Why do so many poorly skilled divers...

[drydiver]

I definitely think it is a marketing thing. I have read here that a relatively small % of people who get certified continue to dive, so it would make sense for LDS's to try to market con-ed to anyone who does dive #6.

I think new divers who don't know other divers are particularly vulnerable to predatory LDS's. They want to dive, but maybe aren't confident in their skills, so they continue with more instruction.

After telling a shop employee that I was new, about 5 sentences later he asked if I was interested in being a DM. If he ever saw me dive he would not have asked that, but I guess it didn't matter and that's part of the point. If a diver in a position of authority (DM, Instructor, shop owner) flatters a new person into thinking they will be a great DM and then pushes them through the program, why would they not think they were a good diver? They wouldn't know any better.

I think that SB and dive clubs that are not affiliated with a specific LDS are great resources, if people are willing to seek out the info and listen.

Donna

 

[diver 85]

When one can become a dive "master" with a minimum of 60 dives, it is an enticing thought for many divers who are not really experienced enough to be considered professional. Of course that's just my opinion. With over 2,000 logged dives I know I'm not ready to be a dive "master" yet. Give me a few more years!

Sort of like golf, show me the person who ever 'mastered' it---but on the other hand, I completely forgot all about the DIR'ers (they don't count......lol)................GEAUX TIGERS.........

 

[TSandM]

but on the other hand, I completely forgot all about the DIR'ers (they don't count......lol)

This is so funny . . . I don't know any divers more critical of themselves, or who spend more time trying to improve their skills, than my DIR buddies

 

[rawls]

As the old saying goes:

Those that can,do.

Those that can not, teach.

Pure 100% unadulterated bull s**t

 

[tc]

This is so funny . . . I don't know any divers more critical of themselves, or who spend more time trying to improve their skills, than my DIR buddies

The rest of us enjoy being critical of them too!

See, Common ground at last!

 

[El Orans]

A colleague spent a few months in the Caribbean on a business trip. He became a DM because it allowed him to dive all he wanted without having to pay for boat rides etc... No interest in teaching whatsoever.

 

[RikRaeder]

Pure 100% unadulterated bull s**t

Easy rawls, it is a traditional expression (even most teachers use that one; you teach?).

re: DIR divers

The rest of us enjoy being critical of them too!

touche tc246

Since we're talking about DM skills, here are a couple that are not too often mentioned:

ability to establish a rapport with their divers for their enjoyment of the dive (I think rapport works in that sentence)

ability not to molest marine life

Those are two of my pet peeves with DMs (actually instructor rated) while acting as guides. I will NEVER point out interesting wildlife that they missed to a couple of the guides at my favorite destination again (why did he want to mess with the soccerball-sized octopus that was just sitting in the open???!) but I will continue to tell them to slow the hell down and at least wait three seconds if I'm trying to take a photo or appreciate some animal, formation or whatever.

The two guides/DMs/instructors in question are technically excellent in the water, but as guides (DMs?) leave much to be desired. That's why I have requested all DMs except for them for my next trip in March. Think that was clear enough? We'll see! Of course octopus bane all ready told me last year the he's burned out and wants to go home...hmmm a connection there?

 

[RS]

hijack

The next step, after DM...

YouTube - How Not To Use a Rebreather

The goggles! They do nothing! My eyes!

end hijack

 

[raymond phule]

This is simple the result when:

commercial agencies control everything in an activitity.

the activity should be for everyone.

all courses and course material are made for the least skilled and slowest learners and everything above that level is considered to much task loading and is skipped in the course material and courses.

A course should take the same time for everyone everytime.

No one should fail a course.

you almost cant fail a course.

you should be able to take the next course right after the last one.


There are of course feedback between the different criteria and the most important connection is money but I think it sum up everything nicely.

 

[MikeFerrara]

How many of you have read the training standards for a DM course?

I'm going to get more people mad at me and get more nasty PM's but, once again, I'm going to point out that the answer is in the training standards.

Speaking of PADI standards (because I have them right here in a book case next to the computer) the DM course doesn't test the candidates dive skill. Those lousy diving DM's you see may have done very well in everything that was required of them in their training and testing. The DM skill requirements are limited to demonstration quality OW skills. The candidate is scored on his performance in each one and has to get a minimum total score and a minimum score on each skill. But...most of these skills are typically demonstrated while kneeling. There isn't any diving to it.

The good news is that instructor training and testing is more of the same in regard to in-water skills so anyone who does well in their DM course is going to do fine in their instructor testing too. The ability to actually dive is never tested so there is nothing to worry about.