Why is becoming a DM considered not worth it?

[Wibble]

I disagree with the critics who say DM is pointless if you don’t intend to work as a DM. I’ve just completed my DM. I’m on 98 dives, of which 18 were DM training dives and 10 were fun/practice dives during my DM training.

I started with no desire to work as a DM, and I just thought it would be fun, I’d get to do more diving and I’d get to learn more, working with instructors. DM gave me all of that. The main consideration is going into it with your eyes open and understanding whether it will give you what you want.

DM made me a better diver, period. In terms of specific individual dive skills such as buoyancy I could have worked on those in other ways such as fun diving. But having a structure to my progression got me out diving more, and I had a lot of time learning from instructors. It also helped me to perfect the basics. I also encountered lots of new situations that I wouldn’t have otherwise encountered apart from in training, such as a real life aggressively panicking student diver spitting out their regulator underwater, things like that.

But I think the next step in being a good diver is about dive leadership. I improved my situational awareness, group leadership, wider understanding, task loading and wider skills (I have no desire to get into tech diving or full team diving; I enjoy recreational diving for what it is, and I want to be good at it, but that’s where I stop). I also met other divers with a similar mindset and at a similar level, and it helped embed me in the dive community of my LDS. I learned things that were only really relevant to working as a DM (such as conducting a DSD), but they were generally taught in such a way that I picked up lots of transferable lessons for wider diving.

Anyway, after a year of training a day or two and an evening per month to be a DM without intending to work as one, I now plan to work as a DM for my LDS lol…!

This seems mildly similar to the BSAC-style club model, but with PADI.

Having decent dive leaders is important with novices especially in less than favourable conditions (poor vis, currents, etc.). Doing some training for those dive leaders makes a lot of sense as newer divers would have more opportunities for buddies used to helping to develop people.

@Edward3c - would be interested in your opinion on this.

 

[senseichavez]

Because it isn't designed to improve your skills. The course is designed to make you a pro, period. However, as usual, good instructor trainers could make a difference.

If your goal is to improve your diving, after rescue the best option is likely tech diving, starting from introductory courses (fundie/essential/intro/whatever you like) if your basic skills are not top notch yet.


Cool! I would love to do it but can't


See above: the DM course is not designed to improve your skills. If that's your goal, tech diving is a better path.


If being a DM is what you need to do this, just do it


Good, but really unrelated to becoming a better diver


Because it isn't a course to improve your diving


In your case, it seems you need it. Go for it

Only if you want to first improve your skills, consider an introductory tech course, before or during the DM.

Lastly, be aware of the cheap courses: ensure the quality is very high.

Good luck!

I think it absolutely makes you a better diver...any education is education and practice. How to aid and care for your divers makes YOU a better diver for self and others. So maybe inherently tech diving can improve your personal diving skills more, it certainly doesn't exclude a strong DM program from developing you as a diver. My 2 cents.

 

[ginti]

I think it absolutely makes you a better diver...

I have never said the opposite. Even just staying underwater makes you a better diver (except when reinforcing bad habits). That was not the point of my post. I think @Lorenzoid explained it better in his post #206 :

I followed this thread on and off and don't recall how many commented to the effect that "DM is pointless if you don't intend to work as a DM." Some, perhaps. I think the more frequent comment was just that there are more efficient ways to acquire the skills you mention.

....

The DM course is readily available, it can be fun, and your skills will likely improve, but the focus is on leading and teaching other divers, not so much on truly developing and honing your skills.

....

In summary, taking some lessons with a tech-level instructor (whether that is a formal course such as Intro To Tech or GUE Fundamentals or a custom lessons package) with the specific goal of improving skills will likely get one to a higher skill level more directly than the DM course (if a DM course would ever get one to that level).

 

[34109411]

ahh sound like me when i was young and beautiful. At one point in your life your priority will change...trust me !

Thank you I don't care about the money, as I said I am currently travelling long term and I would spend the same amount travelling for 2 months!

 

[NothingClever]

It could perhaps serve as an amazing case study in marketing how the mainstream certifying organizations are able to cast an indelible impression on junior divers that the path to proficiency is the instructor route.

I'm sincerely grateful that I had a seasoned outlook about training to sense PADI was trying to nudge the bow of my ship down the wrong channel and that I was able to change course at the first opportunity.

I agree that it isn't necessary to become a technical diver to be a proficient diver. But I wholeheartedly disagree that becoming a DM is the only way.

I concur with @Lorenzoid that finding an instructor who is an active technical diver will likely imbue your advanced recreational training with a tighter focus on planning and procedures.

If you really aim to just be an occasional resort and vacation diver, then probably best to be honest with yourself and admit that durable and advanced skills aren't really the priority.

Good luck and enjoy the journey that you choose.

 

[TMHeimer]

I've been away so haven't read all these replies. My usual take on DM is -- It improves your skills (that is the 24 or so that are taught to OW students, not your overall diving ability) in that you must be able to do them all to "demonstration level". So yes, it is not the best route if you want to become a great diver. If you want to get into the teaching end of it great, and perhaps it's simply en route to Instructor. If you get hired, PLEASE work for a salary or don't work at all (not just for tips/perks). That devalues the "Pro" title. Despite what the agencies may call it, I don't consider anyone who works without a money salary to be a "Dive Pro".

 

[Leatherboot69]

This seems mildly similar to the BSAC-style club model, but with PADI.

Having decent dive leaders is important with novices especially in less than favourable conditions (poor vis, currents, etc.). Doing some training for those dive leaders makes a lot of sense as newer divers would have more opportunities for buddies used to helping to develop people.

@Edward3c - would be interested in your opinion on this.

When I was deciding how to progress my diving, I visited a BSAC club and dived with two dive centres, choosing one of them for my DM because of the quality of service and training and location. The club that the dive centre runs was a secondary draw. It’s not as much of a community as a BSAC club, although it’s more than just a subscription plan for the dive centre. I found these and other U.K. PADI dive centres I looked at ran their DM programmes in a similar way, spread out over time rather than as a single course. I’d quite like to join a BSAC club in the future but it required more time commitment than I can offer, being run by its members.

 

[Isa.nerwen]

ahh sound like me when i was young and beautiful. At one point in your life your priority will change...trust me !

I not *that* young anymore. I'm not old, but I'm not like 20-25 like a lot of people that do this kind of experience are. I'm 36, and I spent the better part of the last 15 years working my ass off to have a career and save a little money. Only to be stressed out of my mind most of the time
I'm not saying I won't go back to wanting to make money and a comfortable lifestyle, I'm just saying that this life is different and right now, even without being super young, it feels right.

 

[Isa.nerwen]

I've been away so haven't read all these replies. My usual take on DM is -- It improves your skills (that is the 24 or so that are taught to OW students, not your overall diving ability) in that you must be able to do them all to "demonstration level". So yes, it is not the best route if you want to become a great diver. If you want to get into the teaching end of it great, and perhaps it's simply en route to Instructor. If you get hired, PLEASE work for a salary or don't work at all (not just for tips/perks). That devalues the "Pro" title. Despite what the agencies may call it, I don't consider anyone who works without a money salary to be a "Dive Pro".

I was just thinking to update this thread as I am now close to finish my DM, after 1 and half month. I can safely say it MASSIVELY improved my diving skills and I don't understand people that say it doesn't.
My buoyancy, my trip, my kicking are so much better. I'd say the skills is the last thing as it's the thing I've done the least I will have to work on them before being certified, but it definitely made me become a better diver.

 

[Wibble]

I was just thinking to update this thread as I am now close to finish my DM, after 1 and half month. I can safely say it MASSIVELY improved my diving skills and I don't understand people that say it doesn't.
My buoyancy, my trip, my kicking are so much better. I'd say the skills is the last thing as it's the thing I've done the least I will have to work on them before being certified, but it definitely made me become a better diver.

What was the rest of the "work" like? Long days as part of the team?

Was the training explicit, or more like continual mentoring?

Do you lead dives with customers?

Only curious as to what's involved with the course.