My shop gives a discount for signing up for more at once. If I get my AI then my OWSI it costs more than an AI/OWSI combined program. If MSDT costs the same as OWSI then getting the required Specialties there is no point. You might as well wait. If you save money going straight to MSDT then it might be worth it.
As an OWSI you can teach:
- PADI Scuba Diver/Open Water Diver
- Adventures in Diving Program (Adventure Diver/Advanced Open Water Diver)
- Rescue Diver
- Divemaster
- Skin Diver and Discover Snorkeling
- Discover Scuba Diving
- PADI Seal Team and Bubblemaker
- Scuba Review and Discover Local Diving
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Project AWARE Specialty
- AWARE - Coral Reef Conservation
As a MSDT you can teach the Specialties you are certified to teach (at least 5 of them) and certify Master Scuba Diver.
For me, it is a lot of cash to shell out. I got my DM and now I'm working at a shop. I'm making some spare cash, I get a shop discount and free air. I'll take the time to perfect my skills and get more comfortable working with different students. When I've saved up some more money I'll go for OWSI. After that I'll work at an OWSI making a little more than as a DM. Once I've saved up some more money I'll pick up the most popular Specialty. Then I can do OWSI and that Specialty. When I can afford it, I'll pick up the second most popular Specialty. At some point I'll have enough Specialties and certified students that I can become a MSDT.
This is actually what the shop is recommending I do. They laid out this route for me. Get certified in something (OWSI) and start making money. As you can afford it, get more certifications in a step by step fashion (Specialties). They don't even promote the MSDT. They promote individual Specialties instructor.
There are two things I get from being a MSDT. The first is that I can certify Master Scuba Divers (not worth anything at my shop) and it goes towards becoming a Tec Instructor. The shop I'm at does TecRec courses. MSDT is a requirement for becoming a Tec Instructor or Tec Deep Instructor.
This is really years down the road. Tec Instructor requires MSDT and technical certification (Tec 40 if going through PADI). I would anticipate needing a LOT more than the PADI minimum requirements to be taken seriously as a Tec Instructor in my area (TDI, IANTD and GUE rule here; my shop is the only TecRec shop and their bread and butter is recreational diving).
Just curious, what specialties would you learn to instructor with the MSDT you are looking at? How much to get the rating after OWSI? How much more to get the rating with OWSI?
Andy, how much of a difference does it make which specialties you can teach? I would guess being able to teach all specialties would make you even more valuable. Nitrox, Wreck and Deep, in that order are the big three around here. Oxygen Provider would be a good one as well. We have good drifts, drysuit is popular since it doubles your dive session (not to mention it can result in a drysuit sale)
Hope this helps,
Darrell