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I completed my DM course!

Started by Racer184 , Oct 06 2008 05:03 PM

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20 replies to this topic

#1 Racer184

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 05:03 PM

Whew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 4+1/2 months, today I finished the PADI dive master course ! I think for the next few days I will have nightmares that I missed something. I know I will wake up at 03:00 am with a nightmare of the instructor calling me to say "you didn't do your tired diver tow" or something.......... accchhhhhhchchchchchhhhhh !

I feel so relieved.... I feel so lost... it is like 10 minutes after your last final exam in your last year of University... you feel so good its over... but you feel like:

  • what do I do now?
  • Am I really ready for this?
  • Do I really know enough to earn money doing this?
  • Am I worthy?
  • Gosh, those instructors were tough... I am glad they weren't easy on me..... should they have been tougher?
  • Instructors have different styles... I learned extra by working with multiple instructors when herding students.
  • omygosh... the complete-equipment-exchange-while-buddy-breathing was 100 times harder than it sounded...I am so glad that they make us do that because I learned so much it is indescribable
  • I really can swim 800 yards :-)
  • And the number one thing I learned in the Dive Master course is .... humility ! I am amazed how much I learned (and much of the learning was not 'book learning' but was from the experiences with students and playing victim) If I learned this much... I really am more impressed with what it takes to be an instructor more than ever.

And the number 1 question after finishing Dive Master course is:
what next?

Edited by Dive_Girl, 06 October 2008 - 05:09 PM.
Split post from another Divemaster's program thread to highlight new questions - and to allow others to congratulate you on your own accomplishment! :) -dg

#2 pmarie

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 05:18 PM

Congrats on finsihing the DM course.

#3 ScubaSis

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 05:37 PM

How exciting!! Congratulations!!!! :thankyou:

Good luck with the future choices you make having your DM.
Handle every stresssful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Just pee on it and walk away.

#4 a_fl_mermaid

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 06:08 PM

Congratulations! I'm sure it was alot of hard work!

#5 pir8

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 06:25 PM

Congratulations and welcome to the club
Never say Never! Its almost as long a time as always!

#6 shadragon

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 06:29 PM

The DM course is one of those things you have to do before you know just how tough it is...

What is next? Take a break and think about it. :thankyou:

Congrats...
Remember, email is an inefficient communications forum. You may not read things the way it was intended. Give people the benefit of the doubt before firing back... Especially if it is ME...! ;)

Tech Support - The hard we do right away; the impossible takes us a little longer...

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#7 Landlocked Dive Nut

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 07:59 PM

Congrats! A very worthy milestone. Simon is right.....take some time to savor your accomplishment and to ponder what you really want to do. As we all know, jumping quickly in any direction in this sport can be expensive in many ways!
Posted Image

#8 damselfish

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 08:53 PM

Oops what happened? I tried the quote thing lol. OK so I spend a lot of time on the computer but still can't figure it out. Oh well..
ANYWAY:


I have the answer! Pick me, pick me! ........

Cozumel! Halloween. :thankyou:
Ain't love a BEACH?

#9 peterbj7

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 09:19 PM

I'm glad it was tough, as it might have prepared you for some of the things that might happen from now on in. Congratulations!

#10 Quero

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Posted 06 October 2008 - 09:39 PM

Congrats! What next? Put all that training into practice.

You have learned a lot, and you will still learn more as you encounter new situations that require your problem solving and leadership skills. In time you will figure out where to go next with your training. I know DMs who have no desire to become instructors. I know instructors who love teaching but also enjoy simply leading dives. I know instructors who enjoy working with fun divers much more than they enjoy working with students divers (but are still good teachers when called on).

Get some DM-level experience and see where you end up feeling "at home".
Come dive with me in Thailand!

#11 Elena

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Posted 07 October 2008 - 07:12 AM

And the number 1 question after finishing Dive Master course is:
what next?

Easy! Just follow the diagram ( :thankyou: :wavey: :clapping: ):

Posted Image

Edited by Elena, 07 October 2008 - 07:27 AM.

#12 BubbleBoy

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Posted 07 October 2008 - 09:14 AM

And the number 1 question after finishing Dive Master course is:
what next?

Easy! Just follow the diagram ( :unsure: :) :birthday: ):

Posted Image


Wait a minute, I went the Master Diver route. Does this mean I have to back up now if I want to become a PADI Dive Master? Ha :birthday:

Anyway, congratulations to Racer184. From everything I've heard, the Dive Master / Instructor courses are the toughest and best training of all. Maybe someday when I'm retired and have the time I'll try to join you.
BB

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#13 Elena

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Posted 07 October 2008 - 10:17 AM

Wait a minute, I went the Master Diver route. Does this mean I have to back up now if I want to become a PADI Dive Master? Ha :)


Not necessarily. In England, Japan and Belize all routes are flipped anyway. So your right turn will be exactly the way to the Course Director.
(Ha :unsure: )

#14 Racer184

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Posted 07 October 2008 - 12:45 PM

...Wait a minute, I went the Master Diver route. Does this mean I have to back up now if I want to become a PADI Dive Master?...


I did Master Diver first. At that time I thought I would have no interest in Dive Master. I did master diver because as long as I am diving, I might as well be learning. And the cost of the course was hardly more than what I would have spent on boat trips and air anyway.

So when I finished Master Diver I figured I would just keep going.

I think I will wait until the beginning of next season to think about going on to anything else. I will heed the advice given here earlier and just spend the rest of this dive season enjoying diving for diving and then see if some Dive Master work comes my way.

Until the shop receives my card, I will be diving purely for diving sake !

#15 Capn Jack

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Posted 07 October 2008 - 01:27 PM

And the number 1 question after finishing Dive Master course is:
what next?

Find a good tax advisor to help you deal with the new-found wealth.

Seriously - great job, welcome to the club!!!

nb - and my post number 1,500

Edited by Capn Jack, 07 October 2008 - 01:28 PM.

No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal.
Jacques Yves Cousteau
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