How to Get Enough Dives For Divemaster and Beyond

[Providencia]

Hello, I've recently become interested in scuba and would like to attempt to make a career out of as my current job is not something that I'd like to devote 100% of my time to given the chance. I understand how the progression of courses goes, but how can I get the required number of dives to qualify for the courses or to get experience? I'm located in the USA and it's around $100 a dive in Florida so obviously as you know 40 dives minimum to qualify for the divemaster course requires a lot. So should I just go dive as much as possible paying for each dive along the way?

 

[scubadada]

Hello, I've recently become interested in scuba and would like to attempt to make a career out of as my current job is not something that I'd like to devote 100% of my time to given the chance. I understand how the progression of courses goes, but how can I get the required number of dives to qualify for the courses or to get experience? I'm located in the USA and it's around $100 a dive in Florida so obviously as you know 40 dives minimum to qualify for the divemaster course requires a lot. So should I just go dive as much as possible paying for each dive along the way?

Where do you live? Where do you plan on making your career in diving? Do you think the industry really needs more minimally qualified DMs or Instructors?

Enjoy your diving, build on your experience. Ask the same questions again in the future.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

$100 a dive... Really!

Since you live in Florida, just find a buddy or a shop that dives and your dives should be at most the cost of an air fill.

 

[Providencia]

Where do you live? Where do you plan on making your career in diving? Do you think the industry really needs more minimally qualified DMs or Instructors?

Enjoy your diving, build on your experience. Ask the same questions again in the future.

I live in Connecticut. I'm not sure where I plan to make a career in diving, I'm mostly focused on getting certified to have that option. I think the dive industry can benefit from better dive instructors and the only way to become one would be to start as a new one.

 

[Providencia]

$100 a dive... Really!

Since you live in Florida, just find a buddy or a shop that dives and your dives should be at most the cost of an air fill.

I don't live in Florida but I may consider moving there to work towards that. Is that all you really need, to just know someone that'll let you tag along? Is there an easier way than just hoping to meet the right people?

 

[DANDM]

I don't live in Florida but I may consider moving there to work towards that. Is that all you really need, to just know someone that'll let you tag along? Is there an easier way than just hoping to meet the right people?

Find social dive clubs for making friends and having access to affordable diving. Sometimes universities have these clubs, and are open to people outside of the university.

 

[dorsal]

Getting quality dives is more important than the number. Your DM instructor should also look at the variety of those dives too. So don’t shortchange yourself and have fun getting the 60 dives to start the course.

 

[ModelsxB]

If you are in Connecticut, there are a TON of various organizations that can help you get acquainted with the New England diving scene. I know of this fact personally as I have a friend who just started diving in CT. Diving in NE can be a bit more of a daunting process as many of the divers in the area are hesitant to welcoming newbies since the conditions are much more difficult than in the tropics (think: cold, dark, low visibility, difficult current) but if you are persistent you can absolutely make a career out of it.

Perhaps most important however is going to be deciding with which organization you would like to pursue a career. PADI? SDI/TDI? SSI? NAUI? GUE? Try picking an organization/trying multiple organizations, taking classes with those organizations and then determining whose methodology you like best. Additionally, I would recommend that you go to a few different dive shops in the area and explain who you are, what you want to do, and if they have any diving classes, diving groups, or dive trips that you can take part in. Additionally, since you are in CT, you should look into joining SEACONN, as I know they frequently will go on night dives.

If all else fails, you can also look at booking a liveaboard, which some of them (there is one in particular that I know of which launches out of the Bahamas) can get you 15-25 dives over the course of 7 days for under $1500.

 

[Providencia]

If you are in Connecticut, there are a TON of various organizations that can help you get acquainted with the New England diving scene. I know of this fact personally as I have a friend who just started diving in CT. Diving in NE can be a bit more of a daunting process as many of the divers in the area are hesitant to welcoming newbies since the conditions are much more difficult than in the tropics (think: cold, dark, low visibility, difficult current) but if you are persistent you can absolutely make a career out of it.

Perhaps most important however is going to be deciding with which organization you would like to pursue a career. PADI? SDI/TDI? SSI? NAUI? GUE? Try picking an organization/trying multiple organizations, taking classes with those organizations and then determining whose methodology you like best. Additionally, I would recommend that you go to a few different dive shops in the area and explain who you are, what you want to do, and if they have any diving classes, diving groups, or dive trips that you can take part in. Additionally, since you are in CT, you should look into joining SEACONN, as I know they frequently will go on night dives.

If all else fails, you can also look at booking a liveaboard, which some of them (there is one in particular that I know of which launches out of the Bahamas) can get you 15-25 dives over the course of 7 days for under $1500.

Thank you so much for all of this information! This is exactly what I was looking for! I was thinking about going through SDI to get my open water, and then to start diving as much as I reasonably can and to mix and match organizations and diveshops and instructors. Thank you especially for letting me know about the liveaboards because I didn't consider that as an option. I'm definitely going to follow your advice.

 

[ModelsxB]

Thank you so much for all of this information! This is exactly what I was looking for! I was thinking about going through SDI to get my open water, and then to start diving as much as I reasonably can and to mix and match organizations and diveshops and instructors. Thank you especially for letting me know about the liveaboards because I didn't consider that as an option. I'm definitely going to follow your advice.

If you are thinking of going SDI, do you know which diveshop/group you plan on getting your DM from? Do you have your OW yet? If so, what org did you get your OW from? Have you gotten your AOW/Advanced Diver? Have you gotten your Rescue Diver? How many dives do you currently have? How long do you intend for you DM to take? Why do you want SDI/TDI specifically?

The reason I ask is because there is only one place that I know of in CT which certifies SDI/TDI Divemasters. While it is an absolutely brilliant shop with world-class instruction, they do not churn out DMs unlike the way that some less scrupulous shops/orgs do. In short, you will absolutely NOT be going from "zero to hero" through them.

If all you want to do is get your DM and work in the Scuba Industry, you are better off going to a tropical resort and joining a "zero to hero" DM internship there. Also look at a "zero to hero" liveaboard DM internships as well. But my two cents is that you shouldn't be approaching this as the fastest route to DM, but instead a sustainable career where you are focusing on teaching people how to be the best divers possible (whether you chose to DIR or not).

Personally, I'd argue that the more time you spend going to the pool. making sure you get yourself set-up properly, diving in perfect trim, and managing your equipment, eventually you will begin to meet people by stopping in the dive-shop, chatting with people, etc. and opportunities to do a DM program will appear before you.

One particular thing I can recommend in CT is New England Dive's "Get Wet" pool time. It is $30 and you can go practice all of your skills in the pool. While it might not increase your arbitrary dive count, it will enable you get your trim perfect, and meet local people who are divers of various skill levels and a dive shop where they might be able to point you towards other diving opportunities.