To DM or not to DM...

[Tollie]

Because your post implied that one dive enabled you to get three specialties:

“Whether I go DM or not, I'll be getting more specialties. I plan to get a "triple-threat" (as they're calling it at my LDS) in the next month: Nitrox, Dry Suit and Wreck. The one dive covers all three,”

Those on this board know that the wreck and dry suit specialties are multi dive specialties and cannot be achieved in a single dive.

Before I turned pro… three years ago, I took the MD route. The specialties are a great way of introducing you to varied dive environments and dive tools. The Rescue and CPR portions were wonderful classes. The really important thing in my mind is the number of dives you have in varied environments. The MD approach is a great way to grow as a diver. Take some time, dive and enjoy it. Then down the line when you have accumulated sufficient experience you may choose to DM or you may chose to go the Tech route. Perhaps you will be so turned on by photography you will invest in a great camera or even video system.

So… my 2 cents are to take your time and dive… then let your decision come out of experience.

Good luck… what ever you do will be a gas…

 

[CompuDude]

Personally I know that I have no interest in the liability issues surrounding being a DM or instructor, I'm not that anxious to teach, and I don't want to get burned out on diving because I start turning it into something resembling a job. My recreational certs stop at Rescue and I'm not considering DM. If you're interested in furthering your diving skills the technical side (GUE, IANTD, TDI, NAUI Tech, etc) is another alternative to consider.

I definitely am interested in taking some tech diving classes eventually (perhaps something to look forward to next year, or after my 100th dive?), but while I applaud the concept of DIR, I think it's overkill for many situations, and am just not that interested in going there 100%. Nor am I interested in replacing half my gear, which is close to some DIR standards, but not all the way there. It's close enough for me, certainly.

But trimix classes, deco diving, etc., are all stuff I'll probably get into eventually, if only so I can keep up with the guys who run my LDS. Meanwhile I think I'm going to keep diving, and use the DM class to further my education (but plan to stay inactive, or at least fairly inactive).

 

[Damselfish]

It is PADI, but as I said before, there is more than one dive. It's a dive DAY, not just one dive. As in, more than one tank, suface interval, yadda yadda. So one dive will be Nitrox + something, and the other dive will focus on the other skills. One day, one boat fee, one long drive, two dives. Why is this so hard for people to understand?

because your first mention of it says "The one dive covers all three"

 

[CompuDude]

Because your post implied that one dive enabled you to get three specialties:

“Whether I go DM or not, I'll be getting more specialties. I plan to get a "triple-threat" (as they're calling it at my LDS) in the next month: Nitrox, Dry Suit and Wreck. The one dive covers all three,”

Those on this board know that the wreck and dry suit specialties are multi dive specialties and cannot be achieved in a single dive.

See my post a few up. I was not clear... it's one full day of diving, not just one dive. In fact, now that I think of it, it may even be more than one day of diving. Beats me. All I know is I only have to haul my cookies down to San Diego ONCE to dive the Yukon wreck, and by the time I hit the wreck, I'll be doing on Nitrox and in a dry suit so I don't freeze. THATs what matters. Don't worry, my LDS knows the rules and won't be shortcutting my training.

 

[CompuDude]

because your first mention of it says "The one dive covers all three"

You folks are completley right. I misspoke. Sorry, all, for the confusion. It was a side point so I was not as clear as I should have been.

 

[lamont]

I definitely am interested in taking some tech diving classes eventually (perhaps something to look forward to next year, or after my 100th dive?), but while I applaud the concept of DIR, I think it's overkill for many situations, and am just not that interested in going there 100%. Nor am I interested in replacing half my gear, which is close to some DIR standards, but not all the way there. It's close enough for me, certainly.

That's actually why I listed a bunch of different cert agencies. I forgot NSSCDS and NACD -- you could take a cavern class instead of going the GUE DIRF route -- I don't know what their gear standards are though. And I'm sure that NAUI and IANTD and TDI probably have equivalent entry-level courses (but the NAUI NTEC standards are almost a clone of DIR).

But trimix classes, deco diving, etc., are all stuff I'll probably get into eventually, if only so I can keep up with the guys who run my LDS. Meanwhile I think I'm going to keep diving, and use the DM class to further my education (but plan to stay inactive, or at least fairly inactive).

Fair enough, I just wanted to point out that there was another option...

 

[daniel f aleman]

The NAUI Master Diver course is one of the best classes offered in the industry, example:

http://www.huronscuba.com/classes/masterScubaDiver/courseSheet.html

Divemaster is a professional rating, period. You will be treated as a professional, whether you are "active" or not.

 

[Bratface]

I am certified as a Master Diver with SSI and currently in training for Dive Master (or Dive Control Specialist as it is known with SSI). I may never work in the Dive Industry, but the knowledge base and the diving experince I am getting is invaluable. I feel I am a much more confident and capable diver.

I agree with Tollie. Take your time and get more education and experience diving. I was really excited to make my 50th dive, but now as I approch my 100th dive (which I will make in Honduras in 2 weeks), I see how much more I have learned.

 

[Cacia]

(sorry, I should have specified my opinion about Masterdiver pertains only to PADI. I have heard the NAUI coursework is more rigorous. My OW NAUI, years ago was also.)

 

[CompuDude]

I am certified as a Master Diver with SSI and currently in training for Dive Master (or Dive Control Specialist as it is known with SSI). I may never work in the Dive Industry, but the knowledge base and the diving experince I am getting is invaluable. I feel I am a much more confident and capable diver.

I agree with Tollie. Take your time and get more education and experience diving. I was really excited to make my 50th dive, but now as I approch my 100th dive (which I will make in Honduras in 2 weeks), I see how much more I have learned.

I considered jumping the PADI ship and goin SSI. I like a lot of things about their overall philosophy. I was even invited to sit in on the first session of a DCS class, and did so, but I have one MAJOR issue with them. SSI forces you to formally associate with an LDS, and makes things very difficult for you if you go inactive. The LDS in question had all kinds of rules they wanted their DMs to follow, including a non-compete clause, mandatory gear purchases, the works. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but it just simply didn't sit well with me. That, plus my long-standing PADI association (and closer ties to a different LDS I had just gotten my Rescue cert from), and I decided against it. My preferred LDS can cert through PADI, NAUI, or TDI, however, so who knows what the future holds.