Is dive master worth it?

[Hostage]

I am currently taking a rescue diving course and really enjoying it. I do know a few people in the area that are Diver Masters and I am really wondering if it is worth it? I don't really want to ask them that as I don't want to offend them or anything. It seems interesting to learn more about scuba and teach others, though at the same time it seems the local market is flooded with Dive Masters. It seems like the shops around here give the DM's discounts on gear and free air in exchange for assistance training people and chaperone divers on recreational dives. I know one should never quit their day job, though is DM more of a way of reducing the cost of diving, while helping others?

Thanks in advance,
Hostage

 

[TheDeuce]

Dive Master or Master Diver? I suspect you're speaking of the latter. If so, I've looked at it as a 'why not?' item. The SSI standard to get your Master Diver card is four courses of any kind plus stress 'n' rescue - plus 50 logged dives. The useful part of my working towards my MD card hasn't been the card itself but the requisite courses. Earning my nitrox card allows me to use nitrox and glean the benefits therefrom (one benefit of which is to be able to intelligently debate all the other benefits with those who dismiss said nitroxian benefits here on SB). Navigation gave me a few tips on compass drills that I bone up on before I start a dive trip. Computer diving... well computer diving gave me some time out of the house. Well, it did show me how to override the post-dive EAN reset to 50% back to 32%. Stress and rescue gave me some good buddy towing tips. Once I grab course number five and hit the water a few more times I'll probably order up my MD card. For no reason other than 'why not'?

I qualified for and AOW card over a year ago and only now thought to email my dealer to order up said card. Why? Why not?


Some others who are more closely integrated into the dive community could weigh in here with a lot more to offer than I have though. I've heard rumours of dive shops only taking MD's on certain dive trips so there may be some value there. But I've only heard rumours, never anything first-hand.



m.

 

[scuba_frog]

Depends what you want to do in the future. Will a DM cert give you additional skills....no. It will, however, give you the opportunity to "perfect" those skills so that you can help an instructor demonstrate them to students, whether it be OW, Discover Scuba or Scuba Review (ok, I'm talking PADI here). A DM cert does dig deeper into the physiology of diving and goes deeper as to why certain things happen at depth.

As for a way to reduce the cost of diving, what you describe, does not happen too often in my area. Air...yes we get air. Discounts...not really. But you also have to look at your "savings" versus the cost of the DM course and how long will it take to recoup that cost.

 

[k ellis]

Well it will give you a few extra skills. Like gear exchange underwater as one example but overall it wont give you much more then a good mentor will. If you are interested in being a leader and helping new divers to excel in classes or work on dive boats in the future then yes its worth it. If all you ever want to do is fun dive then no it is not worth the inflated cost that it is.

 

[scuba_frog]

Well it will give you a few extra skills. Like gear exchange underwater as one example.

Agree it is an added skill. But seriously, when would you ever use it. IMO, that "skill" is to see how you deal with stress and to logically think under pressure...which I guess is a skill.

As for the rest of your comment, I agree totally!

 

[LaMissJude]

Is it really worth it? well, it depends what you want to do with it...
It can be a good way to get involved with your dive shop, perfect your skills and knowledge... Now, the costs involved in a DM course are usually quite high, it's something to think about.

Just keep in mind that a Divemaster doesn't teach... he is assisting class under the supervision of an instructor, or even can do refresher courses, but he doesn't teach "first hand"... (unless qualified as a DSD leader, but he will anyway not teach the entire OW course.)

I know one should never quit their day job, though is DM more of a way of reducing the cost of diving, while helping others?

I did quit my day to day job a few years ago, I'm way happier to work as a DM/Instructor ... but this is a matter of choice.

 

[616fun]

Reality is there are so many DMs because the typical life of an active DM is fairly short. One of two things happen. They either get tired of working for nothing and doing most of their diving in a pool or at 20' for 20 minutes so they quit, or they decide if they are going to commit to teaching then why be a grunt when you could be the instructor.

The first happened to me. DM doesn't give skills. It gives you business skills and a little tweaking on your basic scuba skills. I only have a certain amount of free time and I want to use that for the dives I want to do. If I were younger and didn't have kids I'm sure I'd stuck with it longer.

If you want to help others learn scuba and possibly one day be instructor then jump into DM. If you want better diving skills look into an intro to tech class or a GUE Fundies class. A good instructor in those courses will make you a much better recreational diver.

If you want to be a really good DM then do the other classes first, then go back to DM. Most new DMs lack any significant dive experience. They blast thru the classes and jump into DM.

 

[Hostage]

There are three LDS in my area, the newest one just started about a year ago. I do like the newer place as they are more down to earth and their prices are a bit more competitive. Though they are about 30miles away from me and have no physical shop. I am currently in a club and there are a lot of Dive Masters there. Managed to get 5 other people to take the rescue course with me with the new shop. I spoke to them about DM they said it is about $800 for books and lessons.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Then add is 300 or so for insurance, 75-100 per year dues, maybe have to buy all new gear if the shop decides they don't want you assisting in the gear you have, and risk being the shops new indentured servant, tank schlepper, floor sweeper, toilet cleaner, etc unless you set some ground rules right from the start. Yes there are a slew of DM's. For the reasons stated. Lots of turnover. Part of that is becasue there are so many. It gets sold as another con ed class. It should not be. DM candidates should be selected, interviewed, and sometimes told to go do something else. Instead there are DM's that are barely safe in the water out there.

And lastly DM's should be paid. The ones that work for free cheapen the rating and make it hard for those that do want to be professionals to do so. Professionals get paid.

 

[sheeper]

the professional aspects of DM aside......I found that DM training made me a MUCH better diver.
and no....i don't "work" as a DM...nor do i want to/plan to. However, it is fun to help out my friends who do work in the industry. So i settle for discounts on diving and dive stuff.