SSI "Master Diver"......or not.

[Addicted2H2O]

Five hundred hours? I'm nearing 300 dives, and I've got nowhere near that amount of u/w time racked up.

Oops....I'm sorry. I mispoke. 500 minutes. So roughly.....8.5 hours. Which again seems like nothing.

 

[scubadada]

Oops....I'm sorry. I mispoke. 500 minutes. So roughly.....8.5 hours. Which again seems like nothing.

25 dives, 20 min per dive, sorry, that's pathetic

 

[Compressor]

To original OP: Its purely a marketing gimmick. Think about it: Do you consider yourself a master even if they give you the card.
I am humbled frequently diving after I realize I should have done x while I did y. Enjoy the diving without all the labels.

 

[TrimixToo]

A USN Master Diver...has a title that means something substantial.

I have no interest in PADI or SSI or other "Master Diver" certifications that add to some number of "specialty" certifications. None of them will make me equivalent to a *real* Master Diver.

Just my 2 PSI.

 

[hhmoore]

Oops....I'm sorry. I mispoke. 500 minutes. So roughly.....8.5 hours. Which again seems like nothing.

25 dives, 20 min per dive, sorry, that's pathetic

I've got more than twice that much time underwater, and I don't even feel "Advanced". I'm a lot more than a rescue course away from being a "Master"....but the information stated above appears to be incorrect.
I knew that both the PADI and SDI versions required 50 dives; so I looked up SSI - it is also 50 open water dives...and I don't see any mention of required minutes.

From divessi.com: By completing the five specialty programs, and logging 50 open water dives, you will automatically earn the SSI Master Diver recognition rating

 

[KentB]

Its the process and not attaining the goal that is important.

very wise words !

 

[Addicted2H2O]

25 dives, 20 min per dive, sorry, that's pathetic

I agree. I can't for the life of me understand why it's REQUIRED to be a dive master candidate. I assume the "Master Diver" certification is fairly similar for most agencies, too. I know there's supposedly more physiology and academic knowledge to it, but the diving portion to me seems like a joke.

 

[Steve_C]

I instabuddied with a dive master candidate with Ocean Divers out of Key Largo. He and I were the only two divers so we were doing drift dives on the outer reef. He was trying to rack up some more dives. My understanding was the DM required 100 dives. There was a lower number X that you needed to start the DM program (be a candidate) but that by the end of the program you needed to be up to the 100 dives.

Reminds me of Freshmen in College before they take their first class bragging that they are premed and how hard it is a program.

PS: Since we were doing drift dives they asked if either of us had an SMB. I did. So he had to tow the flag.

 

[freedc]

"Master Diver" is basically a customer loyalty card for people who buy a lot of class registrations. That being said, it can serve a useful purpose for those who like to use course-taking as a way to motivate themselves to improve.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

"Master Diver" is basically a customer loyalty card for people who buy a lot of class registrations. That being said, it can serve a useful purpose for those who like to use course-taking as a way to motivate themselves to improve.

Yeah well I'd really rather not have to pay $600 for a class that at the end still leaves me as nothing more than a rec diver. Thought I was done with prerequisites and such. I'm not thrilled about having to take the Master Diver course by any means.