I have no dive pro. credentials or training; my perspective is that of a recreational diver who, at one point years ago, considered pursuing a DM cert. to advance as a recreational diver. I didn't, but I think a lot of people do. I'd like to put forth a couple of ideas and see what you guys think; first, that we need to consider why people take the DM course (its purpose), then consider whether that purpose should be served in other ways.
I suspect these are the main reasons a recreational diver signs up for a DM course:
1.) En route to becoming an Instructor.
2.) Wants to guide dives professionally. May love diving enough to see this as a 'break even' way to be engaged in the sport.
3.) Wants to assist an Instructor in teaching diving, without the responsibility of being an Instructor.
4.) Wants to advance in knowledge and particularly skill as a diver, and thinks being trained to 'demonstration quality skills,' critical feedback and mentoring during the training dives, and possibly post-cert. time assisting an Instructor teaching will instill advance dive skills and some 'extra' knowledge.
It could be any or all these, but if your ideas about what DM training should require center on guiding group dives and assistant teaching, and many people taking the course are really just there for 4.), that's going to be a problem.
At least in the U.S., PADI dominates. The 'Master Diver' cert. isn't a course in PADI, it's like a 'degree' recognizing you've amassed a number of other courses, including some required ones. NAUI had a 'real' Master Diver course (which I've read was originally intended to instill Instructor-level knowledge except the teaching component), but NAUI seems to have a small minority market, particularly in mindshare in the U.S. Most recent OW cert. divers don't know what GUE is (much less Primer or Fundamentals). Advanced OW tends to entail moderate broadening of experience and knowledge, maybe skill. Rescue Diver is more about risk assessment and mitigation, and some rescue skills - not so much dive skills.
So a PADI rec. diver who takes OW, Nitrox, AOW and Rescue Diver may wonder 'what next?' Often, Dive Master is the answer...but should it be?
Here's a thought...make Master Diver a real course, in PADI and SSI, and make it a tiered system (as the current NAUI version may be too big a bite to chew for some people who're still interested in advancement).
Master Diver Level 1 - focus on precision skill enhancement - Peak Performance Buoyancy, horizontal trim, precision weighting management, etc... Focus on in-water dive skills, and supporting knowledge. Learn to trouble-shoot common gear problems and better handle in-water situations. Wrap in solo diver training to encourage independence.
Master Diver Level 2 - build on knowledge. Maybe focus on diversifying experience with varied setups - diving in cold water exposure gear, trying BP/W and side-mount, dry suit diving, etc... Some basic decompression dive training? Precision navigation?
Master Diver Level 3 - maybe aim for what I've read a GUE Fundies recreational pass certifies? Some training in blue water and deep, cold water diving?
What do you think? Would this system cut down the numbers of people signing up for DM courses?
Should DM be a broad grab bag for divers who want be better divers and/or assistant teach and/or guide group dives?