Why is becoming a DM considered not worth it?

[Edward3c]

Most of the sites around Koh Lipe aren't that great and inspiring.
I will be visiting Lanta and Lipe next Feb/Mar. The conditions were pretty awful on my last visit(Feb 2024).

Only one of my four visits to Koh Lipe was affected by the wind/weather. Even then we got some descent dives, 45 minutes to a dive site isn't that unususl for U.K. divers. Still working in being out there to dive with you.

 

[Centrals]

Only one of my four visits to Koh Lipe was affected by the wind/weather. Even then we got some descent dives, 45 minutes to a dive site isn't that unususl for U.K. divers. Still working in being out there to dive with you.

I am comparing Indonesia and Thailand for diving as a whole.
Travelling to the sites is never an issue for me. It was a full day trip for two dives at Scapa Flow. No more dry suit!!!
Take your time on your decision.
US$38.00 for a small AC cottage in Koh Lipe while it is US$12.00 for a big AC room in Koh Lanta but the sites are far far away. Nothing is perfect.

 

[Isa.nerwen]

LOL.
There is no right or wrong, just different opinion.
Where else beside Koh Lanta and Similan offering good diving.
Koh Chang, Koh Lipe, Koh Phuket, Koh Tao(+ Phangan).
I had made two diving trips to Pattaya and never got wet except under the shower in the hotel room.
Losin(never been) is also for LoB only.
In my book, Indonesia and Philippines are head and shoulder better than Thailand for diving. Malaysia and Thailand is 2nd tier.

Most of the sites around Koh Lipe aren't that great and inspiring.
I will be visiting Lanta and Lipe next Feb/Mar. The conditions were pretty awful on my last visit(Feb 2024).

Philippines(PG) would be a lot cheaper than Koh Lipe especially for accommodation. And the dives are even better. No need to waste any time on travelling to the dive sites(95%+).

Thailand and Malaysia are definitely NOT on the same tier. Thailand is so much better than Malaysia!

I'm curious however how could Philippines be cheaper, considering Philippines is notoriously a more expensive country...
I'd be going back to Koh Lipe, because I've dived there before and I know the school. The dive sites were nice (bit as much as Komodo obviously but much better than Malaysia) and the price is quite cheap!

 

[Edward3c]

Thailand and Malaysia are definitely NOT on the same tier. Thailand is so much better than Malaysia!

I'm curious however how could Philippines be cheaper, considering Philippines is notoriously a more expensive country...
I'd be going back to Koh Lipe, because I've dived there before and I know the school. The dive sites were nice (bit as much as Komodo obviously but much better than Malaysia) and the price is quite cheap!

Rather than pre-book your DM course. Get to the island and visit and talk to them before you commit.

 

[NothingClever]

I do hope though that becoming DM will make me a better diver.

Unlikely.

What prompted your desire to become a DM?

The reason I ask is because when I first got certified, I was bombarded with marketing to “join the elite”. I’ll admit there was some temptation there.

However, I was fortunate in that I had a career of experience in establishing courses, training and certifying people for mental and physical, performance-based skills and activities. I perceived the application criteria to become a DM and Instructor was rather low. I just wanted to become the best diver I could be but the certifying agency was already clobbering me to get on board with their scheme of “the industry” .

I wasn’t against becoming an instructor (in fact, I’m a coach/instructor in another hobby) but the marketing hustle to “join the elite” when I was still just trying to focus on fundamental proficiency seemed like a weak grab for dollars.

It became clear to me the technical route was how I could get the training I felt I was supposed to have.

Once tech trained and certified I started more closely observing crew operations, planning and underwater skills of DMs and Instructors. I’m an ENFJ (Myers-Briggs) so it’s in my nature to get the best out of people and to help minimize our shortcomings. Unfortunately, I have to share that I’ve met very few DMs and Instructors who I felt had achieved mastery of diving. Most of the time their general proficiency has left me seeing a transparent and sloppy effort to get free diving.

So, I encourage you to think hard about what put you on the path to become a DM so you can ensure you’ve got your bow pointed down the appropriate channel.

Enjoy your journey and keep us posted!

 

[Wibble]

The DiveMasters with the bests kills that I’ve seen are technical divers. Their skills didn’t come from the DiveMaster syllabus.

Edit: just seen the typo!

 

[Isa.nerwen]

Unlikely.

What prompted your desire to become a DM?

The reason I ask is because when I first got certified, I was bombarded with marketing to “join the elite”. I’ll admit there was some temptation there.

However, I was fortunate in that I had a career of experience in establishing courses, training and certifying people for mental and physical, performance-based skills and activities. I perceived the application criteria to become a DM and Instructor was rather low. I just wanted to become the best diver I could be but the certifying agency was already clobbering me to get on board with their scheme of “the industry” .

I wasn’t against becoming an instructor (in fact, I’m a coach/instructor in another hobby) but the marketing hustle to “join the elite” when I was still just trying to focus on fundamental proficiency seemed like a weak grab for dollars.

It became clear to me the technical route was how I could get the training I felt I was supposed to have.

Once tech trained and certified I started more closely observing crew operations, planning and underwater skills of DMs and Instructors. I’m an ENFJ (Myers-Briggs) so it’s in my nature to get the best out of people and to help minimize our shortcomings. Unfortunately, I have to share that I’ve met very few DMs and Instructors who I felt had achieved mastery of diving. Most of the time their general proficiency has left me seeing a transparent and sloppy effort to get free diving.

So, I encourage you to think hard about what put you on the path to become a DM so you can ensure you’ve got your bow pointed down the appropriate channel.

Enjoy your journey and keep us posted!

Wasn't my post clear enough about the reasons why I am considering the course?
I'm thinking a lot these days and I also considered that while I have the time and means to do this now, I might not in the future if I go back to "normal life", so I might just miss it and regret it in the future.
I am also a very ambitious person and I think that also has a part in my decision, I naturally tend to always want to get better and "become more".

However, I really don't understand when people say that the DM course won't make you a better diver. Except for obviously getting to dive more, isn't your instructor helping you, other than just for DM related things?

 

[Minion Fish]

Hi, I am a DM for exactly the reasns that you stated. however, don't think that doing the DM course is like any other diving course where you pay the money and get good service back in exchange !!!! The DM course is brutal !! I paid a lot of money and thought that I would be taken care of well......no ! The DM course teaches you to cope with all likely situations that you would face underwater while leading a group of fun-divers, or students while assisting an instructor. I was 58 years old when I did it. It was a humbling experience after running my own business and having many employees. It did make me a better diver (loads of diving), loads of teaching and instruction, going to great dive sites day after day. Getting comfortable in all environments, with my equipment and with various sea conditions.

However, if you are not a good leader or teacher it can be stressful, belittling and torrid at times. Instructors (especially) tend to make sure that you get bullied about and experience the worst of human nature.

I am glad I did it, because like you say it makes you a better diver (and person ) but don't think that you will enjoy all aspects of it.

I started to do my IDC but thought better of it and stopped because I did not want to turn my passion into my work.

My advice: do it, but go in with your eyes open and expect the worse. Then when it's not so bad you won't be disappointed.

When you've done it, come to Thailand and I will take you to some fantastic dive sites in th Anderman.

Bobby

 

[Underwater Tourist]

However, I really don't understand when people say that the DM course won't make you a better diver.

The reason so many people said that DM course won't make you a better diver, is because given the overall instruction quality in recreational world, that is the most likely outcome. Is it a 100% certainty? Absolutely not. You can get lucky and find an excellent instructor. Is an excellent instructor the most likely outcome? Absolutely not again.

I spend first 5 years diving with one of the most garbage instructors, but then luckily I understood that, and had to spend 2 years unlearning all the **** habits.

At this point in your diving journey, any diving with new people / locations / dive shops / environments etc etc will make you a better diver. There are plenty of threads about "becoming a DM" on SB and I would highly recommend digging thru them (play around with the search function here, its pretty good).

You can do a DM / instructor or whatever you want really as long as you get more dives in different environments to gain experience. After 100+ dives or so once you are comfortable in the water, start googling around "technical diving" and see how those people look in the water, what techniques they use etc. You don't need to become one, but if you want to progress with your skills, you 100% (imo) will need to do an intro technical course led by a technical instructor who will square all your skills to a very very solid level (top 1% of recreational divers). That will also increase how much pleasure you get from diving as you will feel 100x more comfortable in the water

 

[NothingClever]

Wasn't my post clear enough about the reasons why I am considering the course?

I’ll ask my question a different way.

After discovering diving very recently, what moment triggered the idea that to become a better diver you need to become a DM? The moment could be defined as reading a course manual, watching a video, admiring an employee’s skills, listening to a dive brief, etc.

However, I really don't understand when people say that the DM course won't make you a better diver.

Many of us have tried to explain with a variety of perspectives. I suspect over time you’ll come to have a broader understanding.