ElectricZombie
Contributor
Not so with NAUI. I never bothered to take the DM class and I'm an Instructor. With NAUI you can either be a DM, AI ot NAUI prep grad and take the class.
Too easy to become a DM??
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Not so with NAUI. I never bothered to take the DM class and I'm an Instructor. With NAUI you can either be a DM, AI ot NAUI prep grad and take the class.
I stand corrected. Thank you. Out of curiousity, what is the differnce between DM and "prep grad"?
Not necessarily, yes, it could be considered easy if you trained with someone who was in it for the financial gain of training you at the bare minimum standards for obtaining status as a DM. There are a number of people around who do that...those people had it easy. I did not, I had to work with ow classes, demonstate a number of skills, plan organize and run dives for advanced class students. Write EAPs for all of our dive sites, have my own well stocked first aid and S-A-D kit (this wasn't too hard b/c I already had one, I just had to re-stock). Fact of the matter is, a lot of the hardness/easiness lies in the instructor....poor instructors instill poor habits in their students.
Maybe whats needed is to clarify just what a
"Divemaster" [SSI "Dive Control Specialist"] really is.
Is it a steppingstone to Instructor or is is a seperate
job...boat operator, crew, guide?
If the former the requirements are going to be different than
for the latter. What do you think about clarifying the position?
"Divemaster" [SSI "Dive Control Specialist"] really is.
Is it a steppingstone to Instructor or is is a seperate
job...boat operator, crew, guide?
If the former the requirements are going to be different than
for the latter. What do you think about clarifying the position?
The first post set the theme for the thread. It doesn't need to be clarified.
If the focus of the job is on teaching and responsibility toward students than it's probably too easy. If the focus is on assisting
the dive itself with the responsibility mainly of caring for yourself than the training is all right as it is.
the dive itself with the responsibility mainly of caring for yourself than the training is all right as it is.
To me there are 4 types of Divemasters,
Paper Tigers: Those that collect cards and are all talk.
Diveleaders: Those that run boat operations and arrange trips and quide dives.
Assistant Instructors: Those that work directly with students in training.
Combination of 2 and 3.
Some DM's I've met are well trained and very good divers but just don't work well with students. They either are not interested or don't relate well to newbies for whatever reason. This is not a criticism it is just the way it is.
There are others that prefer to just act as a DM with new students. I'm more or less this type because I enjoy the students and the look on their faces after the first dive and passing along advice and knowledge. I don't care to arrange trips or lead dive trips because it's like hearding cats. Most experienced divers resent a lot of imput from a DM unless is solicited.
The first type Paper Tigers are the ones that in my opinion ruin it for the rest of us.
I think the DM's job is what he or she makes it. I don't agree that it is just a stepping stone to Instructor. I know DM's that have been "just" DM's for years and are happy not to become instructors.
Scott
Paper Tigers: Those that collect cards and are all talk.
Diveleaders: Those that run boat operations and arrange trips and quide dives.
Assistant Instructors: Those that work directly with students in training.
Combination of 2 and 3.
Some DM's I've met are well trained and very good divers but just don't work well with students. They either are not interested or don't relate well to newbies for whatever reason. This is not a criticism it is just the way it is.
There are others that prefer to just act as a DM with new students. I'm more or less this type because I enjoy the students and the look on their faces after the first dive and passing along advice and knowledge. I don't care to arrange trips or lead dive trips because it's like hearding cats. Most experienced divers resent a lot of imput from a DM unless is solicited.
The first type Paper Tigers are the ones that in my opinion ruin it for the rest of us.
I think the DM's job is what he or she makes it. I don't agree that it is just a stepping stone to Instructor. I know DM's that have been "just" DM's for years and are happy not to become instructors.
Scott
sheck33
Contributor
How true, but how different from reality. But it has all been said before, the number of people that are certified that shouldnt be is staggering. In that case the certifying instructor is at fault. I have done PADI DM and AI. Looking at the minimum requirements set by the agency these levels are very disappointing and should be raised substantially. Some instructors raise the difficulty level but most don't. I have also done the TDI deco procedures course, i have the card but considering what i had to do to obtain it i will NOT do (staged) decompression diving until i pass GUE's Tech 1.
It is just too easy to get a card, good thing that the majority of newly certified divers will most likely not dive again.
ElectricZombie
Contributor
The Instructor Preparatory Program (PREP) is a non certification program. It is sort of an intro to Leadership programs. You work on skills a bit and learn the basics on how to teach. Lets you get a feel for what is expected in a real ITC. That said, I don't know anyone who has ever taken the PREP class. It seems like a waste of time and money. It might be a good idea for someone who has not quite perfected certain skills or knows that they will have a bit of trouble teaching due to lack of experience.
A lot of people seem to skip the DM certification if they have equivalent experience.
A NAUI Prep Course is required for an Instructor Candidate who does not hold a NAUI DM or AI certification, but who wishes to attend a NAUI ITC. NAUI DM's and AI's are encouraged to but not required to attend a PREP. The PREP consists of both instruction and evaluation. Enrolles receive the info needed to prepare for a NAUI ITC and are given knowledge, water skill and other performance eval and critque to ensure that the potential candidate is aware of their own state of preparedness for entering the ITC.
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