Padi dm

[sjmueller61990]

hello everyone this weekend will be the confined dives for my OW certification, while doing some required exercising like the 200 meter swim etc we were waiting for other students to finish and were talking to our DM and he was going over some thing that are required to become a DM. Afterwards ive been reading around and seeing alot of different things required to become a PADI DM ive seen some doing different length swims, different variations of the treading water, so on and so forth. i was hoping someone could clear this up. what type of prerequisites are there for becoming a dive master and what is required from you during class ie. swimming, treading water, other physical activites? or what sort of things (unusual or not) have you done for your DM certification?

 

[RJP]

hello everyone this weekend will be the confined dives for my OW certification, while doing some required exercising like the 200 meter swim etc we were waiting for other students to finish and were talking to our DM and he was going over some thing that are required to become a DM. Afterwards ive been reading around and seeing alot of different things required to become a PADI DM ive seen some doing different length swims, different variations of the treading water, so on and so forth. i was hoping someone could clear this up. what type of prerequisites are there for becoming a dive master and what is required from you during class ie. swimming, treading water, other physical activites? or what sort of things (unusual or not) have you done for your DM certification?

Google is your friend...
http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-courses/professional-courses/view-all-professional-courses/divemaster/default.aspx

Prerequisites:

To take this course, you must be:

• 18 years old
• A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• A PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• An Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
• Have at least 20 dives to begin the course and 60 for certification
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Stamina requirements:

The candidate must also complete: a 400m Swim; an 800m Snorkel Swim; a 100m Tired Diver Tow; and the Diver Rescue Assessment. These tests are scored but there is no time limit; they are designed to test stamina and ability rather than speed.

 

[herman]

Google is your friend...
Divemaster Courses - Lessons, Training, Tips & Professional Careers - PADI Scuba Diving Training Organization

Prerequisites:

To take this course, you must be:

• 18 years old
• A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• A PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• An Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
• Have at least 20 dives to begin the course and 60 for certification
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Stamina requirements:

The candidate must also complete: a 400m Swim; an 800m Snorkel Swim; a 100m Tired Diver Tow; and the Diver Rescue Assessment. These tests are scored but there is no time limit; they are designed to test stamina and ability rather than speed .

That is not exactly true. They are timed and you get a score based on the time- 5 points if you did it under one time, 4 another and so on. To pass the DM swim requirements you had to have a total of 12 points....there also use to be a 15 minute treading water portion with the last 2 minutes with your hands out of the water.

 

[RJP]

Unless things have changed that is not exactly true-it has been a long time since I had to deal with them however. They are (were?) timed and you got a score based on the time- 5 points if you did it under one time, 4 another and so on. To pass the DM swim requirements you had to have a total of 12 points....there also use to be a 10 (15?) minute treading water portion with the last 2 minutes with your hands out of the water.

Yeah, that description isn't clear. But there really is no time limit for any given portion. For instance, as long as you complete the 400yd swim - even if "more than 12min" - you get one point. Ultimately you'll need to make up time somewhere else of course, but individually there's no time limit.

 

[sjmueller61990]

awesome, thank you both very much, and yes google is pretty much king

looks like if i want to do this at some point have to get in better shape to

 

[FlyinV]

Some LDS will hold their DMs to a higher standard then what PADI requires.

Its just little things like:
On the DM swim tests you have to get at least a 3 or it doesn't count and your doing it again until you score a 3 or higher.

 

[aftershock109]

The swim test is tough going but its very important you are fit to help students if there is a problem underwater or at the surface because at the end of the day that is your role

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

For someone who is truly qualified to be DM, the stamina requirements are very easy. For a real water person the only challenge is whether you can get all 5's before lunch.

 

[boulderjohn]

The swim test is tough going but its very important you are fit to help students if there is a problem underwater or at the surface because at the end of the day that is your role

I was just an average swimmer at best, and I am definitely a sinker. When I took the DM course, I went to the pool regularly to improve my swimming skills. When I did the tests, I got all the points I needed before I got to the diver tow, so I only needed to complete the tow at any score to pass.

I happened to be in Key Largo at the time, preparing for a dive in relatively rough seas. My buddy and I were ready to get in the water before others on the boat were, and I suggested that since I didn't need a particular score, I could just tow my buddy away from the boat a distance that clearly surpassed half the required length and then bring him back. My instructor pointed out that in the rough conditions I would get a lousy score, but since it didn't matter, I did it anyway.

It was very hard pulling him into the wind and waves, and I went well beyond the required length. I was very winded when I was done--it took me a while to submerge for the dive because I was breathing so hard.

During that time I came to fully understand the point made in the post I quoted above. If a diver is in trouble and needs someone to tow him or her to safety, it is not the time for a DM who can't handle the job. I was glad I had done the extra work in preparation for the course, and I continue to make sure, even though I don't do any actual DM-type work, that I am capable of bringing a troubled diver to safety.

 

[sjmueller61990]

yeah that definatly makes alot of sense. People are going to be depending on their DM to be able to help in a dangerous situation.