recently certified PADI Divemasters

[bug]

I am doing my divemaster certification this summer and I was just wonder what was given to you as course material? Is there anything else you suggest that I get?

I have Divemaster manual, knowledge workbook, and the encyclopedia (both in CD and book form).

Thank you!

-Matt

 

[archman]

I got checked out last fall, and that's all the literature I had. Hardly ever used the encyclopedia, but it's a great reference anyway.

I found the tests for NAUI Master Diver to be harder than for PADI Divemaster. Cute.

 

[Warren_L]

Yep, that's pretty well all there is. The exams were pretty easy, although I did find a few of the questions ambiguous. If you just read through the material, it's pretty easy to do all the knowledge reviews and exams. All the work is done in the internship.

 

[ppo2_diver]

I found the instructor manual to be extremely helpfull. Especially with the physics portion. But you should be able to get by without it if your instructor has good slides and you take good notes during the class.

 

[archman]

I found the instructor manual to be extremely helpfull. Especially with the physics portion. But you should be able to get by without it if your instructor has good slides and you take good notes during the class.

You had classes? Wow...

 

[Allen42]

Instructor manual was best resource. Encyclopedia was great for learning anything not covered by lecture.

 

[kramynot2000]

and only had the materials you mentioned. We had classes.... lots of them, which was good.

However, I found the most learning is with the internship and working with the students. You can be very book smart but I found it takes different skills when you are trying to use those "smarts" when dealing with the different personalities you meet. It is fun, though!

Good luck.

 

[Sabot]

My wife and I are starting the Divemaster course this spring also. Our instructor has suggested that we buy the Instructor Development Course crew pack. We do plan on becoming instructors after I retire. At this point is the benifit of these additional references worth the cost?

 

[pt40fathoms]

Use the workbook and encyclopedia in combination with each other, they were made that way and you learn a lot by using them both.

Make sure you have The Wheel, or have access to one, as you will be asked questions that involve its use.

Keep track of your skills score yourself with pencil after every pool or open water session, if you get a 3.5 and think you can do better, don't be afraid to ask to redo the demonstration skill. Once you have gotten the skills down and scored well, fill in the scores and have the instructor sign it. In short, keep track of your progress, this will free up the instructors time and help progress you faster through the course.

If you have good instructors, be prepared to work your butt off, they will task load you. A good DM is nearly indispensable to an instructor; they do all the "other" stuff, leaving the instructor free to focus on teaching safely and effectively.

 

[brian_dixon]

I am also going for my EFR, DAN O2, RESCUE, and DM at Pro Dive in Fort Lauderdale. Books cost be about $400!