I completed my DM training 8 of June, and I learned a great deal, but I guess I would have asked some questions that I did not ask and done some better research before I started. So I want to tell other people what I learned through the course.
So let's take it from the start
I was done with my rescue training and wanted to continue training, but I was not sure if I would take the MSD, DM or the technical diving route. I had nitrox already and was thinking about doing the deep diver and peak performance buoyancy specialty, but none of the other courses was looking interesting to take. I have also been thinking for the last year that I maybe one day go the instructor route and I wanted to learn more about dive theory and improve my own dive skills. The technical diving route was also interesting, but the cost for all the equipment and the extra risk of doing deco obligation diving did not pull me down that route. So I thought the best course for me would be the divemaster course.
I asked the local dive shop and he told me that it would be a great course and I would also improve my dive theory and skills. We were told that we needed to come prepared to the class so I did all the reviews, diving knowledge workbook and scuba tune up before the course. The theory was not that interesting except for the dive theory part. we used 7 days on all the reviews and the exam. each day took us around 7-8 hours. The pool session took us 2 days, the first day 9-10 hours and the next day 7-8 hours, it was quite exhausting. then we had one day in the ocean that took around 7-8 hours.
then the part that I was the most excited about came, assisting on a OWD and AOWD course!
The first course I would assist on was a AOWD course with only 4 students and 4 divemaster candidates. It was a fun experience and an eye opener. 2 of the students had nearly no buoyancy control, so we had to help them several times so they would not shoot up like a rocket, and we nearly had a OOA situation. the visibility on several of the dives were close to zero because of all the silt they would kick up. Each student had a divemaster candidate as buddy from now on and when we did the deep dive we were going to dive down a line to 24-25 meters, then my student gave me some weird signals on the way down, but I saw that he had panick in his eyes so I signaled the thump up and he nodded his head. We started the ascend but he had no control over his buoyancy, so I emptied my dry suite and took control over his BCD and surfaced with a safe ascending speed. He was holding on my arm the whole time while shivering. I have been working as a paramedic apprentice for nearly 2 years now and it's a long time since I have felt the adrenalin going through my body but I was cartenly feeling it now!
We talked through the event and he said that he suddenly felt panick when we were at 10 meters and that he never wanted to dive again, I spoke to him and told him we could take a brake and do a shallow dive at 5-10 meters, after a conversation he agreed. The instructor took him out again but the same thing happened.
When I assisted on the OWD course I felt more prepared and was expecting worse performance from the students then the AWOD course I had assisted on first. It was only 4 students. The pool session and open water dives went fine compared to the AOWD course. These students performed much better except for some buoyancy issues that was expected but they were improving on every dive.
It was a much bigger responsibility then I anticipated and you had pay close attention to the students at all time. I expected more of the students that already had taken OWD, but I quickly understood that I needed to baby sit the students until they could prove to me that they are capable of taking care of themselves. I did not really like to have this responsibility over the students and I felt that the "fun" part of diving slowly drifted away.
I know that I have improved my situational awareness a great deal, and can more easily see likely or ongoing problems and solve them faster now. The dive/table/decompression theory was fun, but I could just have bought the Encyclopedia of recreational diving and read about it there. The course was more intense and time consuming then i expected. I used around 130-140 hours to completed the course. (Also counting the map project). I will most likely never assist a class again since I feel it is a big responsibility and takes the fun part of diving away. The mapping project was cool and is something that would be fun to try again if I find a special place. I have used my DM skills when my local diving club have arranged a boat trip for inexperienced divers where each diver gets a buddy that is experienced/DM. This is one of the situations where I see the benefit of taking the course.
Would I take the course again? For the experience that I gained, Yes. But I would not take it for working as a divemaster assisting on courses!
Just ask if you have some questions!
So let's take it from the start
I was done with my rescue training and wanted to continue training, but I was not sure if I would take the MSD, DM or the technical diving route. I had nitrox already and was thinking about doing the deep diver and peak performance buoyancy specialty, but none of the other courses was looking interesting to take. I have also been thinking for the last year that I maybe one day go the instructor route and I wanted to learn more about dive theory and improve my own dive skills. The technical diving route was also interesting, but the cost for all the equipment and the extra risk of doing deco obligation diving did not pull me down that route. So I thought the best course for me would be the divemaster course.
I asked the local dive shop and he told me that it would be a great course and I would also improve my dive theory and skills. We were told that we needed to come prepared to the class so I did all the reviews, diving knowledge workbook and scuba tune up before the course. The theory was not that interesting except for the dive theory part. we used 7 days on all the reviews and the exam. each day took us around 7-8 hours. The pool session took us 2 days, the first day 9-10 hours and the next day 7-8 hours, it was quite exhausting. then we had one day in the ocean that took around 7-8 hours.
then the part that I was the most excited about came, assisting on a OWD and AOWD course!
The first course I would assist on was a AOWD course with only 4 students and 4 divemaster candidates. It was a fun experience and an eye opener. 2 of the students had nearly no buoyancy control, so we had to help them several times so they would not shoot up like a rocket, and we nearly had a OOA situation. the visibility on several of the dives were close to zero because of all the silt they would kick up. Each student had a divemaster candidate as buddy from now on and when we did the deep dive we were going to dive down a line to 24-25 meters, then my student gave me some weird signals on the way down, but I saw that he had panick in his eyes so I signaled the thump up and he nodded his head. We started the ascend but he had no control over his buoyancy, so I emptied my dry suite and took control over his BCD and surfaced with a safe ascending speed. He was holding on my arm the whole time while shivering. I have been working as a paramedic apprentice for nearly 2 years now and it's a long time since I have felt the adrenalin going through my body but I was cartenly feeling it now!
We talked through the event and he said that he suddenly felt panick when we were at 10 meters and that he never wanted to dive again, I spoke to him and told him we could take a brake and do a shallow dive at 5-10 meters, after a conversation he agreed. The instructor took him out again but the same thing happened.
When I assisted on the OWD course I felt more prepared and was expecting worse performance from the students then the AWOD course I had assisted on first. It was only 4 students. The pool session and open water dives went fine compared to the AOWD course. These students performed much better except for some buoyancy issues that was expected but they were improving on every dive.
It was a much bigger responsibility then I anticipated and you had pay close attention to the students at all time. I expected more of the students that already had taken OWD, but I quickly understood that I needed to baby sit the students until they could prove to me that they are capable of taking care of themselves. I did not really like to have this responsibility over the students and I felt that the "fun" part of diving slowly drifted away.
I know that I have improved my situational awareness a great deal, and can more easily see likely or ongoing problems and solve them faster now. The dive/table/decompression theory was fun, but I could just have bought the Encyclopedia of recreational diving and read about it there. The course was more intense and time consuming then i expected. I used around 130-140 hours to completed the course. (Also counting the map project). I will most likely never assist a class again since I feel it is a big responsibility and takes the fun part of diving away. The mapping project was cool and is something that would be fun to try again if I find a special place. I have used my DM skills when my local diving club have arranged a boat trip for inexperienced divers where each diver gets a buddy that is experienced/DM. This is one of the situations where I see the benefit of taking the course.
Would I take the course again? For the experience that I gained, Yes. But I would not take it for working as a divemaster assisting on courses!
Just ask if you have some questions!
