Wannabe Divemaster

[cabosito]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to this forum and new to diving. Actually I have only had two test dives, one in the Mediterrean Sea and one just yesterday in the pool.

Well, over the last months I really got into diving and I'm planning on doing the Open Water Certificate. Since I'm a person who likes to have big plans I'm already thinking about going all the way to be a divemaster.

I know this may be way to early to think that far. But I'm wondering what you guys think is the best way to reach this goal. How much time will it propably take? How much money? And since I live in Switzerland, where there is no ocean around, how do you think about doing theoretical courses here and practical diving in a nicer place (e.q. the Red Sea?)

Thanks for all your comments!
cabosito

 

[BarryNL]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to this forum and new to diving. Actually I have only had two test dives, one in the Mediterrean Sea and one just yesterday in the pool.

Well, over the last months I really got into diving and I'm planning on doing the Open Water Certificate. Since I'm a person who likes to have big plans I'm already thinking about going all the way to be a divemaster.

I know this may be way to early to think that far. But I'm wondering what you guys think is the best way to reach this goal. How much time will it propably take? How much money? And since I live in Switzerland, where there is no ocean around, how do you think about doing theoretical courses here and practical diving in a nicer place (e.q. the Red Sea?)

Thanks for all your comments!
cabosito

Your first move should be to get a hundred dives or so under your belt and then consider whether you still want to go the Divemaster route. Yes, you can start Divemaster training with about 20 dives and I'm sure we've all met that sort of dive 'professional' from time to time

Also, you really need to find some places to dive from where you live - vacation diving only simply isn't enough to keep your skills at a professional level (unless you're lucky enough to live a life of leisure).

 

[cabosito]

Your first move should be to get a hundred dives or so under your belt

Well, that's a concrete number to start with, thanks!

Also, you really need to find some places to dive from where you live - vacation diving only simply isn't enough to keep your skills at a professional level (unless you're lucky enough to live a life of leisure).

Yeah, a life of leisure would be nice... I know I will have to do some diving around here. But to start with, is doing the o/w in vacation a good idea? Since it's all squeezed into quite a short period of time and it is definitely harder to judge to quality of the diving school than when you have it in front of your home. What's your opinion, pros?

 

[BarryNL]

But to start with, is doing the o/w in vacation a good idea? Since it's all squeezed into quite a short period of time and it is definitely harder to judge to quality of the diving school than when you have it in front of your home. What's your opinion, pros?

I'd consider doing it in Switzerland for a few reasons:

• You have more chance to find out a bit about the schools in your area first. Generally on holiday its hard to find enough time to research the school and do the course.
• You don't see a lot during the course - make the most of your vacation diving by doing your training at home and fun dives on holiday.
• Generally, outside the resorts the instructors tend to train divers for a hobby which often means they put more effort in than resort instructors who just need beer money.
• If you can dive in cold water you can dive anywhere.

Plus, you get a chance to build a relationship with a dive school at home. If you're looking to work towards DM you will probably want to do Advanced OW after 10-20 dives followed by Rescue after 50 or so dives so you'll be seeing them a lot.

 

[Hemlon]

Although this has little to do with your questions, please analyze if you really want to be a divemaster.

I just finished PM'ing with someone who is a DM yet he failed to do his homework prior to becoming a DM. Now he is shocked that he makes little money for lots of hard work.

 

[BarryNL]

Although this has little to do with your questions, please analyze if you really want to be a divemaster.

Yes, this is a very good point - you don't really say why you want to be a Divemaster, though I got the impression that you basically just wanted to get to an advanced SCUBA diving level, rather than actually work in the dive industry.

This is not a bad plan, I'm doing the Divemaster course mostly for my own dive skills and abilities rather than because I ever want to work as a DM. Certainly, if you're thinking of DM or even instructor as a career I'd make sure you are happy living below minimum wage first!

If, on the other hand, you are thinking of trying to get to a highly skilled level in SCUBA diving then there are plenty of other ways to go after the Rescue course instead of DM. There's plenty of courses such as DIR-F, Cave, Tec, etc. that will improve your dive skills beyond Rescue, probably more so than DM.

 

[boulderjohn]

It is also possible that you may be confused by the word "divemaster," which sounds like the supreme level of diving. It is actually the lowest level of professional certification.

 

[BarryNL]

It is also possible that you may be confused by the word "divemaster," which sounds like the supreme level of diving. It is actually the lowest level of professional certification.

Well, it is probably the highest level at which you're actually learning dive skills - beyond DM you're basically learning how to be a teacher.

But, as I mentioned earlier, if improving your dive skills beyond Rescue is your main priority then you would probably be better off considering DIR-F or one of the other agency's Tec Intro courses rather than DM.

Let's face it, there's plenty of instructors out there still flapping their arms about

 

[gcbryan]

I don't think you are really learning new dive skills in DM training are you? I think Rescue is the last one for that. DM training is for learning the teaching of skills rather than the learning of new ones.

To the original poster I would say spend as much time diving as possible which would include doing it at home. What kind of a DM are you going to be if the only time you can do it is on vacation?

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Look into "Master diver" instead unless you want to get a "Job" in the scuba industry.

In my opinion it is best to dive after you get certified. Get some experience. How much? That depends on you. Go have fun for a couple of years then think about where to go next (I'm at this point now).