Why is becoming a DM considered not worth it?

[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.

 

[amclaughlin200]

Hello!
I just recently fell in love with diving, like I've never liked anything in my life before, and I was thinking about getting my DM.
I know the reasons to do it change if from person to person but I'm wondering why so many people say doing the DM if you don't plan to work is useless.

My position is that I quit my job to travel last year and I am not ready to go back to normal life yet. I am considering doing DM for the following reasons:
- I want to become a better diver and I want to challenge myself and learn more
- I want to spend a few months diving and volunteering at a dive shop. I do not exclude the idea of actually working in the field if I love it so much after the course, I am open and right now I don't know where life will take me
- I've got prices from a few places I've been diving at and doing the DM course is significantly cheaper (like half the cost) than just doing fun dives for the same amount of time


But apart from that, especially as it works out cheaper this way, why is everyone so against it?

Your opinion is welcome, thank you!

First of all, if you have fallen in love with diving, have the means to take the course, and could see yourself potentially working in the industry one day, you should absolutely do it! I'm not sure who exactly "everyone" is when you say people are discouraging you from it, but remember, their are a lot of cynical divers out there. My assumption of why people are discouraging you is because one of your main reasons is to become a better diver. Although taking the divemaster course will certainly improve your overall skills as a diver, its probably not the most efficient way for the price and arguably unnecessary for anyone who doesn't ever want to work in the industry. It really is mostly about working with students etc, although once again this will naturally improve your diving skills.

So finally, heres why I mainly disagree with anyone who says you don't need to take the divemaster course to become a better diver. Although the course itself may not turn you into Jacques Cousteau 2.0, the best way to become a better diver is to dive your freaking brains out. And for MOST people, that is really not possible for financial reasons.....Unless you're getting paid to dive. If you're an AOW diver who does 1 trip a year, its pretty hard to get that diving muscle memory in terms of buoyancy etc...Although not impossible! If you wanna become a better diver, dive dive dive! Having that certification will unlock MORE opportunities for you to be in the water, which is what, in my opinion, makes a better diver.

Lastly, just because I feel this is important, I would recommend becoming an instructor if you plan on doing anything professional in the industry at all. I mean, divemaster would be fine if you want to volunteer the odd weekend at your local shop, but really anything more I feel like going on to instructor is almost necessary. Again I will reiterate, its not necessarily because becoming an instructor will make you a better diver, but it will once again broaden your opportunities. The reason I say this is because some people may think "Oh I would love to work on a liveaboard and guide divers but I don't really want to teach courses." Well in theory, you could guide divers, but in my experience working as an instructor on 3 different continents, none of the shops or liveaboards I've worked at have ever hired a divemaster. Why? Well because truthfully becoming a dive instructor isn't really all that hard. And there are loads of instructors out there, so even for a position that is mostly just dive guiding, the company always wants to hire an instructor because they have more "experience." But as you know divemaster is a step before instructor so it doesn't hurt to get divemaster now and assess becoming an instructor later!


I hope this is helpful! Good luck in your diving journey.

P.S. Even if you don't ever work professionally, its still cool to tell your non-diving friends you're a divemaster.

 

[Wibble]

... becoming an instructor will make you a better diver, but it will once again broaden your opportunities.

Experience is key. If you're only ever doing simple early-days training, then you've hardly got the time and opportunity to improve your skills.

First of all, if you have fallen in love with diving, have the means to take the course, and could see yourself potentially working in the industry one day, you should absolutely do it! I'm not sure who exactly "everyone" is when you say people are discouraging you from it, but remember, their are a lot of cynical divers out there.

Many of us are divers who want to go well beyond basic skills and have worked on our skills to enable more challenging diving: deeper, longer, overhead, wreck penetration, CCR... We see many DiveMasters and instructors with mediocre skills when measured against higher standards. This is where the cynicism breeds.

To gain higher skills you need people around you with superior skills. Someone who's done hundreds of Discover Scuba dives doesn't necessarily need the best skills nor would be exposed to the best skills during their day job.

To be a better diver... Sign up for some technical training and practice those skills. You'd be better at everything as you're properly in control.


(I'm interested in this DiveMaster course simply as a good crack to go somewhere nice for a couple of months and play at being a DiveMaster)

 

[amclaughlin200]

Experience is key. If you're only ever doing simple early-days training, then you've hardly got the time and opportunity to improve your skills.


Many of us are divers who want to go well beyond basic skills and have worked on our skills to enable more challenging diving: deeper, longer, overhead, wreck penetration, CCR... We see many DiveMasters and instructors with mediocre skills when measured against higher standards. This is where the cynicism breeds.

To gain higher skills you need people around you with superior skills. Someone who's done hundreds of Discover Scuba dives doesn't necessarily need the best skills nor would be exposed to the best skills during their day job.

To be a better diver... Sign up for some technical training and practice those skills. You'd be better at everything as you're properly in control.


(I'm interested in this DiveMaster course simply as a good crack to go somewhere nice for a couple of months and play at being a DiveMasterT

 

[amclaughlin200]

I respect your opinion and tec diving is a great tool to enhance your skills. But this person literally said they "just" fell in love with diving and may potentially want to work in the industry. I think its best to get comfortable in the recreational world first.

Experience is key. If you're only ever doing simple early-days training, then you've hardly got the time and opportunity to improve your skills.


Many of us are divers who want to go well beyond basic skills and have worked on our skills to enable more challenging diving: deeper, longer, overhead, wreck penetration, CCR... We see many DiveMasters and instructors with mediocre skills when measured against higher standards. This is where the cynicism breeds.

To gain higher skills you need people around you with superior skills. Someone who's done hundreds of Discover Scuba dives doesn't necessarily need the best skills nor would be exposed to the best skills during their day job.

To be a better diver... Sign up for some technical training and practice those skills. You'd be better at everything as you're properly in control.


(I'm interested in this DiveMaster course simply as a good crack to go somewhere nice for a couple of months and play at being a DiveMaster)

I think its important to use the context of the original post to identify what a good course of action is. 1)This person said they "just" fell in love with diving. 2)They potentially want to volunteer or work at a dive shop. 3) They have mentioned budget in their post.

I wouldn't recommend a newer diver to take a tec class right away when they've expressed interest in something else. Sometimes its best to bring a ballplayer up through the system and not promote them directly to the majors.

To work or volunteer at a dive shop they would want to take the professional recreational route first. I can't imagine the market for a tec instructor who started diving a year ago is super hot.

For the 3rd point, they mentioned cost several times in their post. Tec is expensive as heck.