Skip PADI Master Diver and go for Rescue then DM?

[Scott]

I completed AOW and 2 specialty courses (Nitrox+Digital Photographer) and have 40 dives under my belt. Would it be better to go for Rescue Diver and get another 40-50 dives then go for DM training and skip the other 3 specialty courses? I have done 15+ deep dives and several night dives so I really don't see the value in paying $500+ to PADI to get the Master Scuba Diver rating. Rather, get another 30+ dives in, Rescue Diver and Dive Master would open more doors for me as a diver. Thoughts?

No question that Rescue Diver should be your next step. Beyond that it depends on what you want out of diving. MSD is a rating and there is nothing wrong with that, IF those specialties you aquire along the way interest you and provide addtional value. Taking a specialty just becuase it is inexpensive and puts you one card closer to MSD is a silly idea. IMO.

The DM program can make you more knowledgable but is not designed to make you a better diver. The primary focus is demo'ing skills, assisting and guiding. Students look at DM's and the 'fun' they have and want that, but have little insight as to what it takes to achieve it and what the 'compensation' is. Talk with the DM's at the store, get their thoughts on the stores program and instructor.
Many divers are offered the DM program because an instructor may see something in a student that they feel would make them a valuable assistant or future instructor. You need to feel the same way about assisting and instructing because students are also pushed into DM programs because that is the highest rating that particular instructor can teach or the instructor needs that one more so they can reach their next rating.

Taking the tec route after Rescue will provide addtional knowledge, add dive skills that may not have been part of any courses you had previously taken. Those combined will reduce your risk as a diver. Start with a Tec40 (PADI) or Advanced Nitrox & Deco Procedures sometimes referred to as AN/DP (TDI) or similar from other agencies.
Just my .02

 

[Ben Prusinski]

Thanks- I plan to take Rescue Diver next and some basic tech diving classes. Of course, I would not take DM until I had another 50+ dives and more experience. For me, when I dove Bonaire, my favorite dives were the Hilma Hooker wreck dive and Thousand Steps. So, I will look into Wreck, Cave and basic tech dive classes after Rescue Diver. After another couple years, I can think whether DM is right for me or not. I do enjoy teaching and helping others so the choice to go pro part time exists but at this point, I am not naive to go that route yet without having at least 150+ dives and few years experience. I am just looking at things from a long term perspective as I really love diving and helping others. Another thing that would be fun is to learn how to repair and service dive gear but PADI does not offer this kind of training. How does one learn to repair regulators for example?

 

[herman]

Sounds like you are reaching a good decision on DM. I really enjoy working with the classes but it's not a course that should do much for your diving skills, they should be at a fairly high level before starting DM nor is it something you can make much money doing...actually I think most of us end up losing money.

As for learning to service regs, there are 2 basic approaches. You can go to work at a dive shop and have them sponsor you in a service class or you can do what most of us here have done, learn on your own. If you are mechanically inclined at all, they are not difficult. There are several good books on the subject available. Read and understand them, then find every service manual you can- there are a good many on the web- and study them. Finally, find a few old regs off eBay or craigslist to practice on. Once you have studied the books and manuals, joining us on the DIY section is a good place to start.

 

[Simon-]

It will make you a better and safer diver regardless if you actually dive at the level trained to or only take the training for skills and gear refinement.



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Because shutdown drills are essential to know when diving in recreational kit and remembering to NOTOX at your safety stop.


Sorry, but tec training just for the sake of it is more money and time that doesn't have to be spent

 

[Jim Lapenta]

That is a pretty narrow view of the benefits of tech training. For me shutdowns and no tox, otherwise known as verifying your deco gas were side benefits. The real benefits were seeing dives planned as the should be. With contingencies and disciplined paths. Variations to the plan were considered and defined. Not just "oh pretty fishie, lets go that way!". The buoyancy control and trim skills as well as increased knowldege of of how to achieve it not only could but needs to be looked into by every diver and a lot of instructors and DM's need that as well. Or at least how to teach it properly. More knowledge of physiology, gas management, and deco theory is never a bad thing and may save some from making stupid mistakes. Like doing trust me dives and getting lost or hurt, or blindly following a DM or instructor into an overhead and coming out in a bag. Tech training, and for that matter, solo training would benefit a whole slew of divers. And even if they don't ever solo I am now recommending the SDI solo manual as a must have for every open water diver. Along with other material that is seen as geared towards tech divers like Steve Lewis's "The Six Skills" , Mark Powell's "Deco for Divers", and Tom Mounts "Exploration and Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia" as well as recreational reading like my book and Dennis Graver's "Scuba Diving" that talk to, as opposed to down to, new divers and not so new ones.
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[Simon-]

JIm, I am a tec trained diver, so there is no need to try and list out items covered in tec training.

My point is, if I want to be a better car driver, would I learn how to drive a tank. No. I would concentrate on driving the car.

If I want to be a better recreational diver, should I take tec training. No, I would concentrate on diving as much as I could and learning.

I don't disagree that there are many valuable facets that are learnt in a tec course, but to take tec training just for the sake of the training is a folly. Do the training if you intend to do tec diving.

 

[mathauck0814]

You need rescue for either Master Diver or Divemaster, and you should do that regardless.

Master Diver isn't useful for anything, divemaster is only useful if you want to teach. Neither will do anything to make you a better diver.

---------- Post Merged at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:20 PM ----------

JIm, I am a tec trained diver, so there is no need to try and list out items covered in tec training.

My point is, if I want to be a better car driver, would I learn how to drive a tank. No. I would concentrate on driving the car.

If I want to be a better recreational diver, should I take tec training. No, I would concentrate on diving as much as I could and learning.

I don't disagree that there are many valuable facets that are learnt in a tec course, but to take tec training just for the sake of the training is a folly. Do the training if you intend to do tec diving.

It sounds like you didn't think too highly of your tech training, which is too bad. Well trained tech divers make better recreational divers than well trained recreational divers. Period. There is more thorough behaviors and more rigid protocols that, when committed to muscle memory, make your diving - regardless of the depth or profile - safer.

Suggesting that a recreational diver couldn't benefit from learning technical protocols is borderline irresponsible as an instructor.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If I wanted to be a better car driver I would not learn to drive a tank. But I would take a professional racing course even if I never intended to race on the track at all.

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[TMHeimer]

If you don't get your MSD you won't get the "certificate suitable for framing" AND the "_________" has successfully completed the MSD Challenge" poster! ALSO, if the MSD backpack promotion is on you won't get one....I have used mine TWICE collecting beads and other crap thrown from the floats at N.O. Mardi Gras!

 

[tracydr]

Some of the knowledge workbook and PADI encyclopedia that you study for the DM class are actually worthwhile reading. The mapping activity is good, too. I think, if you take DM from a good instructor, it can enhance your diving.
Have you considered some of the Rec classes through GUE or UTD? Or, perhaps Cavern/Intro Cave? Those classes can really improve your day to day diving ( from what I've heard). Hoping to take a few myself in the next year.