26 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

Ok since you are looking for opinions...I'll give you mine.

I did not want to be a DM and I did not want to be an Instructor. I was a lousy diver...the kind people say 'how in the world did they get a c-card' in the first place kind of diver. I had issues...or is that 'ew-shooos'???

I could not swim...well not technically true...I could not dog paddle and stay afloat alternating between swim strokes and resting...I could not comfortably remove my mask in the water...still hate it but I have finally learned how to NOT breathe when I flood or remove my mask.

I used to wear contacts...do you know how hard it is to do things when you can't open your eyes? Now if my mask is kicked loose or off I use the one in my pocket, then look for the original one...the water still burns my eyes.

I love helping people...I love people having a great time...I love people falling in love with diving! But I also love to dive! So I started diving until I got good at it. Or should I say I stuck with it until I got good. I only took rescue so I could be less of an accident waiting to happen in the water. This process took 10 years. About 3 years ago the SingleDivers.com thing started taking off and I decided I should be a DM. Most people thought I was one anyway so for liability purposes I decided it was a good decision for me. I was a better DM for having had a lot of real world experience and I was a great DM for remembering how many issues I had in the water. They still to this day seem like only yesterday.

Would I like to become an instructor? There is a part of me that thinks it would be great and perhaps having access to a diveshop in my backyard I'll reconsider it. But when I looked at it before the only reason I wanted to instruct was to do specialties...not open water.

So I looked at what I needed and what I wanted and being a DM meets all my needs.

Look at what you want to do...and then look at how you can acheive it. The answer may be as it was for me...I'm quite happy right where I'm at!

[Walter]

I took the DM course to educate myself in diving theory and equipment. It seemed a natural extension of the Rescue course.

It's not a natural extension at all. If that was your goal, a better choice would have been the NAUI Master Diver course.

The Dive Master class teaches you to be in charge of groups of divers and, depending on agency, to assist with teaching. Those don't appear to be your goals.

Edited by Walter, 11 July 2007 - 12:57 PM.

[WreckWench]

I took the DM course to educate myself in diving theory and equipment. It seemed a natural extension of the Rescue course.

It's not a natural extension at all. If that was your goal, a better choice would have been the NAUI Master Diver course.

The Dive Master class teaches you to be in charge of groups of divers and, depending on agency, to assist with teaching. Those don't appear to be your goals.

Actually Walter the DM course is full of diving theory...including diving physics, physiology, equipment, decompression theory and the recreational dive planner, in addition to group dynamics and group aspects.

So while it prepares you to assist with groups and students...it certainly teaches more than any specialty I've taken shy of a full tech course.

[Diverbrian]

I am in the position of being happy to be a simple DiveCon. I have seen too many instructors burn out UNLESS they really love to teach.

I am getting into the water working with groups of newer divers and watching them develop while my expenses get paid. As I really cannot afford charters this year, that is a good thing. To be honest, I had forgotten the pleasure of watching a recently trained diver improve their skills and hit a couple of milestones. It is the most fun that I have had in a long time to break even : ) .

Teaching... there is the schedule of classes to teach and the increased time pressure (think community pool schedules) that I don't have in dealing with a fun dive. I am just not into that at this time. Maybe, I'll change my mind later. For now, I don't want to take fun and turn it into a job. I already have a job.

[Walter]

Actually Walter the DM course is full of diving theory...including diving physics, physiology, equipment, decompression theory and the recreational dive planner, in addition to group dynamics and group aspects.

So while it prepares you to assist with groups and students...it certainly teaches more than any specialty I've taken shy of a full tech course.

Having certified DMs, I'm aware of that. My point is it also teaches other things that have nothing to do with his goal. The NAUI Master Diver course has all the academics the DM course has except for those directly related to being in charge of groups of divers and helping with classes.

[WreckWench]

Actually Walter the DM course is full of diving theory...including diving physics, physiology, equipment, decompression theory and the recreational dive planner, in addition to group dynamics and group aspects.

So while it prepares you to assist with groups and students...it certainly teaches more than any specialty I've taken shy of a full tech course.

Having certified DMs, I'm aware of that. My point is it also teaches other things that have nothing to do with his goal. The NAUI Master Diver course has all the academics the DM course has except for those directly related to being in charge of groups of divers and helping with classes.

I was not aware of that. And I'm sure that many others are not either. However if you thought you wanted to go the professional route then DM is certainly a way to determine that. It appears that his goal of possibly retiring and teaching or doing something in diving is therefore better served by the DM course than the Master Diver course. However I do not know if he originally stated his idea of doing something in the Caribbean until later. However I'm sure it played a role in his decision to go the DM route even if he did not mention it at first. Just my thoughts...

[shadragon]

It appears that his goal of possibly retiring and teaching or doing something in diving is therefore better served by the DM course than the Master Diver course. However I do not know if he originally stated his idea of doing something in the Caribbean until later. However I'm sure it played a role in his decision to go the DM route even if he did not mention it at first. Just my thoughts...

Right, the Caribbean thing was mentioned later. That dream is still a few years and several hundred thousand dollars away... Isn't that what dreams are for...?

I took the DM course as I was invited to do so by my LDS along with two other divers I respect. It is a great learning opportunity for personal knowledge and a first step towards possibly teaching someday. This went back to my diving with a DM as a insta-buddy when I was fairly new and he impressed the heck out of me as a diver (as have many other DM's through the years). No regrets as far as dive physiology, equipment, deco theory, etc. That is good info I can use anywhere regardless of what I go onto. I have also looked at the DAN Diving Emergency Specialist course for the same reason.

Walter - My decision to go with PADI over NAUI was based purely on the fact that the PADI shop was closer to where I lived when I took the OW course. It was a 20 minute drive instead of an hour and 10 minutes... If it had been a SDI shop I would have gone that route. From my limited exposure to other agencies I suspect they are all fairly decent and comparable when you get past Rescue. However, I cannot intelligently discuss the in's and out's of each as some folks here probably can.

[Walter]

Walter - My decision to go with PADI over NAUI was based purely on the fact that the PADI shop was closer to where I lived when I took the OW course. It was a 20 minute drive instead of an hour and 10 minutes... If it had been a SDI shop I would have gone that route. From my limited exposure to other agencies I suspect they are all fairly decent and comparable when you get past Rescue. However, I cannot intelligently discuss the in's and out's of each as some folks here probably can.

My recommendation for the NAUI Master Diver course over PADI's Master Diver program is based on a number of things. First, PADI doesn't have a Master Diver course, it awards a Master Diver certification after completing 5 specialties (which may or may not have any meat in them), Rescue, 50 logged dives and pay your fee. NAUI's Master Diver course has specific academic guidelines which fit nicely with your stated goals. Since your goals seem now to be different, a DM class appears to have been a better choice.

As for your reasons for choosing one agency over another, perhaps you lucked into a choice that matches you well, I hope so. I'm frankly shocked that people make such important decisions based on nothing. I traveled 3½ hours one way every weekend for 4 months for my DM training. I based it on where and how to get the best training available.

[shadragon]

As for your reasons for choosing one agency over another, perhaps you lucked into a choice that matches you well, I hope so. I'm frankly shocked that people make such important decisions based on nothing. I traveled 3½ hours one way every weekend for 4 months for my DM training. I based it on where and how to get the best training available.

No argument, but it is like asking people to define the 'best car available'. Everyone will pick something different based on personal experience / bias and then there will be the inevitable disagreements over why people chose Brand X when Brand Y is obviously the superior choice.

My DM course is a 2 hour drive one way and costs me money for food and lodging at the other end for the multiple weekends so I hear you...

[Walter]

No argument, but it is like asking people to define the 'best car available'. Everyone will pick something different based on personal experience / bias and then there will be the inevitable disagreements over why people chose Brand X when Brand Y is obviously the superior choice.

Why do you care? If you've picked the best training according to your definition, that's what counts. Picking training because it's 20 minutes away is not the same. OTOH, as long as you are happy, what difference does it make what anyone else thinks?

[shadragon]

Why do you care? If you've picked the best training according to your definition, that's what counts. Picking training because it's 20 minutes away is not the same. OTOH, as long as you are happy, what difference does it make what anyone else thinks?

I listen to all opinions and then make up my own mind. Debate and discussion are wonderful things. Sometimes I run into a solid bit of logic that actually changes my perspective. Most of it is noise, but on occasion you get the odd nugget.

[Brinybay]

I'm of the opinion, why ruin a perfectly good hobby.

My cave instructor has been hounding me for over a year to get my instructor qualification. But this is exactly my mindset. I dive for MY enjoyment. And that doesn't include teaching others to dive. Mentoring maybe. Just having some fun diving with a newer diver, sure. But teaching a class? No thanks. I did 13 years of instructing in another sport... and that was plenty.

Yeah, what youse guys said. To each his own, but DM'ing and teaching folk are in it because they enjoy doing that, not for any financial reasons, at least not the ones I know. More power to them, but it's not for me. I tried DM'ing briefly, did not like it at all. A lot of work for some scary liabilities. At best, you can set it up to deduct your expenses, but even that in itself is a hassle. Perks on gear? Big whoop. Not sure what others working for different shops get, but the shop I was with didn't offer much. I could get the same breaks or even better just waiting for sales to come along.

When I first got certified, I had an argument with my brother who seemed to think that my diving cert was a key to making some bucks doing work scrubbing hulls and such. Had a hard time explaining to him that one - what he's talking about is COMMERCIAL diving, a whole 'nuther world, and two - I'm in this for FUN, nothing more!