Planning a dive "career"...

[Arete]

So, I just completed my AOW...

My aim in diving is to a) have fun, b) build it up to a point where it looks half decent on my resume... I am a marine genetics student, and I'll most likely be in the market for a PhD in a couple of years. I've decided that despite the intense competition, it's a field in which I'd like to wind up working in.

As it's a crappy rainy week with big swell, I'm stuck in the office, and was having a think about where I should go with diving.

Since I bought my own gear around a month ago (everything but a tank), I've been getting in 3-4 dives a week, so now have about 30 dives up. I did my AOW dives over the last couple of weeks with the university Dive Saftey Officer. However, at the moment I know my diving is not good enough to deal with serious gear issues (so deco is waaay out of my league) and the added task loading of full on research diving would stress me out, so I have a fair way to go.

My plan for the rest of the year is to keep up the regular dives, and do the Rescue Diver course offered in October.

As such, by the end of the year I plan to be rescue diver certified, and have between 50 and 100 dives.

By the end of 2007, I'd hope to have a diving history that would be worth mentioning on a CV for a marine biology PhD or job.

I guess the main objectives will be:
*As many dives as possible
*Bouyancy
*Nitrox
*Deep diver
*To have led local dives, and be a confident, safe diver.
*Be able to deal with complex, research tasks on a dive.

I was wondering, for those who have expertise in the fields, is it worth aiming to be a technical diver? dive master? what objectives would you suggest? It might even be nice to get to a point where I can work in the industry to advance my diving career...

I don't have a ridiculous "tech diver by yesterday" budget, but am willing to invest a decent proportion of money and time into diving over the next few years.

 

[rawls]

Looks like your plan is very realistic...Get the dives under your belt to gain experience and move on from there. Tech generally starts with Advanced Nitrox, then Deco, then extended range. You don't need to be a divemaster to do those courses, but it wouldn't hurt. It's hard work becoming a DM if you do it right, but the benefits are well worth the work. But it sounds like you have a good plan...Good luck....

 

[Mako Mark]

If I were you, I would take some time out (perhaps three months or so) during vacation time, go to Thailand or Bali and do a DM course to start with, you can get great deals as the industry is very competitive. You should be able to get a stack of dive experience doing a DM internship or even working as a DM for beer money and you will certainly get some great fishy friends, maybe even a couple of thesis topics as well.

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

I don't know that I'd take the time away from your education as suggested above. I think the diving experience will be great, but obviously for your chosen carrer, the PhD is more important.

Sound like you've got some great ideas on what to study, and you've got a great hobby to go along with your passion for a detailed education about Marine Life. And I wouldn't worry about the competition in that field. It's clearly a passion and passionate people make great experts & employees.

Good Luck keep us... well at least me posted. I'm excited to hear about your adventures.

 

[friscuba]

I think all of your objectives are good. I would probably stay away from the leading dives unless you go through the DM program, just work on your own skills.

There are research diver programs out there. I have a friend or two that went through the University of Hawaii's research diver program. Apparently a lot of the divers in the program were very neophyte when it comes to skills (either just ceritfied, or certified years ago with little diving at all under ther belts), so you may be surprised to find that with 50-100 dives under your belt in a year's time you might be ahead of the curve already if you persue that type of thing.

It seems you are making the right moves.