NAUI Master Scuba Diver: what exactly is it

[Coldwater_Canuck]

I have not taken any other NAUI courses, so I can't comment on how the course compares to other NAUI specialty courses. But I found a slightly higher level of rigor than typical PADI specialty courses covering similar topics (such as search and recovery). In my mind that is what Master Diver should be about -- taking what is already learned and taking it to a higher level.

Well I assume PADI and NAUI specialties are similar, so still a useful answer. I guess only thing is the PADI S+R has 3 dives, whereas the NAUI MSD has only one dive for that specialty, right?

Also, considering S+R (as an example) isn't really a pre-req for MSD, how can it be "taking what is already learned"?

 

[OldNSalty]

OK-I made a call to the lds and asked about this course...so sad. Once they realized that I was not interested in becoming a dive master they basically brushed me aside. No big deal, It was more of a curiosity thing-something to put on my to do list when I had some extra $$$ and time.

Anyway, the way this shop wanted to do it was, "We give you all the course materials and then you do the 8 dives with our advance class. We will be expecting more out of you during those dives and will ask you to lead a few". I asked about physical test and acedemic test-None. They take your money, let you do 8 more dives and give you the books.

I hope this isn't how it is suppose to be.

 

[Capt. Pete]

OldNSalty, Sorry to hear the response you received from the dive operator you called. The NAUI Master Diver course is much more involved then what they told you. As a NAUI Master Diver there is no swim qualifications and the course has nothing to do with leading dives, that is what Divemasters do. The NAUI Master Diver course includes at least 23 hours of academic study as well as at least 8 dives with "the greatest possible variety of diving situations". The course content includes Instructor level dive physics, dive equipment, diving risks (rescue and first aid), diving environment, underwater navigation, limited visibility, search and recovery, light salvage as well as deep and simulated decompression diving. At the conclusion of the academic portion there is a very extensive written exam that covers the aforementioned areas, before the diving is started. Properly administered this is an excellent course that will definitely improve your diving knowledge and skill. NAUI Master Divers should have Instructor level knowledge, NAUI Divemasters are taught how to lead and supervise dives and NAUI Instructors are taught how to teach the sport of diving. The Master Diver course was never design as a show up and get your MSD card after a few dives. Please check around and find a quality NAUI Instructor that can teach this course properly and if you take the diving seriously you will return from the course a better diver.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Out of curiosity I started looking at the NAUI Master Scuba diver program, after seeing it mentioned on here. Now I have no background with NAUI so have only been pounded by PADI's promotional items about their "Master Scuba Diver" which is really different.

I guess there's 3 main questions I have.

1.)
The course looks to me somewhat like an Advanced Open Water course in that it's a bunch of specialties. Now with AOW (at least for PADI) the relation between it and specialty courses is fairly obvious: the "adventure dive" is supposed to be the first dive of the specialty.

So my question is, how does Master Diver fit in with specialty courses? Is it supposed to be taken after a number of specialties, be taken in place of specialties (teach same material), or be taken before specialties? For example, how does the navigation portion match up with a navigation specialty? Does the deep dive also give you the 130 foot limit like the deep diver course, etc?

2.) Who is this geared towards? Is it generally for people with 100s of dives or is it more just something to do after AOW?

3.) Surprisingly, it doesn't seem to require a Rescue course as a pre-req, and while I see there is a rescue dive included, it would make NAUI Master Scuba the only MSD cert not to require a dedicated rescue class. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks in advance!

My attempt to answer your questions ...

1) The NAUI Master Diver class is the academic part of what they teach their Divemasters. What it doesn't include that the DM class does is leadership skills. This class is for people who want the diving skills and knowledge of a divemaster, but do not have interest in becoming a divemaster. To my concern, this is the very best class that NAUI offers to the recreational diver.

2) Yes ... it can be for either. It really depends on the person. As a NAUI instructor, I would advise a typical recreational diver to get some dives after AOW before starting a Master Diver class ... because the diving skills can be (if you get the right instructor) rigorous. Because of what I pointed out above, you should not just be able to perform the required skills, but do so at a level that clearly displays mastery (hence the name "Master Diver"). NAUI refers to it as "demonstration quality". For most people, being able to do skills at that level would take some amount of time and practice, which you get by diving.

3) Yes, there is a reason for this ... see my response to Jeff Toorish below.

The NAUI Master Diver is actually a course. It comes after AOW and before Rescue Diver. It involves things like emergency procedures and rescue and deep/simulated decompression diving. There are a minimum of eight open wate dives.

The NAUI Rescue class can be taken at any time after OW. Unlike PADI, AOW is not a prerequisite for Rescue. NAUI stresses the importance of rescue skills both by encouraging people to take a Rescue class at any time after entry level certification, and by mandating that certain rescue skills be taught during every class, including OW. And although the Rescue class isn't, technically, a prerequisite for Master Diver, Rescue skills are required in order to complete the Master Diver program.

Yep-Already done the rescue and the advanced but wasn't interested in master diver if all it amounted to was a recognition of past classes and dives.

Unlike the PADI program of the same name, NAUI Master Diver is not a recognition program ... it is a class which, if taught correctly, is both thorough and rigorous.

I'm currently finishing PADI DM course and I'm clearly not quite satified with the level of hard diving theory there was in the cours. I have a very good instructor, but the course material isn't just advanced enough from what I would have thought of a professionnal level course.

That's why I'm thinking going for the NAUI MasterDiver course. Hopefully, the theory will be good.

One of the biggest differences between NAUI and PADI is their teaching philosophy. PADI tends to emphasize the "how" of diving ... while NAUI tends to emphasize the "why". For this reason, most NAUI classes tend to be quite good on theory. Some folks tend to get intimidated by NAUI's emphasis on things like diving physics and physiology ... but to my concern, the Master Diver class does a great job of explaining those topics in a way that helps the diver understand why they're important.

OK-I made a call to the lds and asked about this course...so sad. Once they realized that I was not interested in becoming a dive master they basically brushed me aside. No big deal, It was more of a curiosity thing-something to put on my to do list when I had some extra $$$ and time.

Anyway, the way this shop wanted to do it was, "We give you all the course materials and then you do the 8 dives with our advance class. We will be expecting more out of you during those dives and will ask you to lead a few". I asked about physical test and acedemic test-None. They take your money, let you do 8 more dives and give you the books.

I hope this isn't how it is suppose to be.

This is most definitely NOT how it is supposed to be. My advice is to check around and find an instructor who will teach the course properly.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

What Capt. Pete said. The NAUI Master Diver class, if taught properly, is meant to kick your butt. Its syllabus incorporates various 'real-life' situations (navigation, search and recovery, deep-diving, and so on), and teaches you how to deal with them. I waited about 18-months and 70-dives before progressing from NAUI AOW to Master Diver, partly because the course's dive requirements necessitate that you build on and expand your existing knowledge, and I am so glad I had even that modest amount of experience under my belt before tacking this course. For the Navigation component of the MastDiver course, for example, I was requested to plan a [shore] dive. Sure, I learned to use a compass and so on in AOW, but that's a whole different ball-game to everything that goes into planning a shore dive in a new location properly - asking resort staff about their favorite places to see, getting the corresponding compass bearings/natural navigation aids, seeking advice on prevailing currents, and drawing a map based on their comments. My instructor trailed along as part of the group, and made it clear that this was MY shooting match. Once I thought I was finished the Navigation component, noooo...she had no problem turning to me in the middle of a 'pleasure' dive and telling me to take over and lead the way home...just to make sure my training was being utilized. Real world situations are what's emphasized, and it's invaluable. I was also expected to be the dummy for demonstrating various skills: my instructor would point to me and ask me to perform fin pivots, mask-clearing, regulator recovery, and so on for the benefit of open water divers in our group. And over, and over, and over again!


I do NOT want to get into a PADI vs NAUI vs SSI vs whatever shouting match, but I will say this: the components of the NAUI Master Diver course are exacting and challenging. I feel it gave me the foundation to be a solid diver, as well as pointers on how to continually improve. Moroever, the academic component of the course is pretty damn extensive. If a NAUI Master Diver decides to become a DM, for example, he/she should have no trouble - or surprises - when it comes to the math and physics component of the DM exam.

To the OP - I hope you do the course, and get as much out of it as I did.

 

[Thalassamania]

Well I assume PADI and NAUI specialties are similar, so still a useful answer. I guess only thing is the PADI S+R has 3 dives, whereas the NAUI MSD has only one dive for that specialty, right?

Also, considering S+R (as an example) isn't really a pre-req for MSD, how can it be "taking what is already learned"?

The NAUI Master Diver Course is designed to be the last "normal" recreational diving course that you will take, it draws and all that you've learned from you prior training and attempts to help you organize that into a coherent whole.

OK-I made a call to the lds and asked about this course...so sad. Once they realized that I was not interested in becoming a dive master they basically brushed me aside. No big deal, It was more of a curiosity thing-something to put on my to do list when I had some extra $$$ and time.

Anyway, the way this shop wanted to do it was, "We give you all the course materials and then you do the 8 dives with our advance class. We will be expecting more out of you during those dives and will ask you to lead a few". I asked about physical test and acedemic test-None. They take your money, let you do 8 more dives and give you the books.

I hope this isn't how it is suppose to be.

That's not how it is supposed to be, with the right instructor that could actually work out really well, with the wrong instructor it could be an abject waste of time and money.

What Capt. Pete said. The NAUI Master Diver class, if taught properly, is meant to kick your butt. Its syllabus incorporates various 'real-life' situations (navigation, search and recovery, deep-diving, and so on), and teaches you how to deal with them. I waited about 18-months and 70-dives before progressing from NAUI AOW to Master Diver, partly because the course's dive requirements necessitate that you build on and expand your existing knowledge, and I am so glad I had even that modest amount of experience under my belt before tacking this course. For the Navigation component of the MastDiver course, for example, I was requested to plan a [shore] dive. Sure, I learned to use a compass and so on in AOW, but that's a whole different ball-game to everything that goes into planning a shore dive in a new location properly - asking resort staff about their favorite places to see, getting the corresponding compass bearings/natural navigation aids, seeking advice on prevailing currents, and drawing a map based on their comments. My instructor trailed along as part of the group, and made it clear that this was MY shooting match. Once I thought I was finished the Navigation component, noooo...she had no problem turning to me in the middle of a 'pleasure' dive and telling me to take over and lead the way home...just to make sure my training was being utilized. Real world situations are what's emphasized, and it's invaluable. I was also expected to be the dummy for demonstrating various skills: my instructor would point to me and ask me to perform fin pivots, mask-clearing, regulator recovery, and so on for the benefit of open water divers in our group. And over, and over, and over again!


I do NOT want to get into a PADI vs NAUI vs SSI vs whatever shouting match, but I will say this: the components of the NAUI Master Diver course are exacting and challenging. I feel it gave me the foundation to be a solid diver, as well as pointers on how to continually improve. Moroever, the academic component of the course is pretty damn extensive. If a NAUI Master Diver decides to become a DM, for example, he/she should have no trouble - or surprises - when it comes to the math and physics component of the DM exam.

To the OP - I hope you do the course, and get as much out of it as I did.

70 dives is, to my mind, a bit light ... but if it was enough for you to get what you needed out of the course, that's what it takes. For most people I'd recommend more than 100 dives, rescue, and their basic specialties.

It is not an agency vs. agency thing, the NAUI Course is radically different, it was the original and the other agencies did what they usually do, take a respected course name and slap an inferior course behind it in the interested of "marketing." Not the first time, not the last time either.

 

[annasea]

Um...thanks.

FYI, in the NAUI Intructor Manual Master Diver comes before Rescue Diver, however neither is a pre-requisite for the other.

Jeff

You're welcome.

And thank you for the FYI, but as read in Thal's and Bob's posts, there does seem to be a reason for the *suggested* course progression as per the NAUI website.

 

[jagfish]

Aside from NAUI Tech,this is one of my favorite courses to teach. Divers can "be all they can be" as divers, without going pro...and pro is a very short step away...

As other posters mentioned, we also require rescue as a prerequisite.

It rarely takes only the 8 dives, since as Thal. said, we try to throw as many different dive experiences at the trainees: drysuit, mock deco, double tanks (if they are a backplate and wing diver), etc....

Graduates should be familiar with every facet of dive planning (including emphasis on gas management) and in the water, they will have to look as good as me or better to get the nod...and I like looking good...

 

[Kingpatzer]

Well I assume PADI and NAUI specialties are similar, so still a useful answer. I guess only thing is the PADI S+R has 3 dives, whereas the NAUI MSD has only one dive for that specialty, right?

Also, considering S+R (as an example) isn't really a pre-req for MSD, how can it be "taking what is already learned"?

You don't have to take S&R to get your master diver in PADI - you merely have to take 5 specialties, AOW and Rescue. AOW has one S&R Dive.

 

[bsppc]

I have been talking to my LDS about NAUI MSD training. They have a DM and MSD class each spring and they teach them concurrent. As they explain, you take the academic, pool and OW training, help with training, etc... At the end of the course, you fill out your paperwork and either get a DM cert or a MSD cert. As they put it, you merely have to decide if you want to go pro or not.

Bill