If I become a master diver, can I have some slave divers?
If you can answer that question,- "Why can't I own a Canadian?"....
From a dive centre manager perspective, I've never had a bad experience with any customer who has turned up with the MSD card. I've never encountered any ego that came with the qualification - perhaps the ego issue only exists online?
For those thread contributors who feel so negative about the MSD certification - perhaps some self-analysis of their viewpoints would reveal a little ego issues also. At the end of the day, it's easy to let ego lead us into those sort of beliefs. It's ego that leads us to belittle something that we see as 'beneath us'.
Nah. I have one that stands out. This MSD came to dive with us on a wreck we have. We only allow really experienced divers on this dive. It is not too deep, just 37 meters, but the currents are ripping and if you get blown off the wreck, you end up in the shipping lanes. So.
This guy came and asked to do it. We talked about his dive experience. He explained that he was a MSD. With over 350 dives in all types of conditions. Of course he could handle strong currents. Well, the lead guy on that dive said OK. Not a big deal.
We were having a fun day for our DM's and some close friends and customers. This particular guy was the third one down the line. He got to about 15 meters, his eyes blew up, and he hit his elevator button hard, we had 4 of our guys behind him getting a hand on him, as he fought them. The last guy was dumping his purges and holding him to a safer speed of ascent and went up with him, holding the line so as not to get ripped out to sea. When we all got back, the guy was still pissed that we kept him from being a rocket ship.
He then told us that he had fudged a little. He had 350ish dives. All in crystal clear non-current carribean waters. But he was a master diver and should have been able to handle anything.... This was his rationale for lying. He hit the low vis and the current pull and lost his mind.
This is just the most extreme that I have seen. Of course, I have listened to the bragging on boats by MSD's, DM's, Rescue divers, and aow's. It is interesting how a little knowledge makes some people experts. I smile, and say, "How interesting. Cool."
Unless they say something completely crazy and dangerous, I leave them alone.
But I do see where the negativity can come from. Some like to impress the newbs with their exalted status. Not all, by any means. But enough to give a reputation.