Question True requirements to deserve the title of Master Diver???

[tursiops]

Reading that requires effort. Not everyone wants to put that in. Though the NAUI master diver program should be common knowledge for long term dive pros of all all agencies. It is excellent. The book should be on every dive pros bookshelf

The book is 20+ years old, and the course requires no actual diving experience. Hmmm.

 

[Ted Judah]

tell me what requirements, training, and/or proof of skills would you propose would be required to EARN the deserved recognition of being a true Master Diver.

I don't know the answer but I would like to see a program that involves completing a certain number of different types of dives and conditions. ie: fresh water, salt water, altitude, tropical, temperate, cold water 7 mil, cold water drysuit, ice anyone?, coral, kelp, black water. Rescue skilled - first aid, oxygen, extracting divers from water, etc., physical fitness test, nitrox. And you could add to the list for more technical milestones. Basically recognition of a more rounded and experienced diver.

 

[tursiops]

I don't know the answer but I would like to see a program that involves competing a certain number of different types of dives and conditions. ie: fresh water, salt water, altitude, tropical, temperate, cold water 7 mil, cold water drysuit, ice anyone?, coral, kelp, black water. Rescue skilled - first aid, oxygen, extracting divers from water, etc., physical fitness test, nitrox. And you could add to the list for more technical milestones. Basically recognition of a more rounded and experienced diver.

Sure, that would be nice, but seems unattainable by most, within any reasonable time period. Requiring Rescue as a prereq is a good start...that checks several of your boxes. Requiring fresh water seems a bit limiting; why do you include that? What is different about it? Kelp is very limited geographically, as is ice. Why 7mm and drysuit? By "black water" do you mean night and over a deep bottom (i.e., searching for small critters) or just very low viz? Altitude is very limited geographically; other than depth/computer issues, what is special about that? Why no mention of Navigation? Or shore and boat?

See how hard this is to define?

 

[TMHeimer]

Sure, that would be nice, but seems unattainable by most, within any reasonable time period. Requiring Rescue as a prereq is a good start...that checks several of your boxes. Requiring fresh water seems a bit limiting; why do you include that? What is different about it? Kelp is very limited geographically, as is ice. Why 7mm and drysuit? By "black water" do you mean night and over a deep bottom (i.e., searching for small critters) or just very low viz? Altitude is very limited geographically; other than depth/computer issues, what is special about that? Why no mention of Navigation? Or shore and boat?

See how hard this is to define?

I agree with all you say. It also comes to mind that one could be a "master diver" in one geographic area or even in one type of diving, and just average or even not so good elsewhere.

 

[boulderjohn]

I agree with all you say. It also comes to mind that one could be a "master diver" in one geographic area or even in one type of diving, and just average or even not so good elsewhere.

That is why this whole question is silly.

Years ago I came up with something I called the "I'm the best I've ever seen syndrome." I created it in reference to a fatal dive in Cozumel involving a dive shop owner, a divemaster, and an experienced diver. These people had a wealth of experience in tropical water NDL dives. I am sure the divemaster had several thousand dives. I would bet the divemaster and shop owner had never seen anyone in their lives who was noticeably better than they were.

They planned a dive to 300 feet on single AL tanks, and it did not go well. The shop owner eventually died of DCS, and the last I heard the DM will never walk again. What spurred my comments was a post by the divemaster, a post which indicated a very shocking lack on knowledge about the dangers and requirements of deep diving, dangers and requirements any early technical diving student would understand. Such a technical diving student might well not be able to handle the intricacies of a Cozumel reef dive as well as they could, but a technical diving student would have known not to attempt that fatal dive.

 

[CRT2]

Perhaps having a Recreational Master SCUBA Diver or Master Recreational SCUBA Diver or Master SCUBA Diver Recreational would help alleviate some of the concerns (PADI,SSI, and etc set their own standards). Since Recreational is in the title, less problematic for the technical community.

 

[brsnow]

Have earned a masters degree or higher degree and also dive.

 

[TMHeimer]

Have earned a masters degree or higher degree and also dive.

Hey, that's me! Now I can wear My MSD hat.....

 

[brsnow]

Hey, that's me! Now I can wear My MSD hat.....

Me too

 

[TMHeimer]

Me too

Yeah, but did you also get the embroidered back pack that came with the cert.? It was good for storing beads at Mardi Gras.