i am currently working my way through the DM course.
Some observations along the way:
Demoing skills
1) Demo quality skills need to be very Slowly done - if you think your going slow already, pause and slow down some more.
2) be relaxed when preforming a skill
3) do it the way the instructor wants (the one whom is going to grade your circuit) not the way you think it should be done. you can develop your own style later
Tests
1) read the question carefully
2) if you have a good understanding of the materials i would not sweat it. The pass is 75% and there are no extra points for a perfect score. If you can get it great but the Pass is the important part.
3) read the physics section carefully.
4) have a rational mindset for the rest of the questions and think in a service oriented Role. What would you want out of a DM on a trip or a shop.
Watermanship skills (only the 400 yrd swim, Float done so far)
1) swim - take it easy and focus on finishing i would not worry too much about time. you still get 1 point if you take an hour to complete it - just complete it. I recieved a 3 here but did not practice it at all and we did it in Pool session #1 right out of the gate.
2) Float - float on your back if possible if not drown proof, its easy to get a 5 here.
3) 800 yrd M/F/S - seems to be the same as the 400 yrd swim as far as diffculty goes - just focus on finishing it. If possible a long pool would be beneficial to minimize the turns -
4) Tired diver - done this in real life: Push the diver, same advice as the 800 yrd swim on pool length.5
5) Problem solving - dunno and could vary widely (i have no idea)
Basically if your reasonably fit you should have no problems with these even if you have a weak area such as swiming.
Most important observations.
1) Boyancy control: you need it to be solid, hard to demo and watch demo's if your bouncing around.
2) Weighting: weight your Scuba Rig correctly and stash a few weights at the pool edge if you or someone else needs more. (i don't carry them on me, but some shops may want you to)
3) Be comfortable with your gear, miminize it to just the required items. Be able to set it up - Demo quality, quickly.
4) mind the small stuff - neauances in the demo's and what the instructor says he is looking for, also ask them what they are looking for.
Have fun. I end up spending a lot of time hovering in the trim position in the shallow end of the pool durring a class, while watching the other DMC's do a run at the skills. and generally only on my knees for a demo (if your shop likes to do it this way, mid water is possible for many skills but talk to your instructor)
most important is have fun.
