Aqua-Andy
Contributor
Congrats buddy.
Don't listen to the cynics. I'd rather dive with anyone who showed a serious commitment to self-improvement and perfecting their diving - than any diver who felt he was 'too cool for school'. It's easy for those people to cast stones on the internet - a forum where they can talk-the-talk, but don't have to walk-the-walk.
MSD takes some time, effort and commitment. That proves something.
Devon it's not about being "too cool for school" I just think some titles and classes are just there just to make money for the agencies, dive shops and instructors. Do you honestly believe you could call someone a "master diver" after only 50 dives and what 5? other courses? What I would consider a master diver is someone who has probably made around 1000 or more dives, has made dives in many different conditions and would have way more than six classes under his belt. The OP may in fact be an excellent diver but to I just would not consider someone with that experience a "master diver". It just seams to me that the diving industry in general is always trying to get more money out of us every chance they can get. In the side mount forum there was a thread about dive centers not letting people dive sidemount unless they have that cert now, but before the cert came out it was just fine. I was forced by my shop to take a drysuit class because when I took other classes from them I would have to dive wet unless I had a drysuit class, this was for "insurance purposes". What did I get out of the drysuit class? Almost nothing, except for the card. Yes some people may need it but I did a lot of research before diving it and educated myself on the use of a drysuit and did all the drills the class has you do. Just read the OP's comments about what he received back from PADI, going pro material. That is just as good as saying "hay congrats on your new cert, now give us more money". I even think the Advanced Diver rating is a joke. I don't know about PADI but with SSI you can take OW, fish id, photography, waves tides and currents, and the new nitrox no dives required course, and be an advanced diver. What really counts is your experience in the water. Flame away!