I am now a Master Scuba Diver (Wow! Impressive!)

[DOkie]

I still don't understand why it seems that the general opinion is that to obtain one's Master Divers cert, the only specialties offered are drift, boat, underwater photog, etc and that your five specialty courses don't teach you anything or that training isn't needed. Not to start a debate on fresh water vs. ocean diving but the wrecks are different. The diving conditions in the wrecks are different. Example: The wrecks in the Great Lakes generally are wood, do not have big holes cut in them for easy access/exits and are known to have a tremendous problem with silt. Penetration in these wrecks can be a little "interesting" at times. In my opinion that specialty course is useful in the right circumstances. I happen to live in an area where the LDS also dives with the local divers so he doesn't charge for most services, but just teaches, so I have never taken it. Ice diving: I would not recommend this to anyone without proper training. (Or any overhead environment for that matter). I have paid for these.

Although I don't have a Master Divers card, I respect those who do. I don't assume that they were lazy and took the easiest classes that they could. I just assume that they took classes that interested them and are proud of their accomplishments...

 

[rockjock3]

Congratulations. I paid the $36 dollars for mine just becasue I wanted a cert card with my Nitrox on it as well. I already had nitrox and it was $36 to get a new OW or AOW with nitrox on it so I figured why not just get a new card with Nitrox on it. That way when I go on a charter boat (rarely) I can just show them one card that show I can do whatever dives are doing and only have to remember one number.

I also learned a lot from my courses. I did most of them in my earlier dives (30-120ish) so I did benifit from the additional instructor time that I probably would have now with over 500 dives.

Again, congrats.

 

[k ellis]

Ok that makes a lot of sense... Doing courses to liven things up if you are bored of the quarry and have no other alternatives. However, that still does not explain "shameless card collecting". Master Diver card didn't involve anything extra diving wise than you have already done with your other cards. THAT bit I am wondering about especially as you know it is "dorky". I mean, in the scheme of things it is not much money but you call PADI PAID but then you buy into their whole "you need our cert cards" scheme?

Just doesn't make much sense

Edit: Ok I posted this then read your last response. Fair enough. But most people are not like you when it comes to getting their Master Diver card

Honestly I am in the same boat he is in sas Regardless of what level of certification one has it never trully reflects the true ability of the diver. Some open water divers are much better divers then alot of overly carded divers. Then there are alot of divers with cards better divers then those with only an open water card.

Hang in there Sas and keep up the good debates. Dont let the negative comments get you down

 

[Sas]

Honestly I am in the same boat he is in sas Regardless of what level of certification one has it never trully reflects the true ability of the diver. Some open water divers are much better divers then alot of overly carded divers. Then there are alot of divers with cards better divers then those with only an open water card.

Hang in there Sas and keep up the good debates. Dont let the negative comments get you down

Haha thanks I don't mind the negative comments A few of my buddies are in the process of getting their Master Diver card so it is not like I think badly of people who do get one, it is just that I think a lot of new divers don't realise they can do a lot of the skills themselves or just with an experienced diver. In hindsight I wish I'd saved some of the money I paid for my specialties and saved it for more advanced training or training with a different agency (for example, I hope to do Fundies this year, but it would have been better to do this earlier... and I am currently doing training with BSAC, which is a very different style to PADI/SSI/etc from my own experience and much more suited to how I like to be instructed ) But, to each their own.

 

[meierdierck]

Saspotato, I guess I dont see the problem with the guy taking specialties from his shop, he aparently enjoys it, it gives him a reason to dive, not to mention meeting people doing the same thing he likes doing, blah, blah, blah, i can list many more reasons.

if you were so bad at it, it would seem you would appreciate someone seeking guidance in developing skills, which you state you did (i dont see the value of teaching deco theory in an EANX class, thats why we follow course outlines, to stay on topic)

and why do you detract from what he has worked toward, on your profile you say you are working on a BSAC Dive Leader, what makes your course better than his?

 

[Sas]

Saspotato, I guess I dont see the problem with the guy taking specialties from his shop, he aparently enjoys it, it gives him a reason to dive, not to mention meeting people doing the same thing he likes doing, blah, blah, blah, i can list many more reasons.

Ok then.

if you were so bad at it, it would seem you would appreciate someone seeking guidance in developing skills, which you state you did (i dont see the value of teaching deco theory in an EANX class, thats why we follow course outlines, to stay on topic)

I would prefer an instructor to go beyond course standards personally. I got a lot of help from more experienced divers to improve my dive skills, rather than via courses.

and why do you detract from what he has worked toward, on your profile you say you are working on a BSAC Dive Leader, what makes your course better than his?

Apples and oranges. I never said one was better than the other but I do think that I personally am getting a LOT more out of my current course than I have with the SSI specialties I have done to get my AOW.

But to compare them:

"Master Diver" is not a course, you do not have to do anything extra to get the card than what you have already done in other courses. For Dive Leader course, it has course work and practical skills. Secondly, my Dive Leader training is free and I only pay for books (which is minimal), unlike the specialties I have done (which were expensive for what I got out of them). Thirdly, the course is done in my own time so I can work on skills as long as I need before progressing. All my specialties had a set schedule in a short period of time, which does not allow one to learn a lot imho. Also the purpose of Dive Leader training is different to the purpose of Master Diver - one is to learn how to lead and guide other divers, the latter is to learn very basic dive skills for yourself.

But I am always open to hearing of people's experiences with courses I am doing, even if it is negative feedback from people saying it is not worthwhile. It is good to get many opinions on courses/gear/diving practices/etc as I learn more this way.

 

[BioLogic]

I teach for a living, and this is one of the things it took a while to sink into my (thick) head: Not everyone learns the same way. Some people learn best by doing; some by more formal teaching. I've found it best to accommodate the learner's style rather than criticize them for not sharing mine...

Also, if you happen to have diving friends who are experienced and want to teach you, great! But people just getting into diving don't necessarily have such buddies hanging around. It can take a while to develop those contacts. I would consider it something of an imposition for me to try to get someone more experienced to buddy up with me and take me on a particular kind of dive just so I could pepper them with questions and get a great learning experience. Could it be learned without such a buddy? Sure. But the chance for a bad outcome is a lot higher when you don't know what you're doing.

The best value I've found in my courses is not in the PADI curriculum (which I personally can learn just fine from the books); but rather in the experience of the instructor. I find a real-time critique of what I'm doing well and not so well very valuable. I value hearing from people who've really 'been there, done that' how to handle real life situations. An experienced buddy could serve that role just as well; but my easiest and most reliable access to that kind of teaching is by signing up for a course.

I think getting the actual Master Diver card is a bit of silliness. But who cares? If someone enjoys the target of earning it, let them have their fun I say.

 

[dwhthediver]

First, let me offer my congratulaions on getting your Master Scuba Diver, don't be ashamed of it, it is an achievement and shows your dedication to divng and learning to be a better diver. Now, that said, I must also congratulate for realizing that getting your msd doesn't make you a "scuba god" and the best learning is diving. There are some very good specialities out there, and not just "lazy" people take classes like Digital Underwater Photography, but people who take classes like that are interested in the subject, the class is pretty easy...if you don't go a little beyond the scope, like teaching neutral bouyancy to get better pics with less backscatter. I enjoy teaching, and there are no "worthless" specialities if it is an aspect of diving that really appeals to YOU. So don't be afraid to show your MSD card, dive alot and be proud of your accomplishment.

 

[sabbath999]

I think getting the actual Master Diver card is a bit of silliness.

You are just JEALOUS! I've got one and you are "ONLY" a Rescue Diver

I expect you to call me "Master Diver" from here on out... or just "Master" for short.

So you have a few more OW dives than I do, I am not BITTER about that since I have more C-Cards!

(For those who don't know, BioLogic is my wife and regular scuba buddy).

 

[Laustimus]

I did it for something to do. Some people go to the casino, some people go to ball games, some people sit on their butts and watch TV... me, I spent my winter months and the early spring studying scuba diving.

My step brother also has what we call "The Collector Syndrome" he just comes out and admits he just can't stop it. He had probably about 2000+ DVD's, now that Blu-ray is out he's selling all of those and getting Blu-rays .

Oh well we all have a vice, mine is having a spartan house, I hate having too much stuff