PADI Master Diver Certification

[Dutchman]

Anyone out there working on this certification? I am not really interested in a new career path like DM or Instructor. However I think going for Master Driver would be cool. After all, at 56, I am already a Master in other sports. I read a post by Timeliner that he was also going for additional classes. That inspired me to think, why not do the same. So I went by my LDS to gain additional information. I found out that continuing education isn’t cheap. The cost for AOW is $250, Rescue is another $250.00. I don’t think this was unreasonable but then the surprise. Master Diver is $500.00. When I asked why this cost so much, I was told it included 5 specialty courses. I suggested I would have already taken 5 in the AOW class. They said this was different but could not explain. I am currently OW certified. I have 102 dives logged. So what am I going to learn? What is involved in the Master Diver Certification?

Thanks

 

[Debraw]

5 dives in the AOW class is different than obtaining 5 specialty certifications. Each specialty has different requirements in skill and number of dives completed to obtain the c-card. Cost varies on the specialty. Our dive shop charges based on the number of dives it takes to complete the specialty. If you have taken AOW then you normally have the first dive needed to obatin the specialty rating so the cost will be reduced for the overall specialty. Having AOW completed will help if the dive shop does it that way. Our shop also offers specialty, special weekends also. We recently had a Night Diver specialty outing for those that already had a night dive signed off by an instructor from an AOW class ( did not have to be our shop either) and we did 2 more night dives ( with objectives) and included the card for $35. When people ask me what is involved with the specialties I break out the instructor manual and show them the requirements to complete.
It is nice to have additional training under the guide of an instructor. When you flash a PADI Master Scuba Diver Card you will get instant recognition that you are a trained diver having met the standards PADI requires to obtain this recognition. It does not have to cost you an arm and a leg to gain this training either. It will however take some time with the training so I would get prepared for a few weekends and course study time. Shop around, and take a look at the PADI website: http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/padicourses.aspx

If you have some time, feel free to stop by the shop and browse the requirements in the manuals. I could type them up here but I don't think we have enough space! You will get all the information you are looking for and then you can make the leap if you want. I can say that I gained more confidence once I completed my rescue class that I really thought possible. As a diver I would definitely go through AOW and rescue, and after that you can be your own best judge on all the other areas if you see that it is worth it to you.

 

[amascuba]

If you have some time, feel free to stop by the shop and browse the requirements in the manuals. I could type them up here but I don't think we have enough space! You will get all the information you are looking for and then you can make the leap if you want. I can say that I gained more confidence once I completed my rescue class that I really thought possible. As a diver I would definitely go through AOW and rescue, and after that you can be your own best judge on all the other areas if you see that it is worth it to you.

I think that is the best piece of advice right there! the Master Diver card is basically nothing more than a combination of the AOW and Rescue card. It doesn't actually involve any more education beyond those classes. AOW and Rescue are worth their weight in gold with the right instructors.

 

[mike_s]

Master Diver is $500.00. When I asked why this cost so much, I was told it included 5 specialty courses...... What is involved in the Master Diver Certification?

Like you said, the PADI Master Diver cert is just 5 speciality courses. You then pay th $35 application fee for the LDS to file your application and get the 'card'.

You can either do all these speciailties together as a class, or do them one at a time over a longer period of time. Up to you.

Though $500 might seem a little high, it's not out of line with what you'd think. For most speciality (dive) classes at most LDS's, expect to pay $150 to $250 PER CLASS for specilities. This may or may not include the cost of dives (quarry admission or boat dives) or air fills. The "quickest/easiest/cheapest" speciality class to take is Equipment Specialist. It can be done in one evening/afternoon and I've seen this from $50 to $100.

So if you took 5 specialities at an average of $200 per class, then that's much more than their $500 cost.

Now with all that said, PADI is aggresviley marketing the Master Diver cert right now. Why? Because it requires people to take 5 speciality classes and they make their money off classes. Some divers see this as a "Card collecting" class. (opninons vary).

Other agencies teach the class different. NAUI for example actually teaches this as as class, with many different types of dives required.

 

[texdiveguy]

After I finished up my Rescue program,,,,I continued my CE with several specialty courses I was interested in taking,,,,not with the idea of becomes a Master Diver..but after completing my 5th. specialty I thought for an application fee---what the heck. I do suggest from my view you look at courses you have interest that would help you develope your diving in the areas you like,,,,look at the instructors qualifications to instruct the program (this is true with any training agency)---'real world' experience in an instructor in that specialty is 'priceless',,,,there are instructors that have cards and nothing other than the minimum certifing agencies reqrd.--hmmmm....you want your monies worth. Happy and safe diving...

PS--- a plug for my LDS,,,,give the shop a ring for CE,,, www.siscuba.com

 

[Debraw]

I think that is the best piece of advice right there! the Master Diver card is basically nothing more than a combination of the AOW and Rescue card. It doesn't actually involve any more education beyond those classes. AOW and Rescue are worth their weight in gold with the right instructors.

Sorry can't agree with you on this one Amascuba. The specialties teach more than a combination of AOW and Rescue. Check out an instructor specialty manual sometime. It's a wonderful resource of information.

 

[Dutchman]

Thanks for all the information. I guess I assumed the 5 specialty you take in AOW was the same as taking individual courses. Now I understand that they are just introductions and not actually certifications. If you want to get “certified”, there is more to it than just a dive. So why take the AOW. Why not just jump right into specialty courses? Having 5-6 specialties under your belt should give you more knowledge than anything you can learn in AOW.

 

[texdiveguy]

Thanks for all the information. I guess I assumed the 5 specialty you take in AOW was the same as taking individual courses. Now I understand that they are just introductions and not actually certifications. If you want to get “certified”, there is more to it than just a dive. So why take the AOW. Why not just jump right into specialty courses? Having 5-6 specialties under your belt should give you more knowledge than anything you can learn in AOW.

That would appear some right on the surface,,,,,I am not a recreational scuba instructor...so I will give you my take. A well conducted AOW program will take a newly certed O/W diver or one with gained experience and show them more specific diving technque and skills in 5 common areas most divers will encounter. An O/W course is so very basic in skills and is mainly a program designed to give a person a start and to instill safety when diving,,,,and to set commonly accepted standards in place for the newbie to follow. The PADI AOW will req. the diver to do a Deep dive and Navigation dive with the pick of 3 others. Many shops will sugg. the diver do Bouency//Night and maybe Search-Recovery. Most of us that dive on a regular basis find something we really like (wrecks...caverns...deep...photography...whatever),,these are areas you might pick up a specialty certf.. There are several PADI Specialty courses that req. a min. of an AOW level.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Thanks for all the information. I guess I assumed the 5 specialty you take in AOW was the same as taking individual courses. Now I understand that they are just introductions and not actually certifications. If you want to get “certified”, there is more to it than just a dive. So why take the AOW. Why not just jump right into specialty courses? Having 5-6 specialties under your belt should give you more knowledge than anything you can learn in AOW.

AOW will accomplish a couple things... it gives you a "taste" of a specialty. Let's say you take night as one of your AOW adventure dives. The night diving heebeegeebees get to be too much and you decided that sunlit dives are all you want to do. You don't burn $150 only to figure out this aint for me.

Rescue, a fantastic class, is required for Master Scuba Diver, AOW is required to take rescue.

TwoBit

 

[Debraw]

So why take the AOW. Why not just jump right into specialty courses? Having 5-6 specialties under your belt should give you more knowledge than anything you can learn in AOW.

Some specialties like the Deep Diver will require an "adventure dive" or AOW card before you can take the specialty. The MSD requires AOW and Rescue before you can apply.