Recommendations for DM Training?

[nitroxbabe]

My husband is looking to take his PADI Divemaster training and is looking for recommendations for a good facility. He wants to go take the course in a week to 10 day period (which I have seen some facilities advertise) and then return home to work with the LDS and gain more experience with his new skills.

We've seen many places, especially in Florida, which offer this type of course. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of a good place?

We live near Chicago but he could travel for a period of time to do this, preferably somewhere warmer than here(!) and in the continental US.

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[cmay]

I would recommend finding a good instructor locally and taking the course over time. I think he would get allot more out of it. The Divemaster course is a tremendous amount of information to digest and can not be effectively done in a short amount of time. Also, the longer time makes it much more enjoyable. My divemaster class lasted six months, others that started with me took even longer.

 

[Curly]

...but have been checking it out and have received detailed info in the mail:

http://www.prodiveusa.com/career/scuba_career.htm

 

[Diver0001]

nitroxbabe once bubbled...
My husband is looking to take his PADI Divemaster training and is looking for recommendations for a good facility. He wants to go take the course in a week to 10 day period (which I have seen some facilities advertise) and then return home to work with the LDS and gain more experience with his new skills.

We've seen many places, especially in Florida, which offer this type of course. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of a good place?

We live near Chicago but he could travel for a period of time to do this, preferably somewhere warmer than here(!) and in the continental US.

Thanks for your help in advance!

10 days? You're kidding. At our club it's 17 days (11 theory sessions, 7 sessions in the pool and 5 in open water) spread over 6 weeks. Even at that most students find the tempo high and don't finish the underwater map and/or EAP in the 6 week time frame (we have bad viz and the underwater-map can take 10 dives).

Without sounding too cynical, I wonder if they're not cutting some pretty big corners..... The DM course as I know it just can't be done in 10 days.

R..

 

[Butch103]

Diver0001 & Cmay are right......althought the course can be done in the shory period of time at a "school" it has been suggested to me by more than one instructor to take the DM with a dive shop the "stretches" it out over a period of time, due to the large amount of information to take in + to make sure you have extra time under supervision with groups..........

I expect to start my DM program this spring March perhaps and will take most if not all of the summer to complete......

 

[Padipro]

Curly once bubbled...
...but have been checking it out and have received detailed info in the mail:

http://www.prodiveusa.com/career/scuba_career.htm

I would have to agree with Curly. If you're planning on, or are willing to travel to a place like Florida for the training, Pro Dive is definately the place to go. I dive almost exclusively with them several times a month and did my Instructors course with them back in 93. I came down here all the way from Minnesota just to do my training with them and it was well worth it. They have the biggest and the best dive boat in the area as well as a very professional staff and a great store. In addition to all the above we have some of the best wreck diving in the US down here and the water temp is still in the mid to lower 70's.

Good Luck,

Scott

 

[AliKat]

I have to agree with a lot of the other posts here. 10 days is just too short. I think your husband would be better off taking the course locally and taking his time.

I didn't even know they offered such a thing, but now that I know, I think from now on I'll ask the DM's on any dives I do. If they became DM's in 10 days, I don't think I want to do those dives!

 

[BlueWaterDiving]

You can learn the class work maybe in ten days. BUT you can not learn how to be a good divmaster in 10 days. There is alot of stuff to learn,boat,fill tanks,work on regs, Workwith people,students man I can go on for ever. Take your time in becoming a divemaster it will pay off in the long run. this is just my 2-cents

 

[ScubaBaby]

If your partner is dead set on doing the DM course within 10 days - then that is there choice. However, I would reccommend that they do the course and they sign up with a local club/centre and get some experience with a well established instructor before taking on any serious responsibility.

Like many have said you can learn what you need to in 10 days but that doesnt mean you have the experience in the water.

Good luck !!

 

[Phil TK]

ScubaBaby once bubbled...


Like many have said you can learn what you need to in 10 days but that doesnt mean you have the experience in the water.

Good luck !!

-or enough experience with people either. Dive briefing other divers is the measure of a good DM. (given that he has good technical skills) and it takes a while for your briefing style to come together. The first dozen briefs always sound robotic and boring but gradually you learn how to hold attention, integrate questions without running off the subject and dare I say it, -create the odd belly laugh. etc. All on top of running over stuff that you should include as a matter of course. Takes a little time.
The worst thing about doing DM in 10 days is that it might not be fun at all, you are putting yourself under pressure and stress.
I took 3 months over my DMT but wish it had been 6 months!

Phil TK