Why do so many poorly skilled divers...

[rawls]

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

First of all...Keep your "Easy rawls" to yourself. Secondly, I know of no teacher who has used the expression...If you think "most" do then that is your own delusion. The times I have heard the "traditional expression" is by those who neither "can" nor "teach". Or worse, there are those who "can" that sit back and throw idiotic flames at those who do teach. Finally...Yes I do teach and I love to teach. I could care less if the expression is traditional or not...It is still bull s**t...

 

[PhilEllis]

Easy now children.

 

[RikRaeder]

First of all...Keep your "Easy rawls" to yourself. Secondly, I know of no teacher who has used the expression...If you think "most" do then that is your own delusion. The times I have heard the "traditional expression" is by those who neither "can" nor "teach". Or worse, there are those who "can" that sit back and throw idiotic flames at those who do teach. Finally...Yes I do teach and I love to teach. I could care less if the expression is traditional or not...It is still bull s**t...

Take it Easy, Francis <pat pat pat>

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

I have no trouble with people beeing DM without my experience. What's bad is when they can't see it themselves, and really, really think they are sooo experienced because they have the plastic. I mean, I've even met "experienced" instructors who've hardly (if at all...) been out of the Oslofiord for diving, who do not do diving on their own time at all, and thought I was mad as the hatter coming down to the pier with no plastic buckles on my "tech" rig (Yeah, Halcyon Eclipse with a single it was...), NO YELLOW OCTOPUS(!), and I dove withot a snorkel!!! All this claimed out loud to everyone there who would listen. And the newbies made those big bambi eyes at me, HECK it was fun!

 

[offthewall1]

The root of the problem begins with the agencies and the dumbing down of what is required to become a diver in the first place. The problem continues with allowing divers to add "advanced" to their title with just a few dives under their belt. It continues further when people fudge their logbooks to have the needed number of dives to become Dive Masters. In addition, I have seen some local shops certify Dive Masters who have only about 10 dives diving in the swimming pool.

This all became a problem when the agencies started diving for dollars. In an unregulated (by government) sport, it's anything goes. I've heard of shop owners that tell people for the right $$$... they'll give them any cert they want... no skills required. Perhaps these are some of the dive masters the original poster is referring to?

I'm against big government, think ours has taken some major wrong turns and sometime in the next 100 years we'll likely have another revolutionary war in order to fix our problems... and even with all that said, I still think it's time for government to do something about an industry run amuck. Nothing is likely to be done until some hard numbers come out about increasing numbers of diver deaths... and these numbers are hidden by the agencies and their lawyers... so don't expect them to be public knowledge anytime soon. DAN is the only organization collecting any real DATA, and DAN is limited to what is reported to them.

In the meantime, stick with reputable local shops... reputable dive operators and keep your eyes open for problems... Best of luck with Safe and Happy Diving!

 

[Stu S.]

After reading these posts, it looks like the title "dive master" and the term "professional" raise some pretty high expectations. A dive master is not a professional in the manner of a doctor, lawyer, or teacher. The professions require multiple years of college study, one or more degrees, and passing a government-approved exam.

Would we be better off calling the dive master an "Instructor intern"? "Diver's assistant"? or maybe a "Safety monitor"? Got a better one? That way nobody would be expecting a diving Superman.

 

[rawls]

Take it Easy, Francis <pat pat pat>

Thanks Riki...OK...If you throw in a hug too

 

[sea nmf]

OK. I think there are various reasons, as stated by many posters. I related to Lynn's post, though.

Early on, I was so enthusiastic that I wanted to share that with others, and I thought that a DM would be a good way to do that. I was flattered that my instructor asked me to do it right out of AOW. Now I know that it is just another sale. (By the way, I didn't go for my DM).

I had what I still consider a skilled instructor and AI and DM. They taught me the basic skills well. But, like Lynn, I did not have good role models for advanced skilled diving.

Once I took a computer class taught by one of the creators (covers my ears) of Windows 95. She was a dismal teacher but I caught on and went on to help others in my class. Because I was patient and upbeat, she asked me to be her TA for future classes.

My point is, enthusiasm counts for something. But it is only one part of the whole package.

 

[RikRaeder]

It seems like most of the posts here are focussing on DMs as Instructors. In my (scant) experience, most of the DMs I run into act as guides (one with dismal skills but a great personality). Scanning the PADI website earlier, I noticed that DMs may aid Instructors in teaching. Sure they should still have skills, but isn't that a bit different than direct teaching?

 

[RiverRat]

Scanning the PADI website earlier, I noticed that DMs may aid Instructors in teaching. Sure they should still have skills, but isn't that a bit different than direct teaching?

Yes and no. There are things you can do as a DM under Instructor "supervision". Nav runs with the students, tours, discover scuba etc. At certain times during the dives it's just you, the DM, and the student. You need to have the same mindset as an instructor at those times. If something goes wrong, like a student panics and bolts or whatever, it's all on you. In fact, most of the core knowledge and skills for an instructor are taught to you when training for DM. You really need to take it seriously if you commit to it.