drrich2
Contributor
For knowledge, I hear the NAUI Master Diver course is good; perhaps the manual would be worth looking into. It's a much different program from Padi's Master Diver program.
Is dive master worth it?
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if you want to continue on in professional development (to eventually teach), yes. If not, there are much better options....
coldwatercanada
Contributor
I'm speakingfrom the experience people get from our store but IMO you get as much out ofthe divermaster course as you put in.
The benefit asfar as skills go is that it increases your experience level and prefects them. As a dm you help teach classes and demonstrateskills so you must increase them to demonstration quality! Also we normally have 2-3 dms with every specialtyclass so it gives you more experience with navigation, Search patterns, liftbaguse, deep diving and stage bottle use, Night diving, setting up trainingcourses, ect. Also helping out withrescue courses once-twice a year helps keep those skills fresh and current
If you go andhelp with classes a lot it will also give you valuable experience dealing withstress both personal(Watching students, guiding students, added responsibility,ect) and dealing with others stress such as students and other divers.
The Knowledgedevelopment gives you lots of information on a variety of subjects from theory,to supervisional skills to info on the oceans, tides ect.
The other benefitis diving with professional (Yes I know depending where you are this is a loseterm) divers. When you dive with gooddivers even just by watching and listen you get better. My dms learn about buoyancy, trim and differentstyles of kick, and breathing patterns to a degree far past your average PADIcourse.
We like our DMs to be more then tankmonkeys! We pay our dms and encouragethem to come out as much as possible as well as help as many differentinstructors as they can! Id recommenddoing a little research into the store you’re going to be taking it from beforesigning up but with the right store and right group of instructors it is a valuablecourse!
---------- Post Merged at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 05:02 PM ----------
I should have proof read that before i sent it ha ha meh Im leaving it!
The benefit asfar as skills go is that it increases your experience level and prefects them. As a dm you help teach classes and demonstrateskills so you must increase them to demonstration quality! Also we normally have 2-3 dms with every specialtyclass so it gives you more experience with navigation, Search patterns, liftbaguse, deep diving and stage bottle use, Night diving, setting up trainingcourses, ect. Also helping out withrescue courses once-twice a year helps keep those skills fresh and current
If you go andhelp with classes a lot it will also give you valuable experience dealing withstress both personal(Watching students, guiding students, added responsibility,ect) and dealing with others stress such as students and other divers.
The Knowledgedevelopment gives you lots of information on a variety of subjects from theory,to supervisional skills to info on the oceans, tides ect.
The other benefitis diving with professional (Yes I know depending where you are this is a loseterm) divers. When you dive with gooddivers even just by watching and listen you get better. My dms learn about buoyancy, trim and differentstyles of kick, and breathing patterns to a degree far past your average PADIcourse.
We like our DMs to be more then tankmonkeys! We pay our dms and encouragethem to come out as much as possible as well as help as many differentinstructors as they can! Id recommenddoing a little research into the store you’re going to be taking it from beforesigning up but with the right store and right group of instructors it is a valuablecourse!
---------- Post Merged at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 05:02 PM ----------
I should have proof read that before i sent it ha ha meh Im leaving it!
SeaHorse81
Contributor
If I was a DM, I can't imagine being offended by that question. I'd enjoy the chance to talk about the pros and cons of my own experience, actually. I would think that talking to DMs in your area would be very useful because that's where you'll be getting it, if you pursue it. Local DMs will be working in the same local system and culture in which you'd be taking yours, so I think they would be a valuable source of information.
divengolf
Contributor
If you want to teach and progress toward your instructor rating, then DM is a requirement. If, OTOH, you just want to become a better diver and have no desire to teach, consider something like GUE Fundies course. There are plenty of posts on Fundies on SB.
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I have lots of thoughts on this frequently asked question. Skills: This forced me to get my skills to demonstration quality, and to keep them in shape doing them with students or by myself. Theory: The "old" PADI course (I took) had a lot of physics and possibly other stuff that while interesting (like with a college degree), may not ever be used--but it's all interesting and you never know. Teaching aspect: Assisting instructors and helping students probably the best part, possibly because I'm a retired school teacher. Discounts, free air: Yes we can get these if we work enough classes. And we get PAID. See Jim Lapenta above.
DM training is definitely worthwhile to make you a better, safer and more independent diver. If you love diving, and want to be active, it is a very good course of training to take. It is a professional credential, but with limited opportunities to make money, unless you work at a dive destination as a full time dive leader. From a cost benefit analysis alone, it's hard to justify. But from a personal growth, initial step to becoming an even higher credentialed dive professional, or to equip yourself for certain, but limited, positions in diving to make money at it, I say go for it. Plus, we get to wear those cool shirts and hats that say "Divemaster"
DivemasterDennis
DivemasterDennis
How much financial benefit you get from being a DM depends on the policies of your shop. Some give free air and substantial discounts on equipment; others may only give you free air when you are working with classes, and offer pretty minimal discounts. DMs can do some limited teaching activities, like Discover Scuba sessions in the pool (once signed off to do so), refreshers, and Discover Local Diving sessions, and sometimes you can earn a little money doing that. To my knowledge, in the US, you are not going to come anywhere near earning a living as a DM, or even as an instructor, so you can cross that off the list.
The other two benefits that are usually discussed about doing a DM class are improving your own skills, and enjoying helping with students.
The latter is definitely a benefit, if you like doing it. I really enjoy the pool sessions with OW students, and the dry suit orientation sessions I did a week ago were a blast. I enjoy DMing AOW and specialty classes, but I'm kind of ambivalent about OW. In our area, the water is cold and the viz is usually low, and the stress the students experience with the transition from the freedom and ease in the pool to the challenging open water conditions is hard on them, and hard on me. It is fun, though, when they come up with big grins, and can't stop saying thank you!
As far as improving your own skills goes, the only one I think DM really improves is situational awareness. A good DM needs eyes in the back of his head, preferably on stalks . . . you have to be able to manage your own diving and your own buoyancy while watching everyone in the water with you, and rapidly intervening when needed. If you can't imagine being able to swim 20 feet up in the water column, grab a student, vent their BC and get everybody back to the group in good order, then you're going to learn some things in a DM class, or acting as a DM.
The value of "demonstration quality skills" is, I think, pretty dubious. Being able to clear my mask in slow motion didn't make me a better diver. Being able to do it on my knees would CERTAINLY not have made me a better diver. The slow and exaggerated methods of demonstrating are very useful for demonstration, but they aren't real world skills, and unless you are asked to demonstrate them while maintaining your depth and position in the water column, they aren't going to improve your own diving at all. There IS some academic material in the DM class that I would guess most recreational divers haven't really studied, and I did learn some things by reading the entire PADI Encyclopedia . . . but you can buy the book without the class, and read it yourself.
So I guess I would say that a DM class is useful if you want to work with students or do guiding. You are unlikely to make back your investment in it, within the US, and you may not cover the expenses of your insurance. (I sure don't!) It is unlikely to make a significant difference in your own diving, unless your instructor is an unusual one.
The other two benefits that are usually discussed about doing a DM class are improving your own skills, and enjoying helping with students.
The latter is definitely a benefit, if you like doing it. I really enjoy the pool sessions with OW students, and the dry suit orientation sessions I did a week ago were a blast. I enjoy DMing AOW and specialty classes, but I'm kind of ambivalent about OW. In our area, the water is cold and the viz is usually low, and the stress the students experience with the transition from the freedom and ease in the pool to the challenging open water conditions is hard on them, and hard on me. It is fun, though, when they come up with big grins, and can't stop saying thank you!
As far as improving your own skills goes, the only one I think DM really improves is situational awareness. A good DM needs eyes in the back of his head, preferably on stalks . . . you have to be able to manage your own diving and your own buoyancy while watching everyone in the water with you, and rapidly intervening when needed. If you can't imagine being able to swim 20 feet up in the water column, grab a student, vent their BC and get everybody back to the group in good order, then you're going to learn some things in a DM class, or acting as a DM.
The value of "demonstration quality skills" is, I think, pretty dubious. Being able to clear my mask in slow motion didn't make me a better diver. Being able to do it on my knees would CERTAINLY not have made me a better diver. The slow and exaggerated methods of demonstrating are very useful for demonstration, but they aren't real world skills, and unless you are asked to demonstrate them while maintaining your depth and position in the water column, they aren't going to improve your own diving at all. There IS some academic material in the DM class that I would guess most recreational divers haven't really studied, and I did learn some things by reading the entire PADI Encyclopedia . . . but you can buy the book without the class, and read it yourself.
So I guess I would say that a DM class is useful if you want to work with students or do guiding. You are unlikely to make back your investment in it, within the US, and you may not cover the expenses of your insurance. (I sure don't!) It is unlikely to make a significant difference in your own diving, unless your instructor is an unusual one.
A lot of interesting points. I do like diving and I think it would be fun teaching/assisting. I would not be doing it for the money as it could never come close to what I earn at my job. I think it would be a good excuse to dive more. Currently I have a bit of time as my fiance is studying her ass off in her masters program. Though I question if I could maintain it for more than a couple of years? While I have a lot of time I don't think I could continue to do it after have kids.
I think I might look into Tech Diving, I only know one tech diver in the area so I don't know if this could be an option that I could take advantage of. The real reason I have an interest in tech is for deeper dives on wrecks. I don't have much of an interest in the deep penetation into silt filled rooms. I live about 3 hours from the wrecks of Alexander bay. There is also the St. Pete, which is about 30 miles away from where I live. Granted I don't need tech for that, though I thought it would be fun to go to Truk Lagoon one day. Alex bay might be a good place to practice.
I think I might look into Tech Diving, I only know one tech diver in the area so I don't know if this could be an option that I could take advantage of. The real reason I have an interest in tech is for deeper dives on wrecks. I don't have much of an interest in the deep penetation into silt filled rooms. I live about 3 hours from the wrecks of Alexander bay. There is also the St. Pete, which is about 30 miles away from where I live. Granted I don't need tech for that, though I thought it would be fun to go to Truk Lagoon one day. Alex bay might be a good place to practice.
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