13 replies to this topic

[Bubble2Bubble]

I just received my Dive Master course books. I thought that it would be a good time this winter to do my studing and some Knowledge reveiws. there's like 5 books in all. I was wondering If one of you would tell me which one to start with.
even if i dont go on to be a DM I think the education on the subject would be a
great thing to have. If you dont want to post here please PM me.

B2B

[Diverbrian]

Mike,

If you have the books, I would suggest picking the one that is the most interesting to you and digging in. You have to start somewhere. My DiveCon course only has one BIG book though .

If you decide that you don't want to follow through, you will still learn plenty. I was not overly certain that I wanted to do it myself or that I was ready to try it. In the end, I learned a great deal about myself and found a way to share a sport that I am becoming more passionate about by the day.

BTW,

Merry Christmas

Brian

[SquattingRadishDM]

even if i dont go on to be a DM I think the education on the subject would be a  great thing to have.

Bingo, you hit the nail on the head.

I'd agree with Brain about picking the subject that interests you the most to get started. Seeing as its the holidays you dont want to be bored silly (thats what Christmas Dinner with the family is for ).

From an educational standpoint reading up on dive physics will probably lay the best foundations for learning the other material, seeing as most issues and challenges in diving relate to the physics involved. Where as reading up on more practical subjects such as dive planning and supervision and working with students is best when complemented with regular diving, and could be left to the springtime (when I assume from ur post u will be diving more). You can read the theory then put it into practise on actual dives. However always make sure your enjoying it or it will make taking all the info in much harder

Incidently what are the 5 books you are planning on reading?

[Bubble2Bubble]

Jack
1. The PADI Dive Master Manuel
2. The Encyclopedia of Recrecreational Diving 2nd Edition
3. Diving Knowledge Workbook
4. The Law and the Diving Professional
5. The Wheel, Instructions for use and Study Guide Manuel

and I Put Another Dollar In and got some patch's and stickers


B2B

Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 26 December 2004 - 10:53 PM.

[wreck_maniac]

Mike,
My take on my DM course and materials:
The DM Manual is hardly worth the paper it's printed on but you gotta read it.
The Encyclopedia is cool and a good read, along with the workbook
The Law and the Diving Professional could wait a bit because you don't need to know all that unless you become a "working" DM
The wheel stuff is somewhat needless but then again, you gotta know it for training.

So I'd start with the encyclopedia/workbook. Have fun!

[SquattingRadishDM]

Maniac, I dont agree with your catagorisation of the DM Manual. It does point out some obvious stuff and certainly bits of it are aimed at turning you into an agent for the "Marketing Men". However the parts about Dive planning/management and supervision of students are essential reading (tho not comprehensive) and shouldn't be disregarded.

Mike, I'd say start with the Encyclopedia of Recrecreational Diving and the Workbook to brush-up and learn the theory over the Winter. When you are back diving regularly again read thru the DM Manual which covers the more practical side of things and you can learn the material in a more applied and less theoretical context. Maniacs right about "The Law and the Diving Professional" and Wheel stuff, they can wait till you take your final exams as they are less important, in terms of learning to be a good DM, than the other material.

Id also recommend when you start to do the dives for the DM course that you read through the Instructor Manual which covers the standards for all the courses. i.e. what MUST to be covered and adheared to whilst teaching/supervising each course. Part of the PADI DM course has you carry out at least one DM program, such as a Scuba Review, Intro to Local Diving, Lead a Dive, Bubblemaker etc. Whilst particular standards might not be in any exam (cant remember), and so you dont have to memorize the Ins. Manual, the instructor will be ensuring that the dives are carried out correctly. Im sure your LDS can clear things up before hand.

Oh, also read through the Rescue Diver Manual again as the material is vital and it will be assumed that you are already proficient at this stuff. The chapter about spotting nervous/unsafe divers needs special attention. If you have time also try "The Decompression Matrix" by Bob Cole: http://www.aquapress...tail.asp?ID=340 (yeah the 74th time I've recommended it on this board), it changed the way I dived.

Having said all this, learning how to anticipate and respond to problems (a DMs role) is best learnt from a mentor and real life experience not from a book, as Im sure you know. But dont worry that'll be honed into a sixth sense in your internship! <fake emergencies, hint, hint>

Good luck with the DM course, it was one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. Merry Christmas all.

-Jack

[peterbj7]

Law and the Diving Professional is written from an American standpoint and is less useful in other jurisdictions. I didn't find the DM workbook at all useful, but I do agree that you need to read the DM manual, and reread the Rescue one. Another book I'd suggest as it has so much additional detail on subjects you probably find of interest is IANTD's Technical Diving Encyclopedia. It's essential if you ever want to do any IANTD courses, as I hope you will, but interesting and useful even before then.

[Dive_Girl]

...reread the Rescue one. Another book I'd suggest as it has so much additional detail on subjects you probably find of interest is IANTD's Technical Diving Encyclopedia...

I agree with this! I always ask my DM candidates to reread their Rescue manuals. Items in that manual have different signifcance when viewed from the DM candidate different perspective. I do have to saw I found the workbook very useful and if you haven't explored the tech world, it is a good workout for the brain and wil help with the 5 major tests the chapters correspond to and I found physics much easier to do using the Metric system (I even took my instructor exams in Metric at my IE in Canada).\

Oh and Merry Christmas everyone. I better go to sleep so Santa can visit. Wonder if he can get doubles down the chimney...

[BradfordNC]

Oh and Merry Christmas everyone. I better go to sleep so Santa can visit. Wonder if he can get doubles down the chimney...

is Santa gonna come down your chimney? hehehehhe

[Dive_Girl]

[Walter]

Mike,

I think you should rethink the entire concept.

There's nothing in the DM course designed to make you a better diver or even a better educated diver. The DM course is designed to teach you to be in charge of a group of divers and/or work assisting divers on a charter boat. Since you're going the PADI route, you'll also get some education on running courses since most PADI DMs are AIs in all but name. The PADI course also leaves out boat related skills.

My point is, unless you really want to be a DM, you're basically wasting your time in anyone's DM course. If you are interested in increasing your knowledge of diving in general, read the NOAA Dive Manual. If you want to improve your skills/knowledge in a particular area, do a little reseach, find an excellent instructor for the area in which you're interested and take that class.

If you do want to be a DM, take the course.

[Diverbrian]

Walter,

I think that anything is worth taking a look at. Mike has already spent the money for the books. Why not read them?

I wanted to take the DiveCon. I took my IANTD Advanced Nitrox (Planned Deco) because I wanted to be a better diver. I figured at the cost of pushing my limits with an instructor around and learning how to do staged decompression, I could get a good feel for deco theory and that type of thing. I was right. What I miscalculated was how much I actually enjoy the extra amount of time underwater that this training allows me.

Mike, maybe you will have a similar experience as I had with the advanced nitrox course and find out that you actually enjoy it quite a bit. Don't be afraid to say it isn't for you if it isn't! But, if you want to be a DM, go ahead and a start the course. You can drop out at any time if you want or be a great DM when you get done. It is up to you.

Merry Christmas,

Brian

[Bubble2Bubble]

Thank You Everyone for your
Advise, Comments and Suggestions
Here are some Quote's from you that meant alot to me.

SquattingRadishDM

From an educational standpoint reading up on dive physics will probably lay the best foundations for learning the other material, seeing as most issues and challenges in diving relate to the physics involved.

also read through the Rescue Diver Manual again as the material is vital and it will be assumed that you are already proficient at this stuff. The chapter about spotting nervous/unsafe divers needs special attention.

Good luck with the DM course, it was one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life.

wreck_maniac

So I'd start with the encyclopedia/workbook. Have fun!

peterbj7

and reread the Rescue one. Another book I'd suggest as it has so much additional detail on subjects you probably find of interest is IANTD's Technical Diving Encyclopedia. It's essential if you ever want to do any IANTD courses

Dive_Girl

I do have to say I found the workbook very useful and if you haven't explored the tech world, it is a good workout for the brain and will help with the 5 major tests that the chapters correspond to and I found physics much easier to do using the Metric system

BradfordNC

is Santa gonna come

Walter

The DM course is designed to teach you to be in charge of a group of divers and/or work assisting divers on a charter boat

If you are interested in increasing your knowledge of diving in general, read the NOAA Dive Manual

Knowledge is Power
And as I go thru this Enclclopedia of Rec Diving
I think I will share what I am learning with others
so that they will be impowered also. I think I'll
start a new thread called Diving Cronicles in the future.
where I can post from these books certain articles.
here's the Intro.

Introduction
Few exsperiences can compare with the
thrill of exploring inner space. The oceans
which comprise more than 70 percent of
our plant, make the earth unique in the
solar system-perhaps even the universe.
yet, while people have walked on the moon
, they have only begun to explore this water
Plant. as air-breathing animals, humanity is
adapted to life on land. people are used to
the phenomena that surround them. they
expect to hear and see in a predictable
manner they are familiar with how the
body functions in air. Underwater, divers
find a new world where the rules appear
differant. the diver experiances new
sensations, and the underwater world
affects the body in ways that may influence
its most basic functions............

Well I just finished the first chapter tonight and as I was going thru it
I kept turning to the front cover of the book and making sure I was reading
a diving book not and science/chemist one. I'm sure it will all come together
later.

B2B

Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 27 December 2004 - 09:06 AM.

[jextract]

Mike,
Having just completed the DM thing, I'd say start with the workbook and use the encyclopedia for reference to answer the questions - don't waste your time reading the encyclopedia cover-to-cover (unless you have nothing that you'd rather be reading). Make sure you understand how to do the math problems backward and forward - use light pencil and erase when you've verified your answer, and when you have the right answer work backward from the answer back to the question. There are several bullshit questions on the exams, by the way, and even my instructor admitted such. Save the DM manual for when you are going to be interning as it is somewhat of a decent accompanying reference to what you're going to be doing when helping with classes. Dive Girl's right - most of the problems are much easier in metric, so make sure you understand both measurement systems. And definitely re-read the Rescue manual.

I'm with you on the "put another dollar in" - I'm starting to believe that PADI is the diving equivalent of Scientology!

Good luck!