Old !! DM course finished today.... Just for fun I have just done the New exam

[Bubble Junky]

Not sure about the new required Search & Rescue dive (assume many did this during AOW anyway?). Or the now required Deep dive--Assume anyone aspiring to DM would've have at least done one deep dive--at least to 100'.

The S&R Scenario is actually very useful. I have taught a number of candidates the 'new' DM course since the beginning of this year, and this has proved to be a very good new component of the course. It enables candidates to practice their search patterns again, which, if it's been a while since their Rescue courses, is extremely beneficial. It's also beneficial in that candidates now get practical experience of using a liftbag. From an IDC point of view this liftbag use, and the learning of knots is something that IDC candidates coming from the 'old' DM programme never had.

The Deep Dive Scenario is not just about doing a deep dive either. It's about the set up and management of a deep dive as a Divemaster. When I teach this I have the candidates set up drop tanks, and make them think about what depth to set it and why (I do 7m in case of current). I also get the candidates to plan and manage the dive underwater - I teach to use 70 bar (or 10 NDL) as 'low-on-air', rather than 50bar. I also place a big emphasis on navigation - no use having a drop tank if you can't find it. The candidates then run the whole dive, making frequent air checks, and making sure they get me back to the ascent line and start ascending with no less than 50bar in anyone's tank...

....my issue is really that I have come out with a qualification which is the same as the DM's on the new course when they have dumbed down the whole thing in my humble opinion

The 'whole thing' has not been dumbed down. There's just been a shift of emphasis. the emphasis now being more with the practical side of things. At the end of the day your average working Divemaster spends his/her time in the water, and that's the new focus. There's more focus on the programmes that DMs can conduct independent of instructors (Scuba Reviews, Skin diving and DSD - with focus on how a DM can conduct/assist this.). The exams are easier, and yes, this might make things a little trickier at the IDC. I've just extended my IDC Prep Course to five days from two days to compensate for this... I guess time will tell for sure...

 

[TMHeimer]

Bubble Junky, Good points all around. Thanks for the info.

 

[RU4SKUBA]

Personally, I think a good IDC or DM candidate will show up prepared for the course and have read the material 3-5 times on day one. At my IDC there were only two people who purchased their books independently and studied ahead, everybody else had to BEGIN studying on day one of the IDC prep and suffered because of it.

Guarantee your students have the materials and put emphasis on their independent study. Follow up with them. The rest will probably work itself out since some of the theory was redundant anyway.

 

[TMHeimer]

Personally, I think a good IDC or DM candidate will show up prepared for the course and have read the material 3-5 times on day one. At my IDC there were only two people who purchased their books independently and studied ahead, everybody else had to BEGIN studying on day one of the IDC prep and suffered because of it.

Guarantee your students have the materials and put emphasis on their independent study. Follow up with them. The rest will probably work itself out since some of the theory was redundant anyway.

In most of the courses I have taken (including DM) this seems to be the case. What's wrong with these people that don't read up before the course???