Why would you ever want to become Dive Masters?

[tomboyy]

Yesterday I finished my Rescue Diver Class. Today I'm sore everywhere. This course was one of the hardest things I've had to do. The class will show you right off the bat how well conditioned you are or are not as in my case. Second rescue out the Dive Master cadidate in training was told to be mildly panicked and to let me talk him down and towed back. Well.. I broke a cardinal rule and got to close and he starts flailing on me ripping my mask off and trying to climb over me. I could heard the DM holler at him to get off me, want to talk about a adrenalin release. This was one rescue after another all day long with a break for lunch. I was asked "whats the next course your taking" my reply none, I'm going diving. At this point sitting here the next morning sore and still tired ( I know I'm outta shape and need to work on it ) I think why would someone want to continue on and become a DM. The pays not very good, from what I gather here on SB. You have to contend with potenial time bomb OW students every weekend. I mean you could just go out and dive every weekend for fun, why do you do it ?

 

[ClayJar]

The answer, at least for me, is very simple indeed. I became a divemaster because I *enjoy* working with students. Most of the time, I'm in the background just watching out for them. Sometimes I'm working with them individually to help them get through things that they need to work on. Of course, once in a while I end up with one of your time bombs, but if they didn't have a good DM, things would not be going well with them. (I actually had to rescue a diver who was supposed to be rescuing me in the last basic scuba class -- it'll take quite a bit of work before he'll be on a checkout, but I'll be delighted to work with him to improve his skills and learn how to respond to stressful situations.)

Absolutely, I enjoy diving with mb. It's one of my favorite things in the world. I also enjoy diving on my own (for which I have trained and equipped, of course), as it's far more relaxing for me to dive without anyone around for whom I have or feel responsibility. Still, it's unfathomably rewarding for me to work with classes and divers and to see them develop the skills and temperaments to be good divers.

I'm the kind of person who will drive overnight to join an all-day park cleanup, and for many years, I volunteered as a sound guy at chuch. I've even done wedding photography pro bono a few times (actually, that's about the only way I would do wedding photography, as it's far too much work, hehe). Helping people and doing good is just part of who I am, which makes me good stock for creating a divemaster. On the other hand, I personally know several *exceptional* divers who are great examples to others but who would make *terrible* divemasters. They have the ability, but not the inclination. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them diving for themselves, and they likely would not enjoy being divemasters at all.

There are two ways of making a divemaster. You can start with someone with the right personality and add on the skills, or you can start with someone with the skills and try to mold the personality to fit. As far as I've seen, you get *much* better results with the first option -- amazingly, it's much easier to teach skills than to change people. :biggrin:

 

[dkktsunami]

Good answer .....I feel the same way about solo diving and love the food in your part of the world.

 

[robint]

I have no interest in working with students. Diving for me is very zen, and having to deal with the stress of students is so NOT-zen.
My hubby on the other hand has become and instructor because he loves it. He still loves diving with me on vacation, shooting photos and such, but he gets a thrill introducing diving to others.

 

[bane51031]

I became a DM for much the same reasons, I enjoy watching others learn what I love too do, is it for everyone? No but, if it was then everyone would be doing it.I also enjoy the challenge to learn more and too better myself. I leave for the next leg in my journey in May to the IDC/IDE why would I want to become an instructor? See above reasons. Also I have 2 grandsons who are going to be avid scuba divers one day and I think it would be cool to watch them learn and when they recieve there O/W card to see Grandpas name as the instructor.

 

[Web Monkey]

trying to climb over me. I could heard the DM holler at him to get off me, want to talk about a adrenalin release. This was one rescue after another all day long with a break for lunch. I was asked "whats the next course your taking" my reply none, I'm going diving. At this point sitting here the next morning sore and still tired ( I know I'm outta shape and need to work on it ) I think why would someone want to continue on and become a DM. The pays not very good, from what I gather here on SB. You have to contend with potenial time bomb OW students every weekend. I mean you could just go out and dive every weekend for fun, why do you do it ?

I'm a DiveCon, and I do it to help prevent the next "time bomb". Our shop is "traditional" and still does a 7-8 week class, which gives me time to work on the little things that actually make diving fun, like spending time with a student showing how to clean their mask so it no longer fogs, adjusting equipment, working on weighting, buoyancy and trim, mask and regulator clearing and any other skills that need a little more work before they become easy and repeatable.

Teaching divers to be competent gives me the feeling that I made a litle headway against the flood of "2 day wonder classes"

Terry

 

[covediver]

I find it interesting that people automatically assume that because you take a rescue diver course, one of the few classes that inho actually needs to be taught by an instructor, that they automatically assume that you want to take another to be part of "leadership." Divemastering can have its rewards, in spite of the conditions you cite (low pay), lack of respect (divemasters are jack-booted thugs) and the fact that all of the agencies see it as an intermediate step to becoming the greek god of the scuba industry--an instructor. I once had an instructor expect me to haul his gear from the boat to his car because I was a d.m. and he was an instructor. For all I know his gear is still on the boat!

So unless you want to work with students or run dive ops save your money and use it to go diving. That is really the way to learn to get better. Rescue courses make you a better diver and buddy; beyond that its all geared to get you to be an instructor. Divemaster and assistant instructors are means to an end, not an end in themselves.

 

[Slonda828]

Becoming a DM also allows you to promote your type of diving. I like going on charters, and you cannot typically use vintage diving equipment on a lot of dive charters that thump the BC bible. If the divemaster dives vintage equipment, then the dive boat becomes a lot more "vintage friendly". If you are a lobster guy or spearo, than as a DM you can run lobster guy or spearo charters. It serves as a great way to promote your favorite niche of diving. Furthermore, if you are an actual sea-going DM, you never need to work with OW students if you choose not to. The primary purpose of a DM is not to be an assistant instructor with no pay, it is to be a guide or expert in the local conditions in which you dive. It is literally why you are on that boat (in my opinion).

 

[ScubaSarus]

I depends on the enviornment. In the NAUI manual there is a push for DM to have good looking gear and spares of it too. Some shops will pressure the DM into buying equipment. Some shops will take on a DM and provide equipment. Its very dependent on the shop you are with.
I've seen a late to class student get in so overweighted her BC were venting and struggling to stay afloat; this is were a DM is needed to spot dangers as these as the instructor I was helping was quite busy.

A DM can serve as a guide and get free boat trips and enjoy a nice wrecK dive. It gives one a good feeling to guide someone to a safe dive and brings about a feeling of value in oneself.

If you get with a good shop that you feel good about and they treat you well , a DM cert can bring many good rewards and opps.

Insurance is aboyt $400/year and needs to be renewed every year I believe. Once a DM there are requirements needed to be able to stay a DM. Once a MD, I believe you are always a MD.

 

[Clanggedin]

I am wanting to get my DM rating because I am a Venture Crew Advisor, but I cannot take my Venturers out on a dive unless I have a DM rating even though they are OW certified. I even a have few that are Rescue certified. Hopefully the money issue will get better so I can afford the DM class. In the meantime I am getting tons of dives in.