When should someone 'go pro' ?

[Conor]

I have done my training so far through PADI, and all the literature seems to be encouraging people to advance to instructor. Personally this is something I am unlikely to consider in the near future, I hope to do rescue soon and 50 dives or so later maybe consider doing DM for the training rather than the career.

There are more and more centres offering OW to instructor in the shortest possible time, what happens to these people ? Do they actually have the experience to teach well and get a job ?

And a side issue, what is the best level of certification for a recreational diver ? Master Scuba Diver seems to be a card collection and DM seems to be focused on those going Pro. I accept experience is more important than certification but am interested in what card a potential buddy would have to put in front of you to make you feel comfortable.

I am not intending to knock choices made by other members of the board, but more to understand the opinion of those more experienced than myself. And besides its friday afternoon and I'm a bit bored at work

Cheers all

Conor

 

[Ber Rabbit]

It's the attitude of the diver holding it.

Here's an example:
We have an OW diver who helps out our classes by handing out gear to the students. All he does is makes sure they sign the gear out and give an ID as collateral. I believe he only has the 4 dives from his certification right now but he's signed up for the AOW class that will begin in March. I would trust my life to this kid because he has such a good attitude. He is confident about his skills but not cocky and always willing to learn. I try to make sure he gets a little time in the pool each session so he can keep his skills fresh even though he can't afford to go diving on his own right now since he's in college.

On the other hand I've seen people holding much higher certifications that I wouldn't get in the same ocean with if I could help it.

What card to carry? Well, some operations won't let you dive some sites without at least an AOW card. I know instructors, DM's and AI's who use their AOW card instead of their leadership card when they go on vacation.

A FEW of the people who go through the "instructor mills" have the potential to be good instructors, most do not. I was AMAZED at the amount of work that goes into the scuba instruction at the university where I teach, the dives I'd participated in and even DM'd for just went so smoothly. Once I started training to be an instructor I found out how exhausting it is to get everything to come together.

The best advice is to keep diving and experience as many new environments as you can whether that involves collecting cards or just diving with instructor friends is up to you.

Safe diving to you!
Ber

 

[Big-t-2538]

Conor once bubbled...
And besides its friday afternoon and I'm a bit bored at work

Cheers all

Conor

can't argue too much with that....

Anyway, as for what c-card to get...or where to go with diving...it is really personal preference. IF you want to organize and be the leader of a dive club, I'd suggest getting your DM. Reason being is that there is a good bit of administrative stuff covered in theere. How to organize this...who to contact...blah blah. Personally I'd like to get to instructor...why...I don't know...I love coaching, I love diving, and during the brief time I spent as a GTA, teaching was a lot of fun to me.

I wouldn't suggest trying to obtain an instructor's cert in the shortest time possible. The only reason I'm able to coach swimming as well as I do, and "tutor" engineering as well as I do is because of the amount of time I have spent in both of those areas. I am relatively new to diving (less than 3 years) and feel I'm not ready to teach on my own, but more I'm pretty confident in helping out with classes and such. Also, DMing dives for our advanced class was a good bit of fun, but it was a lot of prep work in making sure you had all the safety equipment there if it was needed. Not to mention getting all the info about the site, the places the divers should and shouldn't go....there's a lot more entailed to DMing and teaching than I think a lot of DM's and Instructors are aware of. And that I think is highly unfortunate

 

[Walter]

It sounds like you are more interested in education than collecting cards. Good for you!

"Master Scuba Diver seems to be a card collection"

Depends on which program you work with. PADI issues a Master Scuba Diver after completing x number of specialties. NAUI and YMCA actually have Master Diver courses. Shop around and interview potential instructors. Find out what each instructor in your area puts into their advanced and master diver classes. Find out what you have to put into them. Go with the most comprehensive you find.

 

[Scottri]

For me becoming a "Pro" has more to do with your motivation for doing it. I know some DM's and Instructors that are card collectors or got into it so they can be in control of something and others who did it for the love of it. Those that did it because they truly loved it are usually the best. I don't think an instructor mill can produce a good instructor or DM. I think time and experience coupled with good training make good pro's. I really take certifications at face value when diving with people I don't know. I've known OW divers that I would trust my life to and DM's that scare me to death.

When on vacation I only show the card that is required for the situation. If it's an advanced dive I show AOW. I don't show my DM card for a couple of reasons, 1) I don't want to get pressed into service as a DM on my vacation, 2)Liability---I don't want some moron to hurt themselves and just sue everyone on the boat with insurance and 3) I've seen to many jerk offs that show off their DM or instructor card thinking it gives them some special status.


Scott