Starting Diver Master training before 18th birthday

[Pedro Burrito]

I looked at the latest PADI Instructor Manual. You must have 40 to start and at least 60 to complete the DM program. This is PADI only, I don’t know what the requirements are for other agencies.

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm surprised you can embark upon DM training with only 40 dives. How many dives do you generally log during a DM class?

@Pedro Burrito and @JackD342 seem to be reading standards from a different manual. 60 seems more reasonable to me, but I assumed it would be like 200 or so.

I THINK I agree. I started the course with 157 dives done.
There were 6 dives during the DM course (2009)
--2 observing an OW course
--2 acting as victims for a Rescue Course
--2 boat dives (dive briefing, etc.)

I felt the 157 dives I had were more than enough. Don't know if I would've been ready at 40 dives, can't recall exactly. I don't THINK my overall diving changed much between 40 and 157.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I THINK I agree. I started the course with 157 dives done.
There were 6 dives during the DM course (2009)
--2 observing an OW course
--2 acting as victims for a Rescue Course
--2 boat dives (dive briefing, etc.)

I felt the 157 dives I had were more than enough. Don't know if I would've been ready at 40 dives, can't recall exactly. I don't THINK my overall diving changed much between 40 and 157.

I don't look at the number of dives so much as more about when I took certain training which changed my diving dramatically. It is possible to have a DM candidate at 40 dives that is more skilled than one with 200. It just depends. I know we try to set guidelines based on "experience."

I think it makes more sense to have prerequisites based on skills and knowledge.