Padi dive master requirements

[Dave_1985]

I was just checking the padi website, and looking at the DM course, and the requirement, is 20 logged dives, im getting on for 60 dives and i still dont consider myself experienced enough to do that course, Anyone else got any opinions on this, and when did padi change it, i understood that it used to be 60 logged dives

 

[HammerNoMore]

I was just checking the padi website, and looking at the DM course, and the requirement, is 20 logged dives, im getting on for 60 dives and i still dont consider myself experienced enough to do that course, Anyone else got any opinions on this, and when did padi change it, i understood that it used to be 60 logged dives

That depends a lot on what you are taking the course for. Some people take it strictly for educational purposes. I don't really see an issue with a new diver taking it for this purpose as long as they are reasonably comfortable in the water and have decent bouyancy skills, both of which are possible after 20 dives.

If you actually want to work as a professional, I think you'd have a difficult time finding a shop that would allow you to work for them with that little experience.

How long have you been diving? Are those 60 dives spread out over a number of years? It depends on the individual but for someone who dives regularly they can be quite comfortably by 60 dives, if they are spread out on a vacation here or there one might never become comfortable enough...

James

 

[UndrWatrDan]

Divemaster certification prerequisite to begin the class is a minimum of 20 dives, but you have to have a minimum of 60 dives to become certified as a Divemaster.

 

[Dave_1985]

I suppose its like first aid,

Ive don three first aid courses, but i havent used them, and so i dont really know how i would react in a crisis situation, i hope, that i would react well, but i cant be sure.

The same thing applies to diving, i think im confortable enough in the water, but ive never (thankfully) had to use most of the skills i learnt in my rescue diver course. I just feel, that some experience at dealing with really adverse conditions would be usefull, for a job as a dm.

However, i do see that the training does not have to be a means to an end, that taking the dm course would help me become a saferTM diver.

 

[Mako Mark]

Many Divemaster candidates get lots and lots of diving experience during their course, that is why ther is a difference between the entry and exit requirements.

There is no substitute for real experience there are a lot of people that think 60 is not enough, but people that live in Europe, or the midwest USA, may not have the same opportunity to dive as those that live near the ocean.

Your location (UK) also provides diving conditions that require more than the minimum, for DM's and Open waters alike.

 

[Diver0001]

I was just checking the padi website, and looking at the DM course, and the requirement, is 20 logged dives, im getting on for 60 dives and i still dont consider myself experienced enough to do that course, Anyone else got any opinions on this, and when did padi change it, i understood that it used to be 60 logged dives

It's 60 to finish.

Personally I believe that only *good* divers should consider becoming DM's and that only fully competent DM's should consider becoming instructors. Clearly counting dives isn't the way to judge a person's suitability for the roll so I'll avoid making sweeping generalisations about how many dives is enough. I think your own conscience is your best guide. If you have any insecurities about your skills then work on that first.

R..

 

[MikeFerrara]

I think a DM should be a good diver who has some experience.

How many dives it takes to be a good DM probably depends on the person and the kind of dives they've done.

60 is a minimum but that doesn't mean that every one is ready at 60 dives.

What I have a problem with is the DM or even instructor candidates who go to a local shallow site and do a dozen very short shallow dives in a day to meet the requirement only when you look at what they're doing it doesn't add up to 5 good dives all together. As far as gaining experience they haven't done anything.

I had a DM student once who had been diving for a long time and had lots of dives but almost all her dives were resort dives following a DM. She had very few local dives other than some of her own training dives. She was very good skill-wise except that she kept getting lost. It took her a long time to finish the program but afterward she only assisted with a few classes before starting her instructor training.

 

[ScubaTexan]

Can I assist with a class without becoming a DM first?

 

[Diver0001]

Can I assist with a class without becoming a DM first?

If you're training to become a DM you can but you don't count as a CA for the ratios until you're certified and insured.

I've also seen instructors use other rescue divers as "victims" for rescue and I've seen the odd certified student "tag along" with a course but then you count for the instructor as a student and not as an assistant as far as I know.

R..

 

[Warren_L]

Can I assist with a class without becoming a DM first?

As Diver0001 says, until you are certified as a DM with insurance, you are not considered a certified assistant and would still be considered a student as far as the ratios are concerned. You can still assist as a DMC, but the instructor is liable for you under the instructor's insurance.