The two most valuable continuing ed courses for recreational divers are, in my opinion, Rescue Diver (agree with all those previous posters) and cavern diver.
Rick
Rick
Should we all strive to be divemasters?
- Thread starter Al Mialkovsky
- Start date
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Phish-phood
Guest
I think for some people the DM course can be the natural progression - I am not a card collector, quite the opposite I don't care how many cards I have but as an AOW diver I am constantly on the lookout for what courses I can do to keep me in the water and further my skills. This weekend for example I was on my first proper dive trip, I did a very good wreck dive that I loved, afterwards I was asking people what they thought of the wreck dive speciality course, I got some 'card collectors' looks from some people who didn't realise that my reason for asking was that I had enjoyed the dive so much but felt I could have gotten a lot more out of it had I had some specific wreck training. As a new diver I don't know how good/useful these individual courses are and the only way to find out is to ask questions of those who have more experience than me.
I don't intend to do my DM training for a couple of years yet but when I do it will because it is a fresh challenge to do the course and because watching the DM's in my club who help in the pool sessions but not the OW I can see how gratifying it is to take a nervous student and get them to the stage where they are happy to dive. Having been a nervous student in the pool myself I know only too well how great it is to have patient and experienced DM's who take the time to help you not only learn the skills but make you believe you can do it.
I don't intend to do my DM training for a couple of years yet but when I do it will because it is a fresh challenge to do the course and because watching the DM's in my club who help in the pool sessions but not the OW I can see how gratifying it is to take a nervous student and get them to the stage where they are happy to dive. Having been a nervous student in the pool myself I know only too well how great it is to have patient and experienced DM's who take the time to help you not only learn the skills but make you believe you can do it.
diveski01
Contributor
ALL divers should be trained to rescue any other diver. Only one per buddy team isn't going to get the job done if the trained diver is the one in need of rescuing.
Actually the man asking was a father that was certified by our shop a few months ago. He was thinking about taking the course with his son, who we certified yesterday.
You are right all divers should try to get rescue trained. However, someone a day out of open water may not get the most out of the course, LOL.
So yes, I agree with you. But I don't believe that most people took Stress and Rescue as their first course out of OW. I know that many of my normal dive buddies have never taken the course out of financial concerns and some of them have taught me quite a bit. I am trying to "sell" the course, but in a bad economy when people are getting laid off, YOU try asking people about spending good money for Stress and Rescue and DAN O2 provider when they normally dive with DiveCon's, instructors, or a charter's DM's (in the Caribbean). It can be a tough sell, so you try to ease people into the process. Once one buddy takes it, then they say to the other buddy.... "Hey, you know that I learned quite a bit in this course. You may want to think about taking it." (paraphrased)
You are right all divers should try to get rescue trained. However, someone a day out of open water may not get the most out of the course, LOL.
So yes, I agree with you. But I don't believe that most people took Stress and Rescue as their first course out of OW. I know that many of my normal dive buddies have never taken the course out of financial concerns and some of them have taught me quite a bit. I am trying to "sell" the course, but in a bad economy when people are getting laid off, YOU try asking people about spending good money for Stress and Rescue and DAN O2 provider when they normally dive with DiveCon's, instructors, or a charter's DM's (in the Caribbean). It can be a tough sell, so you try to ease people into the process. Once one buddy takes it, then they say to the other buddy.... "Hey, you know that I learned quite a bit in this course. You may want to think about taking it." (paraphrased)
for the benefit of those who are new-to-scuba "one cannot take the rescue course a day out of open water" there are prerequisites that must be met to even begin the class.
Again, I agree. I was simply trying to make my point as to the audience that I was referring to. The father may have been close to ready, the son most certainly wasn't yet.
The ones that I would really like to think about taking this course are two of my normal dive buddies who certified around the same time that I did. I do have quite a few more dives, but the one did AOW with me and is most certainly ready. Unfortunately, he lost his job to cutbacks a while ago and I can't offer "scholarships"
. When the three of us go diving, I am the only Stress and Rescue person there. I does make me nervous sometimes. But that is one of the reasons that I initially took DiveCon. It is not the only time anymore that I will be in that position.
I really do like the points being raised here.
The ones that I would really like to think about taking this course are two of my normal dive buddies who certified around the same time that I did. I do have quite a few more dives, but the one did AOW with me and is most certainly ready. Unfortunately, he lost his job to cutbacks a while ago and I can't offer "scholarships"
. When the three of us go diving, I am the only Stress and Rescue person there. I does make me nervous sometimes. But that is one of the reasons that I initially took DiveCon. It is not the only time anymore that I will be in that position.I really do like the points being raised here.
MHK
Guest
I would offer a few thoughts on this subject:
1) More often then not the description on the c-card isn't indicative of the skills presumable associated with the card. For example, an Advanced card often times is in name only. Similiarly a Divemaster rating doesn't automatically mean much in terms of ability, it however carries with it a serious point that you may want to consider if getting for no real strong reason.
As a "regular" diver if you assist in an emergency you are covered under the Good Samaritan laws, and as such would be exempt from any potential litigation associated with your efforts. As a "professional" ie; Divemaster you are now presumed to have the training and as such no longer qualify as a Good Samaritan. I'm NOT a lawyer but I've consulted with several prominent lawyers widely recognized as scuba specialists about this point, and the advice I've heard is that absent a "reason" to enter the ranks of a professional, the potential liability outweights the benefit, such as the term is used.
2) If you really want to improve your buddy skills you may consider taking a DIR-F class. The DIR-F class concentrates very heavily on team diving, team awareness and so forth..
Hope this helps..
Later
It has all pretty much been covered already, but definately take the Rescue Course. It is the toughest course I have taken. If handled properly by the instructor the rescues will be very realistic and challenging.
I do think some form of refresher should be set up every so often to stay current. Mine was 7 years ago and I bet if I need the skills they won't be up to snuff.
DM is also worth while, I started it but didn't have the time to complete it. I believe the focus on people management and dealing with panic etc. is worth it for anyone.
I have watched buddies who are DMs deal with divers at depth who were having problems and I could see that they handled it better than I likely would have.
Have Fun
Gary
I do think some form of refresher should be set up every so often to stay current. Mine was 7 years ago and I bet if I need the skills they won't be up to snuff.
DM is also worth while, I started it but didn't have the time to complete it. I believe the focus on people management and dealing with panic etc. is worth it for anyone.
I have watched buddies who are DMs deal with divers at depth who were having problems and I could see that they handled it better than I likely would have.
Have Fun
Gary
Do I think all divers should strive to attain DM? Sure! Why not? Continuing education improves everyone, if not, at the very least, I think all divers should attain Master Scuba Diver.
-Dennis
-Dennis
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