Hi, I'm AOWD under SSI.
I'm just starting the stress&rescue course and will certify next December.
I have up to now 65 dives under my belt.
With this, I will qualify for the SSI Master Diver card.
Is it possible to get this card on-line directly with SSI or should I ask it through my dive school ?
I was informed in my school that a master diver course should be taken previous to get the card.
k ellis
August 8th, 2011, 11:50 AM
I am not ultra familiar with the SSI Master Diver course but will say in PADI you just goto your LDS with your logs and proof of 5 specialties and the 3 cores (Open water, AOW and rescue) and just pay padi $50.00. I am very proud that I got mine though most people scoff at the cert since PADIs is an honorary cert. If you are serious about diving go for the Dive Master (Or dive con depending on which agency you choose) youll find it quiet a rewarding course too!
OldNSalty
August 8th, 2011, 02:41 PM
I am not ultra familiar with the SSI Master Diver course but will say in PADI you just goto your LDS with your logs and proof of 5 specialties and the 3 cores (Open water, AOW and rescue) and just pay padi $50.00. I am very proud that I got mine though most people scoff at the cert since PADIs is an honorary cert. If you are serious about diving go for the Dive Master (Or dive con depending on which agency you choose) youll find it quiet a rewarding course too!
If you are serious about diving and need the education you could get a Master Diver card from NAUI or SEI and not have to worry about carring insurance and what not.
k ellis
August 8th, 2011, 04:17 PM
If you are serious about diving and need the education you could get a Master Diver card from NAUI or SEI and not have to worry about carring insurance and what not.
I honestly can not comment one way or the other about NAUI or SEI as I dont carry certifications from those agencies. I do suggest that one takes dive master for all the added beniefit of the theories and skills the require one to learn but you are correct in that if you do not intend to assist students or lead tours then the divemaster will require added cost such as membership fees and insurance.
I personaly chose the way of the divemaster for the love of the sport and joys of watching new divers who have their eyes opened to the world of scuba diving! But if one never intends to be a leader in the industry then there is nothing wrong with a master diver certification!
OldNSalty
August 8th, 2011, 06:29 PM
No argument here K ellis. I once thought about the Dive Master route because I wanted the knowledge...but I did not want the job. Most agencies just hand out the MD card in exchange for a check after an Advance diver logs enough dives (worthless IMO). SEI and NAUI actually structure a course around the Master Diver card and they are not easy courses. I have heard the SEI course described as giving instructor level knowledge without having to become an instructor...but it all depends on what the OP wants to get out of it. If you just want a card, send me $5 and I'll issue you one.
emoreira
August 8th, 2011, 09:46 PM
In fact I will go on in the formal education to become an Instructor.
I'm involved in a real state project around a deep quarry that will offer all type of nautical no-motor activities, including diving.
Part of this I will need the required qualifications to carry people to do "Discover scuba" dives. This is completely new for me, as this project started a few months ago. I will start Stress&Rescue next week. Master diver should be the next step.
OldNSalty
August 8th, 2011, 10:12 PM
If your goal is instructor then skip the Master Diver and go to the Dive Master. Master Diver will not do you any good.
Jill from Phoenix
August 8th, 2011, 10:28 PM
.....
eponym
August 9th, 2011, 12:40 AM
Emoreira, Hi. I teach through SSI, beginner through divecon (=assistant instructor). What follows is SSI standards for USA.
I'm just starting the stress&rescue course and will certify next December.
I have up to now 65 dives under my belt. With this, I will qualify for the SSI Master Diver card. Is it possible to get this card on-line directly with SSI or should I ask it through my dive school ? I was informed in my school that a master diver course should be taken previous to get the card.You need an instructor to vouch for the dive count and courses/dives and to request the cert. You can't do it through SSI HQ yourself.
In fact I will go on in the formal education to become an Instructor. I'm involved in a real state project around a deep quarry that will offer all type of nautical no-motor activities, including diving. Part of this I will need the required qualifications to carry people to do "Discover scuba" dives. This is completely new for me, as this project started a few months ago. I will start Stress & Rescue next week. Master diver should be the next step.Sounds like a great project.
In the new scheme of things SSI (since 2010) one goes from Master Diver to Dive Guide, then to Dive Master, then to Dive Control Specialist, aka DiveCon, equivalent to other agencies' Assistant Instructor.
Conducting SSI "Try Scuba" (pool) requires a DiveCon cert. Conducting SSI "Try Scuba Diving" (open water variant) requires an Instructor cert.
Hope this helps,
Bryan
PS. Let us know how it goes!
SIUegyptiandiver
August 9th, 2011, 01:46 AM
I have a NAUI "Master Diver" certification. Not very impressive really when you consider that all it takes is sending in your AOW cert number (they renamed AOW to Master Diver) and paying the fee for the new card. That being said, my NAUI cert course was 16 weeks of OWD education and 16 weeks of AOW education, though my situation is the exception and not the rule. I took it as a college course (yes, they offer SCUBA as a college course in some places) and we covered everything from snorkeling/skin diving to dive theory, the history of diving, first aid, CPR, rescue techniques, deep diving, boat diving, wreck diving.....you get the point. What we covered for my advanced cert is far and away more extensive than most divers who go through each of the specialty courses offered by SSI and PADI. Therefore, after several hundred logged (and many unlogged) dives, I feel justified in holding a Master Diver certification.
My word of wisdom, however, is that a standard Master Diver certification in and of itself is not really a big deal, but Dive Master IS a big deal. If you have the initiative, drive, desire to teach then i whole-heartedly agree with you and Salty, k ellis. IMHO, number of logged dives, cert agency, and even in some cases cert level mean little. I have dove with really great OWD students and really lousy "Master Divers". Good divers are good divers, period.
>my 2 cents worth
DMDavid
August 9th, 2011, 02:14 AM
I have a NAUI "Master Diver" certification. Not very impressive really when you consider that all it takes is sending in your AOW cert number (they renamed AOW to Master Diver) and paying the fee for the new card.
Just to clarify for those that are new to diving.
Back in the 1980's NAUI had the following certification levels:
OW I
OW II
Advanced
Then some of the agencies (nameless) in the early 1990's changed the names of the different levels in an attempt to generate more business my making the names of the different levels sound more powerful thus feeding the egos of those that need it fed.
So now the new levels are called:
Scuba Diver
Advanced Diver
Master Diver (not to be confused with Dive Master)
Dive Master is considered to be a professional level (for hire) by most if not all agencies.
Well, thanks for dating me David, LOL! yes, my original AOW cert was in 1984.......
DMDavid
August 9th, 2011, 02:38 AM
Well, thanks for dating me David, LOL! yes, my original AOW cert was in 1984.......
[HIJACKED THREAD]
This could be the start of a whole new thread called "You Know You're An Old Diver If" - Your C-card looked more like a credit card with raised print.
[/HIJACKED THREAD]
Maybe...but that old card came in handy when I couldnt read the print anymore and had to etch out the raised print with a piece of paper and a pencil (remember those?)....;)
knowone
August 9th, 2011, 06:28 AM
I mostly enjoy meeting divers, with mastery
that have great communication skills as well
OldNSalty
August 9th, 2011, 09:37 AM
In the new scheme of things SSI (since 2010) one goes from Master Diver to Dive Guide, then to Dive Master, then to Dive Control Specialist, aka DiveCon, equivalent to other agencies' Assistant Instructor.
I am not disagreeing with that statement as I am not an SSI instructor but if what you say is correct, then you guys really need to update your website.
SSI :: SSI Scuba Schools International :: take your dive @ diveSSI.com (http://www.divessi.com/dive_pro_programs)
According to those guys all you need to do is be a 'Dive guide' and be certified 'science of diving' (what ever that is) and the prereqs for dive guide do not say anything about Master Diver. Maybe 'science of diving' requires Master Diver-I don't know.
Dive Guide Prerequisite
Minimum age: 18 Years
Certification: AOWD and Stress&Rescue
minimum dives: 50
eponym
August 9th, 2011, 11:48 AM
According to those guys all you need to do is be a 'Dive guide' and be certified 'science of diving' (what ever that is) and the prereqs for dive guide do not say anything about Master Diver. Maybe 'science of diving' requires Master Diver-I don't know.
Dive Guide Prerequisite
Minimum age: 18 Years
Certification: AOWD and Stress&Rescue
minimum dives: 50Those prereqs in themselves define the Master Diver cert. But you're right, technically you don't have to hold an actual Master Diver card to start the Dive Guide program, you just have to meet all the requirements for it.
[With SSI, the Advanced rating requires four specialties (with multiple training dives each) and 24 logged dives. Adding the Stress & Rescue course and logging a total of 50 dives qualifies you for the Master Diver cert. And at that point you are also qualified to begin the Dive Guide course.]
Hope this helps,
Bryan
jscott099
August 10th, 2011, 07:18 AM
This thread went all over the place, so just to make sure the question got answered:
- yes, you should ask your LDS to get you the Master Diver card. There should be a small fee for this but no additional classes or training are involved. It is just a 'plastic reward' for your own benefit.
- Dive Master is NOT the same as Master Diver. It is a professional level rating that you should have a specific intent to achieve. It will cost you money and quite a bit of educational time.
mainedvr
August 14th, 2011, 06:46 PM
In the new scheme of things SSI (since 2010) one goes from Master Diver to Dive Guide, then to Dive Master, then to Dive Control Specialist, aka DiveCon, equivalent to other agencies' Assistant Instructor.
Conducting SSI "Try Scuba" (pool) requires a DiveCon cert. Conducting SSI "Try Scuba Diving" (open water variant) requires an Instructor cert.
I am looking into the SSI Pro Level Certs and my LDS that has done most of my certs told me something a bit different. Through SSI if you can take the indivdual cert of Dive Con and you have all the ones below that covered (Dive Guide and DM) aparently (from what I was told) SSI has rolled them all into the Dive Con Course if you wish to do it that way. Sounds good to me and I hope to be starting soon.
Thing I have gotten mostly from the site and well just plain old common sense is that the certificaion agency and the card do not make the diver any better its the trainer and the amount of time and effort the student puts into it. My instructor will not supply a cert if you do not preform. They also offer training above the core needs but of course only require you to satisfy what SSI requires.
Good luck and have fun
devildoc5
August 19th, 2011, 12:31 PM
Could not help but chime n on this one.
SSI Master Diver is an experience level C-Card designed to show you are more advanced than a AOW card carrier.
Dive Master is an entry level PROFESSIONAL Certification that shows you have taken additional classes and gained additional experience centered around "diving for others."
I however would personally skip the whole Dive Master stage and go straight into DiveCon. With DiveCon you get all the benefits of Dive Master but also get the added benefit of Assistant Instructor, which will better prepare you for your Instructor training IMO.
The only real difference I have noticed in the SSI Standards as far as ENTRANCE into the Dive Master vs. DiveCon program is that DiveCon requires a few more dives (which cant be considered a bad thing, more dives is always good for the diver) :D
Heck I am even pretty sure that Science of Diving is built into Dive Master now so it is pointless to take one and then upgrade to the other, just skip Dive Master and save yourself some greenbacks (even though they arent worth anything anymore....)
devildoc5
August 20th, 2011, 03:33 AM
I am not disagreeing with that statement as I am not an SSI instructor but if what you say is correct, then you guys really need to update your website.
SSI :: SSI Scuba Schools International :: take your dive @ diveSSI.com (http://www.divessi.com/dive_pro_programs)
According to those guys all you need to do is be a 'Dive guide' and be certified 'science of diving' (what ever that is) and the prereqs for dive guide do not say anything about Master Diver. Maybe 'science of diving' requires Master Diver-I don't know.
Dive Guide Prerequisite
Minimum age: 18 Years
Certification: AOWD and Stress&Rescue
minimum dives: 50
The Science of Diving is an SSI course designed to teach Dive Professional the advanced physiology that accompanies diving and diving injuries. It is in place because, whether unfortunate or not, there are not too many people who are taking Tech Diving courses before they become Instructors. This leaves them with somewhat limited knowledge on the effects of diving on the human body.
Sure we all got the basic run down in OW class, but this expands on that and teaches (as far as I can tell) the physiological part of Tech Diving. As in the way the body responds to different atmospheres and pressures. The different physiological responses that occur while diving and how to easily recognize distress, uncomfortableness (sp?), and how best to deal with those at depth.
This is kind of a bridge between diver Stress and Rescue and "Dive Professional Stress and Rescue" yet goes more in to detail on the why and how of the stress portion. If that makes any sense.
emoreira
September 22nd, 2011, 11:06 AM
In fact I will go on in the formal education to become an Instructor.
I'm involved in a real state project around a deep quarry that will offer all type of nautical no-motor activities, including diving.
Part of this I will need the required qualifications to carry people to do "Discover scuba" dives. This is completely new for me, as this project started a few months ago. I will start Stress&Rescue next week. Master diver should be the next step.
Following this, after becoming Master Diver, as per this SSI :: SSI Scuba Schools International :: take your dive @ diveSSI.com (http://www.divessi.com/dive_pro_programs), I should go to Dive Guide, then Divemaster, then Dive Control Specialist and finally OWD Instructor.
Skooter
September 22nd, 2011, 11:40 AM
Take the Science of Diving course then you can follow that plan.
Tom Smedley
September 22nd, 2011, 01:10 PM
With SSI all materials and certifications must be done through an SSI Dealer. If you have the AOW and S & R plus 50 dives you qualify for Master Diver. Now - before you continue - register for the Master Diver Challenge. This will give you a prize when you finish Stress and Rescue. When you complete requirements and upgrade to Master Diver you will be entered into a drawing for an exotic trip. One of my students won the Cayman trip a couple of years ago.
If you wish to continue you can complete the Dive Guide Course and the Science of Diving Course and you will qualify as SSI Divemaster. If you just want additional knowledge you can complete the Science of Diving Course at any time it is offered. To be a practicing Dive Guide or Divemaster who leads other divers on trips etc. you must be associated with an SSI Dealer and carry liability insurance to be active. In continuation, next in line from Divemaster is Dive Control Specialist or Divecon. With this rating you can qualify to teach certain specialty courses, I tried scuba, refresher, and you can lead dive students on the experience part of their open water dives.
I would suggest that you go ahead and order the Master Diver Card. It is an impressive accomplishment. Then make your decision to continue or to be happy with status quo. As with other agencies do not confuse the rating of Master Diver with Divemaster. They are two diffferent certifications with different levels of responsibility.....
Have fun and good luck!
Hi, I'm AOWD under SSI.
I'm just starting the stress&rescue course and will certify next December.
I have up to now 65 dives under my belt.
With this, I will qualify for the SSI Master Diver card.
Is it possible to get this card on-line directly with SSI or should I ask it through my dive school ?
I was informed in my school that a master diver course should be taken previous to get the card.
