Question True requirements to deserve the title of Master Diver???
- Thread starter Doctor Rig
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pauldw
Contributor
Some of you think you're master divers, or that you're becoming master divers? No. Not remotely close. Not ever. Master scuba divers, maybe, but not master divers. You're appropriating a position that people who earned it in the Navy definitely deserve. You do not.
diver257a
Contributor
please refer Master Scuba Diver
elgringoperdido
Registered
That's a good point. I guess we're being sloppy with the language. I saw that film about Carl "cookie" Brashear (Cuba Gooding) and MCPO Billy Sunday (Robert DeNiro). They had to go through quite an ordeal to become Navy master divers. Recreational MSD courses are not as intense as that.
I read that the Navy master diver includes an initial 7-week course in diving followed by years of experience, then applying and getting accepted into a more advanced 15-week course in salvage, repair, recovery, etc. And there's a government clearance and calisthenics and tests of willpower and endurance.
According to the US Navy website, just to qualify to enter the regular Navy diver program (not including master), a candidate must:
• Swim 500 yards using side- or breaststroke within 14 minutes
• Rest 10 minutes
• 42 push-ups within 2 minutes
• Rest 2 minutes
• 50 sit-ups within 2 minutes
• Rest 2 minutes
• 6 pull-ups (no time limit)
• Rest 10 minutes
• 1.5 mile run within 12 minutes 45 seconds
• Pass a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S physical fitness screening test in Boot Camp and in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
According to the Naval Undersea Museum, "The requirements for master diver are extremely difficult for good reason — mistakes can cost lives. A qualified master diver must be able to supervise and direct all types of diving, including treating any diving accidents. He or she is an expert in diving equipment and systems, diving techniques, diving physics, and diving medicine. During assessments, evaluation boards purposely disrupt master diver candidates to test their focus and calm in an emergency."
Hard core.
Perhaps you mean the number of dives during the course. My question is about a number-of-dives requirement to take the course. For example, PADI requires 50 logged dives. If NAUI has no such requirement, it certainly does not have much meaning. It appears you could get the cert with fewer than 20 dives, all being training dives. Meh.
TMurrr
Contributor
Just throwing this out there, but there are a couple 'specialties' within the recreational diving space.
Photography - have you mastered photography and diving such that you XYZ? Win awards? Take cool GoPro videos for instagram? If then, you are a master (of photography / videography) diver
Hunting - can you safely collect lobster and shoot fish, while maintaining proper buoyancy, balancing safety and monitoring air consumption as well as being a safe and aware buddy for your buddy?
Travel / Tipping - now this is possibly the most important scuba skill to master in the recreational space. Do you travel often and tip well? If so, come dive with me at my master diver exclusive resort... nvm
Photography - have you mastered photography and diving such that you XYZ? Win awards? Take cool GoPro videos for instagram? If then, you are a master (of photography / videography) diver
Hunting - can you safely collect lobster and shoot fish, while maintaining proper buoyancy, balancing safety and monitoring air consumption as well as being a safe and aware buddy for your buddy?
Travel / Tipping - now this is possibly the most important scuba skill to master in the recreational space. Do you travel often and tip well? If so, come dive with me at my master diver exclusive resort... nvm
Leatherboot69
Contributor
If it’s so meaningless why do you all moan about it so much?
because we have a finite set of things to whinge about. The other items include, but are not limited to:
1. the predominance of open water courses being taught on the knees
2. GUE daring to have objective standards. Those bastards!
3. the existence of split fins. In the words of Andy Davis, those are for chicken legged office dwellers.
4. the existence of jacket style BCDs. Only an idiot doesn't dive a BP/W
5. the terms advanced and master when it comes to AOW and MSD.
And, many ... many ... MANY more!
Leatherboot69
Contributor
because we have a finite set of things to whinge about. The other items include, but are not limited to:
1. the predominance of open water courses being taught on the knees
2. GUE daring to have objective standards. Those bastards!
3. the existence of split fins. In the words of Andy Davis, those are for chicken legged office dwellers.
4. the existence of jacket style BCDs. Only an idiot doesn't dive a BP/W
5. the terms advanced and master when it comes to AOW and MSD.
And, many ... many ... MANY more!
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