DM card can get you chicks! Never worked for me though.

 

[The Chairman]

I dropped my FM status as well. No need for it with an instructor rating.

 

[jm]

I dropped my FM status as well. No need for it with an instructor rating.

Doesn't that affect your reception???

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Bet he has an MP3 so it doesn't matter !

 

[jm]

I once asked a friend who is a senior instructor about cross certifying with multiple agencies. He said that it was a common practice years ago when it was cheap and it gave you the ability to offer certs through whatever agency the student wanted. Unless you need a specialty with that agency (ie Jim Lapenta wanting to teach the TDI Solo course but regularly teaches through SEI) it is certainly cheaper to pay dues only to one agency. The only exception would be if you are assisting teaching classes with your DM through agency X and you teach through agency W. You may need to be DM status with X in order to do this.

Do you regularly use your DM or receive something of value to you as a benefit of your renewal as DM? Also, is there anything that the DM allows you to do that you cannot do with your instructor cert?

 

[randytay]

Also, is there anything that the DM allows you to do that you cannot do with your instructor cert?

In practice, no. In politics, plenty

 

[jm]

In practice, no. In politics, plenty

The question remains then if politics demand you maintain the DM cert would doing a crossover to instructor with that agency improve your situation or complicate it?

 

[bracko]

In practice, no. In politics, plenty

apart form filling tanks and having to deal with the most annoying students in a class... what does a DM do that an instructor doesn't