Divemaster Training

[mumphrey]

I am planning to do a DiveMaster course this summer and ultimately go ahead and get an Instructor certification. I began to wonder if there was a "Harvard" of dive training and whether I should not seek that out in order to get both world class training and a highly respected credential. I am not wedded to PADI. My open water certification from the YMCA was earned in 1982. Since then, I have earned a Master Scuba Diver certification from PADI and a Normoxic TriMix certification from IANTD. My circumstances allow me to go practically anywhere on the planet and take as much time as necessary to get the best training available.

I would appreciate anyone's feedback on this matter.

 

[Jaxscubadiver]

You have a great question. I believe that the Dive Master program with PADI is a great opportunity. The most important thing to look for is an Instructor that will be a quality mentor to you. You and the instructor will develope a long term relationship and he or she should also be preparing you for your IDC. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

[Walter]

People have philosophies. So do certification agencies. You need to find an agency that has a philosophy that matches yours. If you have a good fit, you'll be happy. If not, you'll be miserable.

The Master Diver certification is an example of different philosophies. Do you believe it should be an extra card that means absolutely nothing in addition to the other cards you already have? Or do you believe those other cards should qualify you to take an actual Master Diver class that you have to pass to earn the card?

Do you believe eliminating skills is the way to make an OW course accessible to more people? Or do you believe taking more time and breaking those skills down into components you can teach to students is the better approach?

One philosophy is followed by PADI, the other by YMCA. Choose the one that fits your personal approach to life.

 

[Padipro]

Check out Pro Dive. I did my IDC there back in 93 and dive with them on a monthly basis. There are always people there from all over the world that come just to do their Instructor training. I believe they are still the number one certification shop in the country. They have a very professional staff, a great boat for training and being that it's in Ft. Lauderdale right along the beach you can't beat the location.

Scott

 

[steeldiver]

Training as a DM trough any organisation is once again
subject to the particular instruction you want.Because at the end of the day do you want to Become a DM as fast as possible and to be able to board a dive boat and say I'M A DM?.Or do you want to become a good DM.
The best meathod is to become a practically trained DM IS TO
Hang around the Dive school as long as posible, learn the dive sites,how to fill cillinders repair and service gear ,work on the dive boat and deal with divers.Most schools let you get free boat dives /air fills as you train as a DM remember after the book work and pool sesions there's lots of general knowledge you need to aquire.
I believe a good Dive Master becomes a good insrtuctor.
I did PADI and NUAI divemaster courses and worked as a Dm for 5 years Before i considered becoming an instuctor.My diving skills and practical knowledge were way above my fellow candidates.
Howard.

 

[diverbrian]

I am working on completing my Dive Control Specialist now. I have been in the program for about six months. It may sound like I am complaining, but actually I am happy about that as it is an entirely different thought process than just going out and diving with your buddy on a Sunday afternoon. It takes time. In another month (one more observation/helping with of an open water class), I should be complete with card.

It sounds like you have the experience to be a great DM. Good luck and pick an agency whose basic beliefs match yours and you should do well!

 

[mumphrey]

Thanks for all of the great feeback. As I got only one specific recommendation for a school (ProDive in Ft. Lauderdale) I will assume that, if there is a "Harvard" of diving schools, that is it.

As for certifying agencies, I know nothing of SSI or NAUI. When I earned my basic open water card back in 1978, the YMCA training was rigerous, sometimes rough, and took a full 12 weeks to get through. I knew other would be divers who earned PADI certification at about the same time and never felt sufficiently comfortable with their skills to ever dive again after their open water check-out dive.

I got Advanced Open Water, NITROX, Rescue, Cavern, Deep, Wreck, and DPV all from PADI and all from the same instructor, Richard Rydell. Richard was also my instructor for IANTD advanced NITROX and Normoxic Trimix. These courses were all great but I attribute that more to Rydell than the course materials or orginazational philosophies both of which he occasionally disrespected and supplemented with the Rydell philosophy.

There are only two reasons that I am presently considering breaking this past habit and going to an established school. The first, is a desire to become exposed to different instructors in order to benefit from a variety of experiences, teaching methods and philosophies. The second is my desire to have an intensive, concentrated course. Doing DM with Richard would likely streach out over several months as opposed to two weeks at a school. I do understand, as some of you pointed out, that becomming a GOOD DM will probably require months of experience acting in that capacity after I get the card.

For better or worse, ProDive was the outfit I had tentitively selected for this training. If I don't get additional strong opinions on the subject in the next week or two, I will probably go agead and sign up for their August 11 DM course.

 

[WileEDiver]

Mumphrey-

I have not done it personally, but a friend spoke very highly of Key Largo Instructor Training (http://www.keylargoinstructortraining.com). He said that they weren't the cheapest, but they were very knowledgeable and very accommodating.

One of the downsides of training "remotely" like this is that you don't really establish a relationship with an instructor that you are able to continue with (either as his DM or as you proceed along the instructor route). On the other hand, it can be done very quickly this way.

I'd been struggling with this very dilemma myself. I've had people, whose opinions I value, suggest doing DM locally (build the relationship, do your apprenticeship where you'll be diving a lot, and maybe working) and then if you want to look remotely for your instructor training/certification, that might make more sense.

Good luck wherever you do it.

 

[jepuskar]

As someone who is about to become a PADI Rescue Diver, and has already begun studying for the PADI Dive Master....I find your remarks very demeaning and extremely offensive from someone like yourself.

I understand you have a problem with the PADI system. I do see your point..however, you should also be mature enough to realize that it comes down to the indivdual's attitude, not the organization. This has been talked about enough, so I won't go into anymore.

Personally, I find PADI materials very thorough and from what I have seen from the Dive Master books soo far, I am very pleased with it. When I receive my Rescue card and then my Dive Master card, I will be very proud of them as I have earned them!

Your post was quite disappointing.

Jason

 

[diverbrian]

Let's be nice, guys! There is another thread (or unfortunately several) for PADI bashers and PADI supporters.

I don't particularly agree with the tenets of any particular agency, but we all have to deal with them. So, please go to your corners if this is to be hijacked into yet another PADI vs. non-PADI thread. Enough has been said on the subject already. And we all DIVERS, regardless of who certified us!