Whats your PADI DM course like?

[MauiScubaSteve]

maybe that comes from the fact I've been diving 15 years and he and I dive with our kids just for fun. Not sure the situation would be the same if I went OW ,AOW, Rescue, DM in 2 months.

If I were to assume this part of your post was in any way responding to my post just above, I'd point out that what I described above started with AOW.

With PADI you can not start the IDC until you have been a certified diver for at least 6 months. That means I'm really a Nearly Zero to Hero, but it just doesn't have the same "ring."

There was one candidate that was just nearing 6 months when we started AOW. He did not make it through DM the first time, maybe not even his second time. Myself and my classmates other than him were all divers of at least a few years.

 

[belairbrian]

My comments weren't aimed at anyone. but your post points out what I have seen as well. 6 months is too short to go from un-certified to the DM course IMO. Remember you don't have to got to IDC for DM. Any MSI can do it. and I have met instructors that will play games with dates to get a training fee.

When i started diving you needed 25 logged dives before you could do your AOW. maybe that was just my instructor but that was how it was. Now you need 4 (OW cert dives). There may be the rare diver that can do that but they are the exception not the rule. If you had 2 years and were actively diving you should have been ready to move on to DM.

But as long as the agencies can sell training they will.

 

[bracko]

i've just started the course material for rescue and DM. I will be doing the IDC in April 2011 if all goes well....

the course for me will be pretty hands off (i believe basically a few hours with the training manager peppering me with questions and situations then sitting the tests) ... but having completed a degree in engineering part time (and therefore mostly not attending lectures) I don't think I'll have a problem with learning it distance.

i don't see the issue with offering a course through distance education as long as you achieve a good mark in your exams. people bitch and moan about courses spoon feeding dive students and making diving sound like it's as safe as a walk in the park, then do the same about not "teaching" students when the courses aren't completely face to face... so where's the happy medium?

I don't really have the time to spend 2 nights a week driving, parking, then going to a 1hr lecture, however i do have lots of time when I'm away for work and in a hotel of a night, weekends when I'm not out with friends, or waiting for meetings to quickly open up my rescue manual and read a few pages with a highlighter at the ready.

 

[Tropicalwolf]

Bracko is exactly right. Dive organizations need to step up and take notice or they will be left behind in the online educational sphere just like they were with online gear sales. Some of the most prestigious universities offer ADVANCED degrees online these days (no, I am not even remotely referring to the degree mills). There is no reason most, if not all, of the lectures for any class cannot be done online with pool/site-side follow-up for practicals. This should be standard by now for most all lectures, not just basic OW. There should still be classroom lectures available for traditional style learners, but come on, it's 2010...time to wake up. For too long, the dive industry has been reactive (instead of proactive) to the needs of divers and education is no different.

 

[ReeferBen]

Then what's next becoming a full OWSI online? A few dives in a quarry and a few pool sessions...

DM is a professional course, your responsible for others safety. IMO I'd want a real DM not an internet diver. I'd hate to see that DM actually working as one that did everything quick and easy with no actual real world experience. JMO

 

[Tropicalwolf]

Then what's next becoming a full OWSI online? A few dives in a quarry and a few pool sessions...

DM is a professional course, your responsible for others safety. IMO I'd want a real DM not an internet diver. I'd hate to see that DM actually working as one that did everything quick and easy with no actual real world experience. JMO

However, there are HUGE differences in current DM courses. Some take a year plus, some take a couple months. Some require you be "asked/invited" to be a DM, others let anyone apply. What matters is how INDIVIDUAL students learn and if they are competant. The device that transfers that knowledege to the student is irrelevant.

 

[scadreau]

Then what's next becoming a full OWSI online? A few dives in a quarry and a few pool sessions...

DM is a professional course, your responsible for others safety. IMO I'd want a real DM not an internet diver. I'd hate to see that DM actually working as one that did everything quick and easy with no actual real world experience. JMO

He is referring to the "book" knowledge that you take the written tests to determine you competency. You cannot do the internship/skills circuit/log 60 dives/etc online. What if someone has 300 dives this year and decides to take DM? If they were to take online courses for the bookwork, would you not consider them qualified even though they are a more active diver than most?

 

[=C=]

In the end the DM course turned out to be great. We had a tough time sloggin over the texts but in the water and assisting it was fun and exciting! I worked with a Dry Suit class, a couple OWD classes, a Rescue, and four simulated classes.

 

[TSandM]

I had a rather odd DM class, because my instructor was my husband, and because I had a ton of advanced training before I did it. I did all the academic part on my own (which basically consisted of reading the manual, going through the workbooks, and doing the exams). I interned several OW classes, pool and open water dives, and a couple of specialty dives. I picked up demonstration skills by watching some very good DMs that work with my husband -- this was the only place where I wish PADI had a book or video, going through how to polish the demonstrations to emphasize the "critical attributes", because some people are clearly better at this than others.

The most useful learning was working with the classes. It's amazing how many strange things students do!

 

[TMHeimer]

[QUOTE= I picked up demonstration skills by watching some very good DMs that work with my husband -- this was the only place where I wish PADI had a book or video, going through how to polish the demonstrations to emphasize the "critical attributes", because some people are clearly better at this than others.

I know it's beating a dead horse, but I completely agree, as I am one of those having problems (in fact, polishing the skills is all I have left, though it's maybe the most important component). I believe PADI will be coming out with a video at last for 2011. Seems many disagree with this idea, but it's good to hear someone with your experience and certifications agrees with me.