Q for the DM's out there...perks etc.,

[markfm]

Hmmm...

Newbie DM, I do this for the sheer pleasure of seeing others learning to dive. In upstate NY it's not like there's year-round employment with buckets of charters.

It sounds like my shop charges slightly less for insurance, though it only covers shop-sponsored things.

Of course, as a pro we get the pleasure of annual fees to keep in active status

I cover my own gas, 90 minutes to where we cert people. I actually bring the coffee and donuts -- in October folks appreciate a bit of sugar and a hot beverage after coming out of an OW cert dive

Slightly less % discount on equipment, but it brings me to LP/ScubaToys price points. The shop actually started giving me those discounts right off the get go -- I bought equipment early, and the LDS continued to give me good discounts compared to walk-in list pricing.

Free air all the time, not just when helping a class.

Overall, becoming a DM really was all about enjoying the activity, wishing to help others and improve my knowledge of what can go wrong -- working with divers in classes gives more opportunities to look for whoopses, see the proper ways to react.

I'll probably do AI this Winter, to keep my hand in on the learning side while looking to help as a DM in classes. Again, it's definitely a net $ outgo, not income.

On the plus side, a huge plus, as a "regular", the LDS and my Instructor did a stunning job taking care of me in getting my GF certified. A lot of really nice things, from letting us use the pool whenever we wanted while she was working on her swimming, to really doing a great job on a rapid cert, so she could come on a dive vacation. Super people.

Don't think I'll quit my day job quite yet

 

[HowieDean]

The day to day mechanics of DM training and even DM work sucks.........
But it will give you a foundation down the road....

You aren't ever going to make a living being a DM and most DM's are treated lile "S**t"

But if you decide to become an instructor or maybe hang out in the islands someday you are going to nead DM training as a minimum....

It took me years to fall into the gig I have now but looking back it was well worth the effort.....

Diver's in general are a unique breed and if you can learn how to interact with them and make 95% happy at the end of the day you wil be miles ahead in any vocation you undertake.....

I don't get paid - but I do get to stay at the all inclusive resort 2 to 3 months out of the year for free - now figure out what that's worth..........

Pay your dues - spend time understanding the mind-set of the divers and bosses, it could lead you some where you never thought about years down the road.........

 

[tstormdiver]

Just to be clear, I enjoyed and still enjoy playing music, and obviously my time served at the vet hospitals did not diminish my love of animals and I love diving, so ....Jon

Me either. It turns out that my other expensive hobby has turned out to be my dog. After 2 surgeries to remove ingested rocks from her gut & a heart worm treatment she has now run me about $1600 just for this year (OUCH!) Alas..... the responsibility of having a 4 legged kid.

 

[TheFoggyMask]

Being a divemaster is just being used. The development of divemaster is really just a nice way of saying "slave labor." It has been created in order to cycle new divers through training, requiring money, to get the "opportunity" to work for free to become an instructor in order to mass produce more divers and hopefully continue the cycle of nontraining. They offer you "perks" like free air and other things that they can easily supply you for free. Don't be a tool, "nobody goes dming to make money" is just what people have created in order to justify this nonsense. The dive shop making you buy a "brand visible" mask is just another example of how they're using you in order to try to make more money by advertising for them.

DMing does not fall into the category of voluntary service. When I volunteer at the aquarium or planting trees, I don't fork out money. I offer them my time and they provide any training and most of the time, materials, I need. Don't fool yourself, the people you're whoring yourself out to are making money off you. Unless you're getting something substantial in return, don't take this load from anyone.

 

[caseybird]

I'm about 2 weeks from finishing DM, I've learned a ton of diving. Working with students really made me improve my game.
And I got a $10.00 tip Saturday. I'm on the road to easy street.

 

[markfm]

TFM -- Please, don't hold back, what do you REALLY think of being a DM?

I don't agree that nobody can be a DM to make some $, though it's certainly good to go for Instructor if you actually wish to make a few bucks. Location matters hugely. Where I live there's some superb diving, though it's not a year-round warm-water locale. For most of the folks around here diving is an avocation, not a principal job -- simply not enough base, year round, to support actually doing it for a living.

I took DM training eyes wide open, a personal desire, not some path to riches. My regular occupation takes care of the bills.

No need to feel used if one knows what one is choosing to do.

 

[diveman7683]

I enjoy being a DM because i enjoy helping students and divers.
The perks:
- free air
- gear nicely discounted
- free insurance
- i have a say in how the shop runs
- run courses
- paid nicely
- get treated great too

Maybe its the shop or maybe the dive community here. I don't really know. All I know is its great to be a DM here.

 

[diverdown247]

Free air
Discounted courses (especially since I went as far as AOWI)
Paid in cash (amount varies as to if I'm a DC/DM or Instructor)
Discounts on gear
Umbrella insurance coverage
Discounts on servicing

I also get a few other perks during the summer.

 

[divemaster_jim]

Having been a DM for a tad over 6 yrs and having been able to work for a couple of different shops, I've had my share of good and bad experiences, but overall I've enjoyed it, you quickly learn that DM's and OWSI do it for one of two reasons:

1. love of the sport ie. sharing the habit.
2. making money ie. supporting the habit.

The perks one can get do vary greatly, from just getting free air fills ( which is pretty much a industry standard) to decent discounts on trips or gear.

BUT! you will work your *** off and you will need to watch out for yourself, use the time to learn and develop both as a diver and as a teacher/entertainer, cause you'll be a person of many hats, confidante, babysitter, teacher, gopher, dive bubby, the list goes on and on and on, lol you'll never get rich doing this but it will be interesting.
Good luck with it. If I can help just shoot me a pm.
Jim

 

[DrSteve]

What a lot of different perspectives - but really a lot of commonalities as well.

Thank you everyone for your input, your view points and the offers of help. I think TFM hit a nerve, the store is making money out of me (and any other DM) no matter what and in effect making me an employee without status. That's what I loved about the BSAC system - all club-based with no shop involvement, it wasn't a business for anyone.