How to answer "what is your highest certification level"?

[Wibble]

"Master Scuba Diver" says what about the holder? The ability to attend 5 specialities after Rescue Diver?

It's not a qualification, it's a marketing tool.

 

[MichaelMc]

"Master Scuba Diver" says what about the holder? The ability to attend 5 specialities after Rescue Diver?

Padi MSD is a shorter way of saying "AOW + Rescue + 5 specialties and 50 dives." It could be a good goal. But given it can be any 5 specialties, it does not add any specific performance requirement past AOW + Rescue. You could be really good at: Fish Id, Coral Reef Conservation, Boat, Drift, and Altitude diving.

 

[scubadada]

"Master Scuba Diver" says what about the holder? The ability to attend 5 specialities after Rescue Diver?

It's not a qualification, it's a marketing tool.

Why are you such an ass? It explicitly states that you have OW. AOW, Rescue, 5 specialties, and at least 50 dives. Only Self Reliant Diver, with AOW and 100 dives might trump it. Neither certifies for nitrox.

Edit: I posted while @MichaelMc was posting

 

[Wibble]

Why are you such an ass? It explicitly states that you have OW. AOW, Rescue, 5 specialties, and at least 50 dives. Only Self Reliant Diver, with AOW and 100 dives might trump it. Neither certifies for nitrox.

As I said, it's not a certification. It's merely Rescue + 5 specialities. Most people by the time they've got to Rescue have two or three specialities: Nitrox, Deep, Drysuit. "Master" Scuba Diver's a way of selling two/three more speciality courses and is somewhat trading on the DiveMASTER course name.

Don't you have to pay PADI for the card - after you've got the 5 specialities?

 

[MichaelMc]

Apparently $69 per person. Paid directly to PADI with your application.
https://www.scubafrisco.com/master-scuba-diver-certification

Whether the shorthand is worth it depends on you.

ETA: It does assure the boat that someone else hopefully verified that you have 50 dives.

 

[scubadada]

As I said, it's not a certification. It's merely Rescue + 5 specialities. Most people by the time they've got to Rescue have two or three specialities: Nitrox, Deep, Drysuit. "Master" Scuba Diver's a way of selling two/three more speciality courses and is somewhat trading on the DiveMASTER course name.

Don't you have to pay PADI for the card - after you've got the 5 specialities?

Sure, so you are Rescue + nitrox or you are MSD + nitrox, no big deal, as you point out, MSD may have a bit more applicable training, depends on the choices. I think you are incorrect regarding divemaster. We can disagree.

 

[Wibble]

Apparently $69 per person. Paid directly to PADI with your application.
https://www.scubafrisco.com/master-scuba-diver-certification

Whether the shorthand is worth it depends on you.

ETA: It does provide the boat an assurance that someone else hopefully verified that you have 50 dives.

Has anyone ever passed Rescue without more than 50 dives? If so then have to question the certification standards!

$69 to PADI -- that really is money for old rope.

 

[MichaelMc]

$69 to PADI -- that really is money for old rope.

Let me google that some more for you.

Master Scuba Diver – Liamis Dive Centre
Fees:

• PADI Master Scuba Diver application fee: 55,20 € payable direct to PADI (by credit card), which accompanies your application form
• This fee includes a quarterly subscription to The Undersea Journal.
• Once your application has been reviewed and processed by PADI, you’ll receive a PADI Master Scuba Diver certification card, wall certificate and emblem.

Again, whether that is worth it is up to you.

 

[Wibble]

I think you are incorrect regarding divemaster. We can disagree.

My point (which I may have not been clear) is that the DiveMaster is a recognised qualification and needs Rescue as a prerequisite and teaches you many new skills beyond Rescue.

Master Scuba Diver is trading on the "DiveMaster" name; kind of a brand extension. It's a standard marketing/sales trick implying that Master Scuba Diver is like a DiveMaster, without explicitly saying so.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

I have both the MSD classification and solo certification. I would say solo likely trumps MSD as planning is much higher as a requirement and so is the awareness, likely higher than rescue. Also the requirements are higher, 100 vs 50 dives, 200 yd surface swim, equipment failure and redundancies etc. On my path to MSD I took specialties that were relevant to my local diving and interested me; Nitrox, dry suit, oxygen provider, side mount and a fun one, zombie apocalypse (good use of multiple skills). Some were more valuable than others obviously; rescue was a very good course but solo was a total eye opener to me as a diver. If someone told me they were rescue/MSD I would anticipate a level of competence, if they were solo or Tech I would trust they were competent.