Should I take the DM course?

[mooch4289]

I've had my Rescue cert. for a while, and have quite a few dives under my belt (at least a couple hundred) and I've been considering taking a DM course (ultimately getting my instructor cert), but I'm not entirely sure it's worth it. First off, I'm starting my PhD next year, so I don't have a ton of spare cash. I love teaching, and I love diving, and I'd love to get my instructor certification, but would do it as a part-time thing. A few questions I have are:

1. Would I learn much in the DM (and ultimately the instructor courses)? I learned alot in the OW course (obviously) but the AOW and Rescue class didn't really teach me much that I didn't already know...though I had been a lifeguard for quite a few years, so alot of the training was the same. It's a pretty big commitment time and money wise, and I've heard that alot of the training from here on out is simply leadership-type training. Should I just stick with my rescue diver status and be happy instead?

2. My OW/AOW/Rescue each came from a different dive shop in different states, so I don't have a ton of loyalty or any real relationship to any one. As for eventually teaching, I hear a lot of instructors teach at the same school they get their certifications through...Since I'm leaving town next year, I wouldn't be able to do that. Assuming I get my instructor cert, would it be pretty tough to find a dive shop willing to take on a new instructor, if they've never really known me?

3. Insurance - If I were an instructor, it'd be part-time. If I could make a couple extra bucks, that's great, but people don't do that for the money. Do most dive shops carry an insurance policy that covers all of their instructors, or do most carry their own, and if so, how much do most of you carry, and how much is it a year?

Any info on this would help me out in trying to figure out if I actually want to pursue this or not. Like I said, I'm not trying to make a bunch of money off of this. I just think it'd be a lot of fun and a great experience. Any info would be appreciated, sorry for the long post!

 

[Colliam7]

Your post will most probably generate many first-person testimonials, for and against. So, here are mine to start you off.

1. Would I learn much in the DM (and ultimately the instructor courses)? I learned alot in the OW course (obviously) but the AOW and Rescue class didn't really teach me much that I didn't already know...though I had been a lifeguard for quite a few years, so alot of the training was the same. It's a pretty big commitment time and money wise, and I've heard that alot of the training from here on out is simply leadership-type training.

I learned a lot in DM, far more than in AOW and Rescue, whereas the IDC components (AI then OWSI) were definitely more about leadership and teaching technique. I originally took DM simply to refine my diving techniques, and improve my diving precision, and that objective was achieved. At that point, I didn't anticipate pursuing instructor. Could I have accomplished the same objectives without DM? Probably. But, I would do it again exactly for the same reasons. Learning to perform the 20 skills at a demonstration-quality level might seem like teaching technique training, but I found it encouraged me to think about my bouyancy (fin pivots and hover) for example, and improved my rescue / self-rescue skills (alternate air source skill practice, buddy breathing practice, CESA practice). Having to do an emergency action plan, having to map a dive site were excellent learning opportunities. The dive theory review and instruction was useful and a good stimulus for further reading. Others on SB have described some good experiences, and some very bad ones. Hopefully, they will comment as well. In the case of DM, I believe the particular instructional approach (of the facility / instructor) makes a difference.

2. My OW/AOW/Rescue each came from a different dive shop in different states, so I don't have a ton of loyalty or any real relationship to any one. As for eventually teaching, I hear a lot of instructors teach at the same school they get their certifications through...Since I'm leaving town next year, I wouldn't be able to do that. Assuming I get my instructor cert, would it be pretty tough to find a dive shop willing to take on a new instructor, if they've never really known me?

Not necessarily. Yes, shops often seem to prefer to hire staff that they have trained. Nothing wrong with that. It either encourages dangerous inbreeding, or promotes optimal standardization, depending on how you choose to look at it. That will not preclude you from linking up with a shop in a future location, if they have a need, and you have an interest.

3. Insurance - Do most dive shops carry an insurance policy that covers all of their instructors, or do most carry their own, and if so, how much do most of you carry, and how much is it a year?

Some shops a) expect contract instructors to provide their own, other shops b) have a staff policy covering all but expect each instructor to pay their part of the premium, while I suspect there are shops who c) arrange, and pay for, the coverage (but make it up another way). I work through a shop that uses option B. It is cheaper than applying for / carrying it through V&B on my own.

 

[String]

ID say DM and instructing is BEST done part time. It really isnt a lucrative full time career for the vast majority so sticking with the PhD and going from there to me at least would seem sensible. Use the DM and instructor if you get it to earn extra pocket money on weekends and an excuse possibly to get some subsidised diving in.

If someone has no wish to ever teach id try to dissuade them from the DM route and push more towards expanding their own skills like TDI/IANTD/GUE and so on. However if someone knows they do want to teach then DM is probably more suitable as its a course about supervision and teaching and not a lot about actually diving.

 

[Garrobo]

Don't give up your day job, Dude.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Some very good responses above.

There is a big difference between "wanting to get your DM cert" and "wanting to DM." If you really want to lead and DM then great, go for it. If Not, skip it and do as String suggested by taking other advanced training courses if your goal is to learn more.

As for cash, as most will point out, the majority of DM's I know do it because they enjoy being in a leadership role and are lucky to break even cash wise.

Good luck!

 

[Peter Guy]

I'm a new DM and have little desire (at the moment) of further instructor type training. I have worked with a few OW classes and really enjoy working with students -- watching them learn and get excited about diving, which was my stated purpose in becoming a DM.

Did I learn anything significant during the class? Yes and no. I found the DM curriculum to be extremely weak at best and downright deficient in some respects. Honestly, I was appalled at how dumbed down much of the physics, deco and physiology was (especially the deco!). I was truly amazed that there was NOTHING, NADA, Zilch on the whole issue of gas management. (Will someone PLEASE explain to me how divers are supposed to learn how to "plan their dive" if PADI doesn't even teach the basic concepts to those who are instructing?)

While I did learn the basic teaching techniques for doing the "20 basic skills" that was a very small part of my program -- and possibly could have been more intensive.

I am working out of the same shop from which I did my primary certs but I have been offered the opportunity to work with two other shops. (That might be because my "fee" is so low (i.e., free) and I carry my own insurance or because I spend a lot of my time at one of the shops and I'm friends with the instructor from the other shop.)

Would I recommend becoming a DM? Yes -- IF you want to work with students/divers to help them become better divers. BUT, at least for me, my other instruction is what has given me the skills that I believe will help me teach students/divers to become better divers -- NOT what I learned in my DM course.

YMMV

 

[Colliam7]

Honestly, I was appalled at how dumbed down much of the physics, deco and physiology was (especially the deco!). I was truly amazed that there was NOTHING, NADA, Zilch on the whole issue of gas management.

A very good point about the absence of substantive theoretical content on deco, and content on gas management / planning, in the DM curriculum. Perhaps, because PADI moved into tec and deco diving a bit after some of the other organizations, they may have (finally) concentrated that educational content (deco concepts, gas management) in their newer tec offerings. It is certainly there, and not particularly evident in the non-tec courses. Because I was particularly interested in the physics, and physiology, I was left wanting a little more content, although it was apparent in my DM class of 7 that my enthusiasm for physics and math was not universally shared. What the DM theory review did, therefore, was encourage me to pursue additional study. Without intending to bash, I fully agree that more attention should be paid to gas management principles and practices throughout the recreational diver training cycle.

 

[String]

DM is primarily about adapting divers for a leadership role so yes although it touches on more things like deco theory that isn't really the point of the qualification - the point is to get them ready to handle students.

If you want deco theory then do a deco course and so on.

That said DM has a lot more detail on deco theory than BSACs dive leader does and that is meant to be a mandatory deco course!

Anyone truly interested in the individual subject areas should at this point be looking up their own material to satisfy their curiosity and not have to be spoon fed.

 

[Peter Guy]

String -- It is my understanding that in the PADI curriculum, the DM level is the last level of "substantive" education (the AI and Instructor levels are about teaching -- NOTE -- that is my understanding! and it may be wrong) and I think there should just be a broader knowledge base presented.

BTW, my view of the "strength" of the curriculum was NOT universally shared by my classmates!

 

[emttim]

A very good point about the absence of substantive theoretical content on deco, and content on gas management / planning, in the DM curriculum. Perhaps, because PADI moved into tec and deco diving a bit after some of the other organizations, they may have (finally) concentrated that educational content (deco concepts, gas management) in their newer tec offerings. It is certainly there, and not particularly evident in the non-tec courses. Because I was particularly interested in the physics, and physiology, I was left wanting a little more content, although it was apparent in my DM class of 7 that my enthusiasm for physics and math was not universally shared. What the DM theory review did, therefore, was encourage me to pursue additional study. Without intending to bash, I fully agree that more attention should be paid to gas management principles and practices throughout the recreational diver training cycle.

Honestly, what's wrong with the physics and physiology portions of the Divemaster course? I don't see how much more in-depth you need to get as far as those two sections are concerned unless you're a scientist planning to do research. The deco theory taught the decompression models such as Haldanean models, how they work, why they theoretically work, and why they're only as valid as test data shows. The physics explains the effects of light, pressure, etc. as it relates to diving. Sure, the rigor of the material was a joke to me, especially physics, but that's because I already taught myself a good deal of physiology since I'm an EMT and I took a year of general chemistry. To most people who don't have the college-level science background, I would imagine the material is satisfactory. Out of curiosity, what more is needed?

The above questions and viewpoints, however, are only for physics and physiology. I agree that gas management should have it's own separate section in the encyclopedia of rec diving, or at least be a section in the DM manual, because it is critical to the safety and enjoyment of the diver. Specifically gas planning, and utilizing SAC rates for pre-dive planning, should certainly be mandatory reading for the DM curriculum. Hell, gas management/planning should be mandatory reading for the Open Water curriculum but that's just my opinion.

String -- It is my understanding that in the PADI curriculum, the DM level is the last level of "substantive" education (the AI and Instructor levels are about teaching -- NOTE -- that is my understanding! and it may be wrong) and I think there should just be a broader knowledge base presented.

BTW, my view of the "strength" of the curriculum was NOT universally shared by my classmates!

Naw, you're not wrong, I talked to my instructor and the AI, OWSI & above levels do indeed primarily focus on teaching. He said that's exactly why the IDC is only a week long (despite being quite rigorous)...because you already learn the knowledge of diving at the level expected of an instructor as a DM.