I will add a few thughts to the discussion, possibly at some risk of hijcking the thread (back to what you originally asked about).
I am from a land-locked area (near DC) and most of the dive shops here do not have local diving except for Quarries that are mostly for certification purposes. I have the option of doing my Dive Master training locally where I will have the chance to work with student groups in pools and quarries, or going somewhere else where there is real open ocean diving.
This is a common dilemma for people who want to increase their involvement in the dive industry, but as a part-time rather than full-time acitvity. And, your goal of gaining open-ocean DM experience is a good one. My take is probably somewhat closer to Herman's (no big surprise there, we both did our DM through, and are affiliated with, the same shop). A good DM program, even if quarry-based, will help you develop quite a few skills that are useful across a variety of dive environments. For example, PADI DM training emphasizes instructional support activities, which include not only developing certain demonstration-quality dive skills but leading diver groups, doing Scuba Reviews, leading Discover Scuba sessions, providing appropriate student group control, etc. I suspect that other agency DM programs are similarly focused and offer considerable value, even if conducted in a quarry environment. As part of DM, our candidates also learn the intricacies of our fill station operation. What we noticed was missing from our program was one aspect of 'open ocean' diving - boat operations. So, we began adding that as an optional experience several years ago. We set up 1-2 charters out of Cape Hatteras each summer, usually toward the end of the summer when most of our DM candidates will have either completed everything else or already be certified, so the DMCs and DMs can gain experience with the logisitics of dive boat operations, an awareness of what the captain expects of DMs, and some of the challenges of the 'open ocean' side of things. I am not suggesting this is the equivalent of working on a dive boat for a year by any means. But, it moves the DM beyond the 'quarry-only' dimension. I think it has turned out to be quite valuable for our DMs, and that might be one avenue to address your interests in a more rounded DM program. Sometyhing you might suggest to your LDS, in fact.
As a DM, I gained a lot of experience in shop operations simply by hanging out at the shop (I would often drop by at lunch for an hour or so, and while there offer to help fill tanks, gather rental gear that was going out, etc). That was volunteer work, but I used it as a vehicle to gain experience, and exposure to the shop owner and shop manager. I took a Gas Blender course through the shop, so I actually had some skills to blend gases, and that put me in a position to offer to not only do air fills, but other fills as well. (I still do that when I am there, and a need arises, although I don't get paid specifically for filling / blending.) Part of the Gas Blender course was learning how to perform oxygen cleaning of cylinders and valves. I now do that (for pay) when I can. I took the PSI VIP course and now do VIP{s (for pay) whenever I drop by, and there are cylinders to be VIP'd. IOW, I kept the day job, did what you might coinsder to be a 'quarry DM', expanded that through a combination of volunteer effort and additional specialized training, and it opened some doors for me at the shop to do other things.
CAPTAIN SINBAD:
in all honesty, I can not convince myself that there is any such thing as a "Quarry Dive-Master." Part of me says I should get certified through my LDS as a "Quarry Dive Master" since this would result in developing good contacts with local dive community and dive shops etc.
There really isn't such a thing. I think you are underestimating what you could gain from a good 'local' DM program.
CAPTAIN SINBAD:
My goal will be to gather experience in different aspects of dive business from operating compressors to leading dives and yes a chance to get wet in those waters would be greatly appreciated. Am I still expecting too much as a DM?
Not necessarily. But, I think the likelihood of getting to do some of these things may actually be greater where you have a local connection. As many have noted, most of the 'DM' types in resort areas are actually instructors. There is certainly an adequate supply of instructors looking for a warm tropical place to live cheap and dive. As a DM, and definitely as a DM candidate, you are competing with people who simply have a whole lot more to offer a dive operation - a credential if nothing else.
If you decide to travel for a few years to gain experience, more power to do. But, even as free labor, what do you really offer? And, therefore, what is the basis for you making a connection with a dive op in the Caribbean, for example? Not saying it cannot happen, just commenting on the reality.
On the other hand, if you do DM though a shop in an area where you are local, and establish the connection, and put yourself in the position to help out - even on a volunteer basis at first - you might find your chances of gaining some of the experience that you are seeking are fairly decent, perhaps even better than if you traveled. PLus, you keep up the day job income income.
Now, one other point, that was also mentioned. If you want to be a good DM, you really need not only the formal training, you need the breadth of dive experience. So, pony up the money for some 'open-ocean' diving each year. We use DMs as trip leaders on many of our summer coastal charters. But, they are also DMs with previous charter trip experience, who can usually talk about whatever wreck the boat is going to on a weekend charter, because they already dove it. You may be 'land locked' but in the DC area you are still not terribly far from some pretty good ocean diving.
