$$ for your DM course

[Aquabella]

If you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay for your DM course?

[roturner]

Aquabella once bubbled...
If you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay for your DM course?

About $450.

R..

[Walter]

I worked for free on a dive charter in exchange for the instruction.

[taz22]

I paid $375.00 and it included the PADI Divemaster manual.

[WileEDiver]

Many instructors (at least around me) will charge you nothing up front, but once you're certified let you "work it off" assisting in a certain number of classes over a given period of time. If you don't work enough during that time, you can either re-negotiate that time or pay it off in cash.

[BTW, I'm just referring to the instructor fee here--ordinarily $500, you still have to buy all other materials (like the DM book, DM slates, and the Instructor's Manual--if you want it).]

[Doppler]

I used to have DMs work off my fees by helping out with classes and trips.. however, if you get into that sort of arrnagement, agree up front exactly... did I say EXACTLY... how many, when and where.

[MikeFerrara]

I don't let DM's work it off. Too many just want the card for braging rights and never spend much time working classes. I've been burnt giving new divemasters huge discounts on gear as compensation for working classes that they never showed up to work. It's amazing how busy they get once they have what they want.

In fact, I don't market DM classes at all now (for the last couple years actually). It's too much work and I can't charge enough. If a DM isn't going to work with my classes I just don't have a reason to go through the trouble. In other words, I only teach it to supply myself with divemasters.

[ScubaJo]

how necessary is it to buy the encyclopedia?
our course which is starting up soon is costing over $800 CDN materials alone... and I don't think I can afford this...

[WileEDiver]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
how necessary is it to buy the encyclopedia?
our course which is starting up soon is costing over $800 CDN materials alone... and I don't think I can afford this...
I think the encyclopedia is probably necessary to be able to pass the tests. The price is about $35 (USD) for either the printed or CD-ROM version.

[ScubaJo]

I spoke with our instructor on the phone yesterday and this is what he told me:

- encyclopedia, workbook, manual, slates:
$780.69 + 7% tax - Canadian
(this is after i said no to the video, that would have been $835.45)

- me peeing my pants:
priceless.

[Butch103]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
I spoke with our instructor on the phone yesterday and this is what he told me:

- encyclopedia, workbook, manual, slates:
$780.69 + 7% tax - Canadian
(this is after i said no to the video, that would have been $835.45)

- me peeing my pants:
priceless.

I think that this is a little excessive. I didn't pay near this amount.
I have however committed to my LDS that I will DM for them once I have completed my course.

[WileEDiver]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
does this sounds right to you guys?
It sounds incredibly high to me unless that figure also included the instructor fees.

[jroy017]

My DM cost nothing. Deal with my instructor was help out on certs and courses for a whole summer (it ook me 2 since I wasn,t available enough). I also got my gear at a reduced price. I had to pay my fees for my DM card and those associated with my diving activities ( i did get free air).

I,,m doing my instructor now and my deal is course costs me nothing but I have to give classes for my instructor for free and work on certifications for free to pay.

Best advice agree beforehand on cost or method of repayment.

[taz22]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
I spoke with our instructor on the phone yesterday and this is what he told me:

- encyclopedia, workbook, manual, slates:
$780.69 + 7% tax - Canadian
(this is after i said no to the video, that would have been $835.45)

- me peeing my pants:
priceless.

Holy Cow!!! I'd say that is really expensive.

My course including the manual was $375.00, then $60 for the encyclopedia, $50 for the RDP wheel and $30 for slates & misc items. For a grand total of $515.00, which is more than $250 less than what you'd be paying.

The course ran once a week starting in November through April for classes then our open water and pool work etc etc. Just have 1 more dive to complete my map and its done.

I'd be checking around to see if might be able to get it cheaper some place else.

[D M I]

Yo!

Back when I took my IANTD tecknical diver Dive Master program, I beleave it was going for about $600 but I never paid that. This program will require much more skill and years of experience to acomplish than your standard scuby doo dive master program offered by PADI.

D M I:)

[deepdiver5by5]

DM course through REC. organization $350 - $450 with manual. Then add the reference guide $50 -$75. Then processing fee $60. Thats average. Tech -$500 plus Instructor in tech $1000 - $1200 per level. Also decide on the instructor/shop/club that trains the type of courses you want to play with. Some shops train more O/W while others train more AOW up. Well rounded course experience is still the best.
deepdiver5by5

[scuba-punk]

$350 USD (including dm crew pack stuff). I've had the encyclopedia for a while, but I didn't open it once during the course. As far as that workbook goes, I don't even know what it looks like.

My instructor has begun 'recommending' that his DM students also get the GUE Fundamentals book - not a bad idea. As a DM, you're going to run into all kinds of different divers and equipment, so it's a good thing to learn about everything that you can. As an example of being clueless... Wifey and I were recently diving in the Presscott/Brockville area and we were doing a shore dive in the river. We ran into a couple that were both scuba instructors. They took one look at our gear (backplates, single wings and long hoses) and asked us if we were cave divers. We replied, "No, this is just the way we dive. It's comfortable and both of us have the same setup." They just looked at us completely dumfounded like we had cocaine under our noses... Still not sure why we got that reaction from them... I guess that I just expect that someone in an instructor's position would have at least a rudimentary understanding of different gear configs and such. Lord knows what they teach their students. They actually had a bumper sticker that said "Nitrox divers do it deeper" or some nonsense like that. Nice responsible example folks. Sorry for hijacking. It just kinda happened. Now back to our regularly scheduled thread...

And let's not forget PADI's dollars. $58 USD for the first year's membership - I think that it's $75 USD every year after that if you are doing the DM thing to help with classes and supervise divers. Then there's the insurance...

-Frank =-)

[DPVDiver]

The DIR-F book is probably a great idea, having read it myself I think I will start reccomending that to my DM students, not that I dive DIR, (Most GUE divers would cringe at the site of my gear setup, although there is nothing wrong with DIR). But, it is extremely important that when you become a divemaster that you are familiar with all kinds of gear setups. I also highly reccomend that any of my DM students take a Nitrox course, even if only for the knowledge not to extend their bottom times. Plus, don't just help with courses, volunteer on a charter boat for a summer.

As for price, I think I last charged around $450CAD for a DM course but from an Instructors point of view you cannot charge enough. The amount of time that goes into one DM (if it is done correctly) is immense. Alot more than $450 worth.

I require my students they have the DM crewpack, Encyclopedia, and most of all an open mind. As for your $700 odd dollars he is probably selling you the Instructor manual and all materials reccomended by PADI. This stuff is important for and IDC but if you are not planning on becoming an instructor right away I would skip it as it will be out dated before you have a DM C-card.


Remember that as a DM or diver for that matter the most important thing is you should never stop learning.

[taz22]

D M I once bubbled...
Yo!

Back when I took my IANTD tecknical diver Dive Master program, I beleave it was going for about $600 but I never paid that. This program will require much more skill and years of experience to acomplish than your standard scuby doo dive master program offered by PADI.

D M I:)

Whether you have taken: PADI, TDIC, NAUI, IANTD, DIR, GUE, SSI training etc etc etc......Can we please refrain from bashing one another and the different agencies! It only does a dis-service to our sport!

[Aquabella]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
I spoke with our instructor on the phone yesterday and this is what he told me:

- encyclopedia, workbook, manual, slates:
$780.69 + 7% tax - Canadian
(this is after i said no to the video, that would have been $835.45)

- me peeing my pants:
priceless.
Thanks for the reponses guys. Jo and I are from the same shop....hence the question. I think I hear a big riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip...

*Shrug* time to go looking around

I like the combination of fee and work it off idea. Experience is always good.

[divedude]

ScubaJo once bubbled...
I spoke with our instructor on the phone yesterday and this is what he told me:

- encyclopedia, workbook, manual, slates:
$780.69 + 7% tax - Canadian
(this is after i said no to the video, that would have been $835.45)

- me peeing my pants:
priceless.

Mine cost $199 that included everything and that's at the same shop as scubajo and Aquabella..........but it was a while ago...like back when our dollar was worth more than a US dollar.......Ya I know most of you guys think that's never happened.
Aquabella...You get what you pay for.
Buy a cheap course..........get a cheap course!!
Do at least 100 dives to over 70' before you start. I know PADI is 60 dives no depth requirement but then PADI selling courses...Me I deal with the end product of the course and I have seen some DM's that didn't have a clue....... but they did read the encyclopedia. and they passed the "Course"

[Aquabella]

Thanks for the advice divedude, your totally right about the $$ and it certainly isn't the main factor when I'm looking for a course. I just thought it was a little extreme.

I do think I know why it is how it is though. My instructor isn't really in need of more DM's right now and was asked to do the course. So he's doing it, but at full pop. Which is understandable. Although...I also understand that I don't feel any need to pay it. I'll be looking at all my options.

I'm also not in a rush. Thanks again,

Aquabella

[Tom R]

Divedudes correct here, there is a lot of DM that don't have a clue, sometimes it's not the training or lack of that's the problem but the attitude, Take in mind here that the DM course is your first step into being a leader and supervisor.

Tom R

[D M I]

u

[redseal]

Price for the DM course locally was US$375 this year, plus the DM manual, encyclopedia, workbook. Airfills during the course were included as well as for the OW dives, mapping exercise, CW sessions.

It was a bargain considering how many hours we (4 DM candidates) spent in classroom, pool and quarry with many of the LDS instructors.

Agree with previous posts that DM class by itself is not an end to all means. It does open eyes to what a good instructor looks like, both in the classroom and in the water. It also is a nicely humbling experience, and has caused me to be more self critical in my own diving.

My $0.02.:)