PADI Divemaster and Master Suba Diver Rating

[hypertech]

I suspect you are looking at a pretty minimal paperwork fee for the AOW card if you are looking to walk into a shop and sign up for 5 specialties.

If I were you and for some reason wanted to do this I'd just ask them to throw it in on a package deal for the 5 specialties.

 

[Simon-]

If someone wanted to do 5 specialties with me from OW, I would process the AOW for free as part of it

 

[TMHeimer]

I did AOW separately, but when I signed up for 5 specialties the shop charged for 4 and threw in PPB.

 

[azchipka]

Many instructors will allow you to earn your AOW via speciality track I do it all the time with students. Make sure your specialities include Deep & Navigation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with earning your AOW via speciality it provides a much more in depth training experience.

 

[bubbles-no-troubles]

Ok I did all my training with SSI but started on my Dive Master with a Padi School. So I know a Dive master that went from OWD to Dive master in 6 months. I don't think that he ever did anything beyond AOW. I've stopped going to this school since I see to many things I don't agree with at all. Things like my daughter failed her jr OWD final written test, she went into the open water even before she did the test. when she did her last dives she never did emergency ascent drills nor the "push and pull" exercises. These things seem to common with these folks. I've seen them put divers in the open water that don't even know how to swim. I've never seen a snorkel in a students mouth ever. the answer to why that is, snorkels cost to much money. To many corners being cut.

 

[hypertech]

If that's true it's not a PADI problem. Its one of two things. Either you just haven't seen the other students learn the other skills or they are violating standards.

And, I have no idea what any of that has to do with this thread.

 

[k ellis]

Ok I did all my training with SSI but started on my Dive Master with a Padi School. So I know a Dive master that went from OWD to Dive master in 6 months. I don't think that he ever did anything beyond AOW. I've stopped going to this school since I see to many things I don't agree with at all. Things like my daughter failed her jr OWD final written test, she went into the open water even before she did the test. when she did her last dives she never did emergency ascent drills nor the "push and pull" exercises. These things seem to common with these folks. I've seen them put divers in the open water that don't even know how to swim. I've never seen a snorkel in a students mouth ever. the answer to why that is, snorkels cost to much money. To many corners being cut.

When I passed Open Water I could not swim. I barely passed the float test with the instructors patience and I used the snorkle requirement versus the swim to do the skills assessment. Its not to say your less of a diver by not being able to swim but as I progressed to Dive Master it was apparent that if I was going to grow gills I should at least learn to swim. Even today I am no power swimmer though I now know I can do what it takes to swim but I am still constantly learning as my gills and fins evolve.

And snorkles for training cant be cast aside with the excuse they cost too much. A dive shop can simply put some in a rental or loaner box and reuse them over and over. But to address your concern with the shop just remember Diving is a sport meant to be exciting and fun. If something causes you concern with a dive operation then skip it and find one your comfortable with. While there are those who are hell bent to rob people and make a quick buck you will find that most dive centers are staffed by people who love diving as much as you do and there for will do every thing they can to make it worth your time.

Good luck!

P.S. also it is techinicaly possible I think to achieve dive master in 6 months. If a person is adiment enough and dives enough he can reach the minimum number of dives needed for the dive master.

 

[oahu_diver]

Hi,

I am interested in gaining the PADI Divemaster and Master Suba Diver Rating. I have noticed that the prerequisites for both include the Advanced Open Water. However I would prefer to do 5 specilitaties and skip the Advanced.

If I do 5 specialties, Rescue Diver and complete the minimum number of dives will this qualify me for the ratings? Or would I still need to do the Advanced?

If your main goal is to save money...do the AOW, skip the specialties and go right into Rescue Diver and then Divemaster. But if your main goal is to be a great Divemaster and someday instructor, do the 5 specialties (by default you will complete the AOW requirements if two of the specialties are Deep and Navigation) and ask for a package deal.

 

[Crowley]

If you do 5 specialties, including deep and navigation, then the first dive of each counts as the AOW dive, so you just pay extra for the AOW certification. Yes, money is involved, it's a business. After Rescue and 50 dives you can apply for the Master Scuba Diver certification.

If you wish to work in the industry then you can get a DM course without all the specialties and in the right environment, you will get the training you need - that the other specialties can help to provide - working on the job. If you're not planning to work as a DM, then MSD first is a better option for the recreational diver, and then DM perhaps as an extra challenge with additional knowledge and skills geared towards teaching, but still valuable to any diver willing to learn.

Hope that helps

C.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Hi,

I am interested in gaining the PADI Divemaster and Master Suba Diver Rating. I have noticed that the prerequisites for both include the Advanced Open Water. However I would prefer to do 5 specilitaties and skip the Advanced.

If I do 5 specialties, Rescue Diver and complete the minimum number of dives will this qualify me for the ratings? Or would I still need to do the Advanced?

But then you would have to pay for the AOW right. Seems like a nice way for PADI to make money.

Going back to the OP; why do you want both DM and MSD?

If you plan on working as a PADI Pro, having taken the PADI AOW Course seems proper. If you plan on DM, MSD seems like a nice way for PADI to make money.

There are lots of competent instructors who completed DM in 6-10 days; some are probably even great instructors. The problem with that subject on ScubaBoard is that all these independent instructors would love to have DMC's pay them to be their slave for 6 months to a year.

I can say from experience that if you want to work as a PADI DM (or Instructor), a 6-10 day DM Course is not really a problem; unless you want to work as a DM for one of the Instructors on ScubaBoard that would never hire a 6-10 day DM.